Student Leadership
“In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”
Former U.S. President Harry Truman
Education is about helping our students learn the skills which they need to succeed when they leave Stockport School. We would like to help our students develop the critical leadership skills which they will need in our ever changing and challenging world. These are essential employability skills, which can develop into life changing experiences.
At Stockport School we believe that students should be given a wide range of opportunities to develop and practise leadership skills in preparation for life beyond school. These opportunities can have a profound impact within both our and the wider community. We would like our student leaders to share the vision of our school and promote this within our community.
As well as helping the leaders of the future develop, we also support a number of charities, encouraging our students to take an active part in the raising of funds.
Please see below to explore the different aspects of our student leadership.
Prefects
At Stockport School we have a proud tradition of a successful Prefect system where students can take on a variety of different leadership roles including Head Boy and Girl, Deputy Head Boy and Girl, Senior Prefects and Prefects. The Prefect System at Stockport School is highly respected and prefects are proud to wear their special badges and ties. Our prefects are positive role models who help to promote the ethos of the school by supporting both staff and students.
Students are eligible to apply at the end of Year 10 if they meet the criteria relating to attendance, punctuality and behaviour records and if they feel they have the qualities needed to be successful in the role.
Students complete a written application outlining their qualities and their leadership skills and experience and staff are asked to nominate suitable students. A formal interview process is held for those students shortlisted for the Head Prefect roles. Senior prefects are decided on the strength of the students’ applications.
All prefects receive training and are supported in their completion of a weekly lunchtime duty. Senior Prefects play an important role in organising the duty teams and are responsible for promoting good behaviour across school. Our Prefect Team also play an important role in supporting after school events including Parents’ Evenings and Induction Evening. They assist during school productions, charity events and support staff where applicable at evening functions. Prefects also support younger students via a buddy system and peer mentoring initiative.
The Prefect System at Stockport School reflects our whole school commitment to providing opportunities which promote strong communication and team work skills. Our prefects are often the first faces greeting parents at key events.
Head Boy – Thomas G
Head Girl – Amber S
Deputy Head Boy – Harry B
Deputy Head Girl – Hollie B
Deputy Head Boy – Lucas M
Deputy Head Girl – Abi P
Senior Prefects
Arthur T
Ava-Mai E
Darcie A
Ethan A
Edie May S
Ella T
James T
Leila S
Maya M
Oliver S
Poppie-Rae H
Sophia T
Student Council
The School Council at Stockport School is an extremely important part of school life. It provides opportunities for students to develop their leadership and communication skills and for students across the Key Stages to work together and support one another.
Meetings are held weekly at lunchtime in the LRC and all Forms across KS3 and KS4 are encouraged to send representatives. Each year students decide upon their priorities and then form small groups to lead on particular issues such as: supporting charities; promoting Fairtrade; considering student welfare or environmental issues. They are guided in their activities by one of the Assistant Headteachers but students are encouraged to be proactive and work together as a team.
Members of the School Council understand that they represent the student voice and over the years they have been consulted by school leaders, members of the community and a range of visitors about local, national and global issues as well as school related topics.
Many School Council representatives go on to take leadership roles across the curriculum and they are often selected as ambassadors and prefects because of the skills they develop. Stockport School students are usually represented in local Youth Councils and many ex-students often return to promote further opportunities in the community.
Student Librarian Training Programme
For those students who love reading and talking and recommending books as well as being helpful and learning a new set of skills, there is the Student Librarian Training Programme. Currently there are 6 trained Student Librarians and 4 trained Library Assistants and 2 trainee Library Assistants.
There is a Head Student Librarian who helps with the training and supervision of the Library Assistants as well as having more responsibilities in the Library. These Student Librarians and Library Assistants help Mrs Godrich out in the Library at break and lunch and can also complete Library projects after school. They take part in special events such as the Harry Potter Quiz, World Book Day and Open Evening, and help run the Enrichment clubs, activities and competitions as well as help choose the books that make it onto the Library shelves and creating fabulous displays to promote the books.
Recruitment takes place in June when the application forms and job descriptions are given to students who are interested in joining the Library Team. The selection process is rigorous with a formal application, interview and basic training before becoming a trainee Library Assistant, to make sure the most dedicated and committed students move on to the actual training programme. Mrs Godrich follows the School Librarian Association Pupil Librarian Training programme, which has many levels of progress, which students can work through to gain certificates, badges and transferable skills that are a bonus on any College application or CV.
Funkey Maths Mentoring
Year 8 students are selected by their Maths teacher as they have excellent knowledge of their Times Table’s, confident with others with excellent leadership qualities. They then come to Mr Hinton and myself to be told about the programme and if they wish to be involved. Those who accept then enter a Mentor training programme once a week for 3 months.
After this they are assigned a year 7 student who are struggling with their Times Table’s and facts up to their 12’s. This year 7 student will stay with the Mentor through the programme until they “graduate” or reach end of year 8 with most knowledge accomplished to help them through their learning journey. Each week they will focus on a sequence and learn different methods to remember facts and sequences and also play games that will help their knowledge involving times tables.
The mentors are able to use this Service to School as reference on their Prefect/Head boy or girl application and also their college applications.
Peer Reading
Y9 and Y10 students are selected to fulfil the role of Mentor to Y7 and Y8 students who need assistance with reading.
They enable students to develop their confidence as readers, and to reignite their love for reading. They guide students with fluency, and comprehension, and their role of Mentor helps them to develop their leadership skills, as they track and monitor the progress of their mentee.
Mental Health Ambassadors
The Mental Health Ambassadors work with the schools Senior Mental Health Lead and the Mental Health Support Team to promote student wellbeing. They receive training, help with projects and act as pupil voice. All are passionate about supporting others and delivering the schools plan to provide excellent support. They meet every half term.
Drama Ambassador
Our drama ambassadors are asked to complete an application form to become a leader within drama and tell us why and what skills they have in order to be an outstanding drama ambassador. They help out at our weekly KS3 drama club; Year 10 have the opportunity to inspire younger generations with leading sessions and supporting younger student’s skill development whilst developing their own leadership skills.
What is a drama ambassador?
Being a drama ambassador is a fun and rewarding experience. It is an opportunity to learn, develop and improve leadership skills by becoming involved in the creative achievements of both the drama department and the school. As a drama ambassador, your main role will be being responsible for the running of a KS3 drama club. You will also be required to represent both the drama department and the school in events ranging from Open Evenings to local events. The drama ambassadors are the student face of the drama department. They are aspirational and positive role models for younger students in the school and promote a positive image of Drama within both the school and the local area.
What are the expectations of a drama ambassador?
As a drama ambassador will be expected to:
- Be available to run one after school activity a week.
- Work with your group to create performances for assemblies, open evenings, performance nights and any other event that may take place.
- Work on your own or with a partner to plan and deliver activities in your drama club.
- Be available to represent the drama department on Open Evenings, Options Evenings and any other event that may take place.
House Captains
Every House at Stockport School would not function and flourish without an army of dedicated and enthusiastic student House Captains from Years 7-11. These students help support the Head of House to achieve their aim to be House Cup winners and raise as much money for their chosen charity. The House Cup comprises of 7 shields that spread across every area of school life. They are as follows:
- House Points shield
- Attendance shield
- Enrichment shield
- Sports Day shield
- Charity shield
- Interhouse sports shield
- Curriculum shield
House Captains are charged with the responsibility of encouraging student engagement in house activities, helping support the Head of House with assemblies and raising money for the house charity. We currently have over 60 House Captains across all five year groups. Many of the House Captains from Years 7-10 end up becoming part of the prefect team in Year 11 as a continuation of their leadership development.
Student Ambassadors
Towards the end of June, as part of the Year 7 development, we offer the chance for students to become student ambassadors. This involves students writing an application form that outlines why they feel they would like to be a student ambassador, along with a staff member reference to support the application. For the students who make it through the initial screening, they will then complete a 2-3 hour training programme where they will learn in more detail about The Stockport School Way and what it means to be a representative of Stockport School and develop greater communication and leadership skills. Trained ambassadors will then get the opportunity to use those skills supporting the transition process by helping out with additional visits, tours, supporting students and staff on the Induction Day and then supporting with welcoming at events such as parents evenings and the open evening. Every year we have over 60 Year 7s apply to become ambassadors and train over 50.
Dementia Choir
Our ‘Doing Dementia Differently Choir’ run by EDUCATE and made up of members of Stockport School and adults living with Dementia allows pupils at Stockport School to take on leadership roles. Whether this is helping to run a warmup, making brews for the adults, escorting adults from reception to the Music Department or older students offering advice/modelling to new younger members about how to interact socially with adults in the choir. Sometimes our more confident students take on solo roles to help boost the confidence of other adults who may wish to sing a solo. The confident singers also help to lead the whole choir who rely on their volume and guidance on where to come in. Pupils will guide adults sitting near to them on how to follow their lyric books and offer a support on where to come in after instrumental breaks. This can be seen in Episode 2 of the BBC 1 Vicky McClures programme, “Our Dementia Choir Sings Again” where the series captured the choir meeting together again for the first time since the pandemic.
Dance Leaders
We have a number of our talented dancers, who are Dance Leaders within school. The are responsible for leading our after-school dance clubs, usually working with our younger students to empower them to become powerful dancers themselves, as well as working with students from our feeder primaries. A number of our Dance Leaders have taken over group leadership, working with Miss Powell on the routines for the groups, which have then led to our Dance Leaders creating choreography, which can then be showcased in our fantastic annual dance shows.
Charities
I had several students who had volunteered and gave up their break times to help. They helped to run the cake sale taking donations, giving change and giving out cakes, we also had students who helped make tea, coffee and hot chocolates. Whilst this was going on we had students who sang with the “Doing Dementia differently choir.” I also had a student who helped me with raffle tickets making sure all had a name etc on and were all folded so information couldn’t be seen.
If you need further information let me know or students names needed.
NSPCC