Students rise to the challenge if given opportunities to develop leadership skills.
At Sir John Gleed these opportunities are developed in all years with a full range of leadership opportunities. Students in all year groups are involved when appointing new staff to the school – the toughest part of the interview process is often the interview with students!
Students also play a key role in inducting new students to the school – visiting primary schools for example and speaking at open evenings.
Many students act as mentors – with older students helping younger ones with aspects of school life and also with their academic studies.
In Year 11 the school offers some key roles to students in the shape of head boy and head girl, their deputies and also student governor representatives.
This year Millie Barnett and Kai Weston are the Head Girl and Head Boy respectively.
The Head Girl and Head Boy are the face of Sir John Gleed School and work with another seven senior prefects; five deputy head students and two governor students.
Together they look at issues that affect the student body at the school.
The most recent discussion is based around the design of a new Year 11 tie, and an optional uniform change for Year 11 girls who may select to wear a tie if they so wish.
Millie and Kai had to apply to be Head Girl and Head Boy.
They were then shortlisted and interviewed by the headteacher and assistant headteacher – it was a tough process to get through.
Millie says that she was motivated to do it because, “I want to help the school move forward” and Kai echoes this by saying, “I enjoy taking on more responsibility and challenges so that I can help people.”
They both want to put something back into the school.
Kai has a special interest in using IT to help students learn – he recently visited two other schools to see how they were helping students make use of tablets and laptops in their learning.
Millie would very much like to help the school develop its appearance and environment for learning.
Neither of them yet have firm ideas about their futures but both Millie and Kai intend to continue their studies to A-Level and then will think about university and beyond!
With the great team around them we are sure that Millie and Kai will leave a legacy in the school by the end of next academic year; and will pass on their words of wisdom to the next cohort of senior prefects in the school.
Sir John Gleed is committed to extending student leadership opportunities.
Will Scott, headteacher, said: “We know here that our students always rise to the challenge and that whenever we give them more responsibility it has a positive impact.”
The school is keen to develop links between students and local community events – sporting, cultural etc.
If you are interested in getting such a link started and developing it further then please contact Nicola Hall-Rushton (assistant headteacher) at the school.
