The Friary School believes that ‘student voice’ needs to be at the heart of the school and we have a responsibility to allow students to thrive in speaking up, speaking out and helping our school become an ‘outstanding’ one.
Students can ‘voice’ their views in a range of contexts; whether it be student-led assemblies or charity work, tutor time presentations or parents’ evenings, community events or primary school sessions, as peer mentors or during the numerous Focus Week activities, or in peer / self-assessment or in their daily lessons.
As students move into the Sixth Form, they can see to get onto the Senior Six, or even become Head Boy or Head Girl, but lower down the school there are a wide range of roles open to all students:
House Captains:
These are the most senior roles in a House and those selected usually have a history of representing the school in other leadership roles or aspects of school life. They are made up of a House Captain, a House Vice-Captain, Male and Female Sports Captains and a Charities Captain.
House Councillors:
Each tutor group elects a Form Representative who takes forward the views of the tutor group to the House Council and then onto the School Council.
House Ambassadors:
The House Ambassadors represent their House in a series of events throughout the school year, ranging from Opening Evening to Parents Evening, and also take a lead in House competitions and tutor time activities.
Transition Mentors:
Each House selects positive role models from the new Year 7 to be trained as Transition mentors so that they can be a guide and support for Year 6 students moving into our school the following year. They will attend Open Evening, as well as various transition events throughout the school year.
Peer Mentors:
Peer Mentors mentor, guide and coach their peers through challenging aspects of school where the advice may be better served coming from somebody who has recently been through a similar experience. Peer mentors have previously supported students with organisational issues, dealing with a transitional period whether it be starting in Year 7 or starting GCSE courses, or sometimes offering support with changing friendships.
Naturally, training and guidance is given by staff and senior students to facilitate these roles so they are very much an opportunity for the students to develop themselves, as well as represent and improve our school.
Luke Baker, Assistant Headteacher, said: “We seek to provide a wide range of student leadership opportunities as we know they develop confidence, public speaking and skills for careers and interviews. There is no doubt our student leaders make a difference in the school, in our Greywood Multi-Schools Trust, and in the wider community.”
