Student Leadership is divided into three core areas, providing students with a range of opportunities to develop leadership skills, represent their peers, and make a meaningful contribution to academy life.

Senior Student Leadership Team

The Senior Student Leadership Team is made up of students who demonstrate commitment, responsibility, and a desire to make a positive difference within the academy. The team meets regularly with the Principal to discuss feedback gathered from the Student Council and the wider student body. These meetings are formally minuted, with agreed actions identified and implemented to ensure that student voice has a genuine impact on academy life.

Senior Student Leaders are ambassadors for the academy, representing the school at key events including Remembrance Day services, Christmas concerts, Open Evenings, and other community occasions. They also support academy interview processes, welcome visitors, and promote the academy's values at every opportunity.

Senior Student Leaders are appointed through a rigorous and highly competitive selection process. Candidates are required to deliver a presentation to the whole school, outlining their vision for the role and how they will represent the student body. They then take part in a formal interview with the Principal, the CEO, and the Chair of Governors, where they demonstrate their leadership qualities, communication skills, and commitment to the academy’s values. This robust process ensures that Senior Student Leaders are well equipped to represent their peers, lead by example, and make a meaningful contribution to academy improvement.

Prefects

The Senior Student Leadership Team is supported by a team of Prefects. These are Year 11 students who are appointed through an application process, with each application supported and co-signed by a member of teaching staff. This ensures that Prefects are recognised for consistently demonstrating the academy's values, commitment, and leadership potential.

Prefects carry out leadership responsibilities across the school, acting as positive role models for younger students and promoting the academy's high expectations. They provide feedback from their year groups to the Senior Student Leadership Team, ensuring that student voice is represented across the academy.

In addition, a team of Bus Prefects helps to ensure that positive behaviour and high standards are maintained beyond the classroom. They support the safe and respectful use of academy transport, reinforcing expectations and ensuring that the academy's values are upheld across all aspects of academy life.

Student Council

The third branch of Student Leadership is the Student Council. Overseen by a member of staff, the Student Council is made up of representatives from each tutor group and year group. Members represent the views of their peers, ensuring that students have the opportunity to influence and contribute to the continued development of the academy.

Student Council representatives gather feedback from their tutor groups and year groups, ensuring that student voice is reflected in academy discussions and decision-making. Through their role, students develop confidence, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, while gaining a wider understanding of democracy and civic responsibility.

In addition to representing their peers, Student Council members participate in whole-academy initiatives and projects. These include acting as Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, contributing to the Eco Team, supporting charity fundraising, promoting wellbeing initiatives, and helping to deliver projects that enhance academy life. Through these opportunities, students develop teamwork, resilience, and leadership skills while making a positive contribution to the academy community.

Student Voice and Impact

Student voice is at the heart of our academy, and we are committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to influence and improve academy life. Feedback is valued at every level, with student leaders gathering the views and experiences of their peers and sharing these with academy leaders.

Regular meetings between student leaders and senior staff, including the Principal, provide opportunities to discuss issues, suggest improvements, and celebrate successes. These meetings are formally minuted, with agreed actions monitored to ensure that student feedback leads to meaningful change.

Termly student surveys are completed to gather the views of the wider student body and identify areas for further improvement. This feedback is central to our ‘You Said, We Did’ approach, demonstrating to students that their opinions are listened to and acted upon.

The impact of student leadership is shared through assemblies led by senior staff and through displays around the academy, clearly showing how we listen, respond, and continually develop our practice. Student feedback has influenced improvements across areas including teaching and learning, extracurricular opportunities, the academy environment, student wellbeing, and catering provision.

Through our Student Leadership structure, students are empowered to become active participants in academy life, developing the skills, confidence, and responsibility needed to become successful leaders within the academy and wider community.

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