Pupil Participation and Leadership Statement

Our School

Student Council

The term pupil leadership refers to education principles and practices that reflect the importance of providing children with the opportunities and support to play a role in making the decisions that affect them. The principles of effective leadership include:

  • Recognising that pupils have logical perspectives and opinions on issues that matter in the classroom, in the school and in the community.
  • Giving pupils an active role in influencing decisions about these issues as well as in the implementation of these decisions.
  • Enabling pupils to participate as active young citizens.

We believe that when children are given the opportunity to engage in pupil leadership roles their capacity for learning increases and their approach to school and learning becomes more positive.

 To develop participation and leadership skills in the classroom we:

  • Involve pupils in conversations and discussions about classroom rules and ‘Codes of Conduct
  • Engage pupils in conversations about teaching, learning and assessment
  • Appoint pupils in roles of responsibility, for example Wet Playtime Monitors
  • Encourage pupils to develop and share their own opinions about issues and engage in debate, discussion and analysis of those issues
  • Model how to engage in discussions in a polite and respectful manner and we expect and encourage pupils to do the same.

To develop participation and leadership skills in school we:

  • Involve pupils in the decision-making of the school through the Student Council
  • Elect pupils to meaningful roles of pupil representatives: Head Boy and Girl and Deputy Head Boy and Girl
  • Engaging pupils as members and participants in key school processes such as staff recruitment
  • Involve pupils in peer support and buddying programmes

To develop participation and leadership skills in the community we:

  • Involve the pupils in community projects like our Macmillan Coffee Morning
  • Enable pupils to engage with local government and the wider community

 As a school, we try and think beyond traditional leadership roles so that as many pupils as possible can participate. Current Pupil Leadership Groups in school are:

Student Leaders (4 children from Y6)

Student Council

Play Leaders

Reading Rangers

Gardeners

Reception Buddies

Lunch Club Leaders

Library Leaders

Eco Warriors

Safeguarding Champions

Curriculum Subject Leaders 

Each group also has a member of staff as a point of contact to support as and when necessary.

 

St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School is part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust

A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under company registration number No 7841435.

Registered Office: Fenham Hall Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9YH