Student Leadership

In St. Mary’s, every young person has an opportunity to develop their leadership skills across all Key Stages.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM

In recent years, we have augmented and enhanced the nature of our Student Leadership Team to take full advantage our the potential of our young people. The Team fulfil a variety of important roles in the school, including:

• Head Boy and Head Girl;
• Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl;
• Head of Anti-Bullying;
• Head of Ethos;
• Head of Inclusion;
• Head of Mental Health;
• Head of Wellbeing;
• Head of Online Safety;
• Head of Year 8;
• Head of Year 9;
• Head of Year 10; and
• Head of Year 11.

Students are nominated for these roles by their peers and teaching staff and are selected following an interview process. These students lead various initiatives within the school, act as role models for other pupils, and represent the school and student body at events both inside and outside the school. Each day, the Student Leadership Team provides a pupil support service to younger students at break time in the O’Kane Building and at lunch time in the Common Room. Members of the Student Leadership Team promote and embody the ethos of St. Mary’s and make a valuable contribution to school life.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Our Student Council, with elected representatives from each Form Class, provides a forum for pupils to share their opinions on a range of issues.

Members of our Student Council are heavily involved in school life and are active participants in decision-making processes in school. We invite and take account of the views of the pupil body on aspects of school provision, issuing surveys to pupils on their experiences of learning, and holding regular meetings with Pupil Focus Groups.

In recent years, our Student Council have reviewed our Preventative Curriculum (including our Personal Development lessons), our school uniform, the Student Planner, our Curriculum provision across all Key Stages, have renamed our Sixth Form Common Room, and have helped ensure the installation of additional water dispensers around the school site.

SENIOR PREFECTS

In St. Mary’s, Year 8 pupils are supported by Senior Prefects who have been assigned to a particular Form Class. Our Senior Prefects are carefully selected, specially trained and play an important role in the transition of pupils from primary school to St. Mary’s.

Our Senior Prefects strive to:

• be role models and confidante for younger pupils;
• build the confidence and self esteem of younger pupils;
• encourage good attendance, punctuality and behaviour in younger pupils;
• encourage younger pupils to do their best and achieve their full potential; and
• help younger pupils to form happy and caring relationships, both inside and outside the classroom.

Key Stage 3 Class Prefects

In order to recognise and develop leadership among our younger pupils, each Form Class in Key Stage 3 will elect two Class Prefects, on a termly basis. Key Stage 3 Class Prefects play an integral leadership role within their Form Classes.