"To whom much is given, much will be required"

We’re standing for Student Council because we believe every student at Thomas Rotherham College deserves a voice that is heard, listened to and acted upon.

College is about much more than lessons, coursework and exams. For many of us, TRC is where we spend a huge part of our week. The environment we study in, the facilities we use, the way information is communicated to us, our wellbeing, transport and the opportunities we have to contribute all shape our experience here.

Students see that experience first-hand every single day. We know what works well, but we also notice the smaller problems, frustrations and opportunities for improvement that can sometimes be overlooked.

That is why student representation matters.

We want to help create a Student Council that is visible, approachable and effective. We want students to know who represents them, how they can raise an issue and, importantly, what happens after they have spoken up.

If elected, we will work to make sure your views reach the people who can make a difference. We will listen to students from across the college, raise your concerns constructively and keep you informed about what is happening.

Our approach is simple:

REPRESENT. LISTEN. DELIVER.

These are not just three words for a campaign. They describe how we intend to approach our roles throughout our time on Student Council.

REPRESENT — Your Voice.

Student Council should represent students, and that means making sure decisions and discussions about college life include the experiences of the people who actually study here.

If elected, we will represent students honestly, confidently and constructively.

We will raise the issues that matter to you with the appropriate staff and college leadership. Where an issue affects a particular group of students, we will make an effort to understand their experiences before speaking on their behalf.

Representation also means being accessible.

We don't want Student Council to be something students only hear about during elections. Students should know who their representatives are, what they are working on and how to contact them.

That is why we want to establish regular lunchtime student surgeries in the canteen, giving students an opportunity to speak to us directly.

You shouldn't need to fill in a complicated form or arrange a formal meeting simply to suggest an improvement. Sometimes all it takes is a quick conversation.

If several students raise the same concern, we can identify that pattern, gather further feedback and take it forward.

Our aim is simple:

You raise it. We listen. We represent you.

LISTEN — Your Ideas.

Good representation starts with listening.

We don't want to assume that we already know every issue affecting students at TRC. Different students have completely different experiences of college depending on their courses, timetables, transport, interests and circumstances.

That is why we will actively seek student opinions rather than simply waiting for people to approach us.

We will use surveys, polls, conversations, lunchtime drop-ins and other opportunities for feedback to understand what students actually think.

These won't just be surveys for the sake of collecting responses. Where possible, we want feedback to have a clear purpose.

For example:

What could improve the college environment?

What problems are students experiencing with transport?

What would students like Student Council to focus on next?

What small changes could make everyday college life better?

We also want to make it easier for students to suggest ideas.

Some of the best improvements can start with a simple observation from someone who experiences a problem every day.

Whether an issue affects hundreds of students or a smaller group, it deserves the opportunity to be heard and considered.

Tell Ashton & Miley. We’ll listen.

DELIVER — Real Change.

Listening is important, but listening without action isn't enough.

If students repeatedly raise an issue, they deserve to know what happens next.

We will take realistic suggestions forward to the appropriate people, work constructively with students and staff and push for practical improvements.

Where something can be changed, we will work to help make that happen.

Where something cannot be changed immediately, we will try to find out why and communicate that back to students.

And where an idea needs further development, we will continue gathering student feedback so that a stronger proposal can be put forward.

We also believe Student Council needs to be realistic.

We won't promise that we can personally solve every problem in college. Some changes require approval, funding or cooperation from people outside Student Council.

But we can promise to raise issues, ask questions, follow up and keep students informed.

Because delivering change doesn't always mean announcing one enormous project.

Sometimes it means fixing several smaller problems that make everyday college life noticeably better.

Small Changes. Big Difference.

Our Pledge to You

If elected, there are several areas we particularly want to focus on.

1. Regular Lunchtime Student Surgeries

One of our main priorities is making student representation more accessible.

We will aim to hold regular lunchtime surgeries in the canteen, where students can come and speak to us directly.

These would provide an informal opportunity to:

• raise a concern;

• suggest an improvement;

• ask what Student Council is working on;

• give feedback about college life; or

• simply have a conversation about something you think should change.

We will keep track of recurring themes raised by students and take significant or repeated concerns to the appropriate staff, including the Senior Leadership Team where appropriate.

The purpose is to create a direct route between students and decision-makers.

Your direct voice to SLT.

2. Campaign for a Quiet Wellbeing Garden

College can be busy.

Between lessons, coursework, deadlines and crowded social spaces, sometimes students simply need somewhere quieter to spend a break.

That is why we want to campaign for the creation of a quiet Wellbeing Garden between Tech Block and Woodhurst Block.

Our aim would be to explore whether this area could become a calm outdoor space where students could sit, talk quietly, read, study or simply take some time away from busier areas of college.

Rather than deciding exactly what this space should look like ourselves, we would want students to help shape the proposal.

We would seek feedback on questions such as seating, planting, accessibility and how students would want to use the space.

We would then use that feedback to build a proposal and discuss what is realistically possible with the college.

A wellbeing space doesn't need to be enormous or complicated to make a difference.

Sometimes having somewhere peaceful to go is enough.

3. More Student Input Into College Life

Students shouldn't only be asked for their opinions after decisions have already been made.

Where appropriate, we want to encourage earlier and more meaningful student involvement in discussions about college life.

That means finding practical ways for students to contribute ideas and feedback before changes are introduced.

We will use surveys and conversations to gather opinions and identify recurring suggestions.

Most importantly, we want students to see what happens afterwards.

When feedback leads to action, students should hear about it.

When something isn't possible, students should also be told why.

A strong Student Council shouldn't simply collect opinions.

It should create a genuine conversation between students and the college.

4. Represent Students on Transport

For many students, the college day starts long before their first lesson and doesn't finish until they get home.

Transport therefore matters.

Bus and other transport issues can affect punctuality, attendance, independence and how easily students can participate in activities before or after lessons.

If elected, we will gather evidence about the transport issues students are experiencing rather than relying on individual anecdotes alone.

That could include student surveys identifying particular routes, times or recurring problems.

We can then raise those concerns with the appropriate people and campaign for practical improvements where possible.

We cannot personally control bus timetables or transport providers, and we don't want to pretend that we can.

What we can do is make sure that student experiences are properly gathered, clearly presented and raised with those who may be able to address them.

5. A Student Council You Actually Hear From

Student Council should not disappear between elections.

If representatives are working on your behalf, you should know what they are doing.

We will push for clearer and more regular communication about Student Council activity.

That means communicating things such as:

What have students asked for?

What has Student Council discussed?

What has been raised with staff?

What progress has been made?

What happens next?

Not every project will succeed immediately, and sometimes progress will take time.

But students should not have to wonder whether their feedback simply disappeared.

We want to help make Student Council more visible, transparent and accountable to the students it represents.

6. More Events. More Community. More TRC.

College should be about more than lessons, coursework and exams.

We want to work with students and staff to bring more events, activities and opportunities for the whole college community to get involved in.

We don't want to decide everything ourselves. Students should have a say in which events happen, how they work and what we should try next.

Festive & Themed Days

We want to explore introducing more festive and themed days throughout the college year, giving students something different to look forward to and creating opportunities for the whole college to get involved.

These could coincide with occasions such as Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day, with activities, decorations, competitions, themed clothing and other events depending on what students want.

The exact activities would be shaped by student suggestions and organised with the college.

The idea is simple:

Make special occasions at TRC actually feel special.

International Food Festival

TRC is home to students from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, and we think that is something worth celebrating.

We want to explore holding an International Food Festival, either as its own event or as part of a wider Culture Day.

Students and staff could have the opportunity to share and discover food from different countries and cultures while learning more about the communities represented across our college.

We want it to be an event that celebrates what makes TRC diverse while bringing the college community together.

Staff vs Students Events

Sometimes the best way to build a stronger college community is through a little friendly competition.

We want to introduce more Staff vs Students events, shaped by what people actually want to take part in.

Whether that's sport, quizzes, competitions or something completely different, we'd like to create events where students and staff can get involved, compete and have some fun outside the classroom.

Students vs Staff. Who wins? Let’s find out.

The TRC Bake-Off

We want to explore launching our own TRC Bake-Off.

Students and staff could put their baking skills to the test, with entries judged and prizes or titles awarded to the best creations.

It could also provide opportunities to raise money for charity or support other Student Council projects.

Whether you're competing, judging or just hoping there are leftovers, we want it to be an event the college can enjoy together.

Course Colours Day

Every part of TRC contributes something different to our college community.

We want to introduce a Course Colours Day, where courses or departments are given different colours and students can wear something representing their area of study.

It would be a simple way to create some friendly competition, celebrate the different parts of our college and make TRC feel like one community.

We could even let students vote for the best represented course or department.

TRC Talent Show

TRC has hundreds of students with talents that most of us probably never get the opportunity to see.

We want to explore creating a TRC Talent Show, giving students the opportunity to perform, compete and showcase what they can do.

Music, comedy, dance, magic, performance or something completely unexpected — we want students themselves to show us what TRC has to offer.

Students could also help shape how the event works, from nominations and auditions to judging and prizes.

Our Approach to Events

These aren't promises that every event will happen immediately or exactly as described.

Events require planning, staff support, suitable spaces, safeguarding and, in some cases, funding.

What we can promise is that we'll take these ideas forward, find out what's possible and involve students in deciding what they actually want to see.

And these aren't the only ideas we're interested in.

Have a better one? Tell us.

How We Will Work

REPRESENT

Your voice.

We will make sure student concerns reach the people who can make a difference and represent those concerns constructively.

LISTEN

Your ideas.

We will listen through conversations, surveys, student feedback and regular opportunities to Tell Ashton & Miley what matters to you.

DELIVER

Real change.

We will take realistic ideas forward, follow up on them and report back so students know what has happened.

What You Can Expect From Us

We don't believe a manifesto should be a list of promises that sound impressive during an election but are forgotten afterwards.

There will inevitably be ideas that require further discussion, projects that take longer than expected and changes that Student Council does not have the authority to make alone.

So we will not promise that every suggestion will happen.

Instead, we promise something we can actually be held accountable for.

We will listen.

We will represent your views.

We will ask questions.

We will pursue realistic improvements.

We will follow up.

And we will tell you what happens next.

If something succeeds, we'll tell you.

If something is still being worked on, we'll tell you.

And if something isn't possible, we'll try to find out why and tell you that too.

That is the kind of student representation we want to provide.

This Campaign Is About Your Voice

Although our names will be on the ballot, we don't want this campaign to be only about us.

It should be about what students across Thomas Rotherham College want from their Student Council.

Throughout the campaign, we want to hear your ideas.

Tell us what you like about TRC.

Tell us what frustrates you.

Tell us what you would change.

Tell us about the small problems people overlook.

Tell us what events you'd like to see.

And tell us what you think would make college better.

Because Student Council works best when students actually participate in it.

One conversation might highlight an issue.

Ten students mentioning the same thing might reveal a pattern.

A survey might demonstrate that hundreds of students want something changed.

And that evidence gives student representatives a much stronger voice.

Our Commitment

If elected, we want to finish our time on Student Council able to point to tangible things that students helped influence.

Some may be significant projects.

Others may be small improvements.

Some might simply be events that brought people together and made college a little more enjoyable.

But we want students to feel that speaking up was worthwhile.

Student Council has the opportunity to connect students directly with the people making decisions at TRC.

We want to strengthen that connection.

Not by pretending we can personally change everything.

But by being present, approachable, persistent and accountable.

By representing your views.

By listening to your ideas.

And by working to deliver real change.

Your Voice. Our College. Our Future.

Thomas Rotherham College belongs to the community of students and staff who make it what it is every day.

Together, we can identify what works, challenge what doesn't and put forward realistic ideas for making our college experience even better.

REPRESENT your voice.

LISTEN to your ideas.

DELIVER real change.

VOTE ASHTON HANCOCK & MILEY YIP

FOR STUDENT COUNCIL 2026

Let’s build a better TRC, together.