The Student Leadership Team is one way of providing students at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre with a voice so that they can make valuable contributions in order to improve their school. All members of The Student Leadership Team work together to further develop the school to ensure we are the best we can be.
The Student Leadership Team offers students the opportunity to practice and showcase new skills they are developing, such as public speaking, mentoring and interpersonal skills, self-confidence, team building, collaborative working and problem-solving. All these skills will be invaluable when applying for sixth form, college, jobs and university.
Student Chairs and Student Deputy Chairs
During term 1, each academic year, we will recruit new Student Chairs and Junior Student Chairs. Year 12 students can apply to be a Student Chair, a Student Deputy Chair or a Student Assistant Chair. Year 10 students can apply to be a Junior Student Chair, a Junior Student Deputy Chair or a Junior Student Assistant Chair. Whilst the job purpose and accountabilities will vary slightly, they all include:
Job Purpose:
To act as a figurehead for your house, work with your Head of House and the Student Leadership Team to be a voice for students and engage students with the House System which involves competitive events, charitable fundraising and communal celebration.
Accountabilities:
- To support and promote the House System Vision by supporting routines and activities pertinent to the house including fundraising / charity work and competitive events.
- To support in the delivery of house assemblies, which align to Highdown’s vision and values and reflect global events and trends.
- To attend evening school events as a representative of your house.
- Attend student leadership meetings and help facilitate discussions and promote campaigns to give students a voice.
- Speak in assemblies to promote what the student leadership team are achieving.
- Help run clubs which support students in expressing themselves.
Key Stage 3 Ambassadors
During term 1, each academic year, we will recruit new Key Stage 3 Ambassadors. Year 7, 8 and 9 students can apply for the role. The job purpose and accountabilities are:
Job Purpose:
To act as a figurehead for your house, work with the Student Leadership Team to be a voice for students and engage students with the House System which involves competitive events, charitable fundraising and communal celebration.
Accountabilities:
- To support and promote the House System Vision by supporting routines and activities pertinent to the house including fundraising / charity work and competitive events.
- Facilitate student engagement in the house system.
- Be an active participator in house weeks by leading activities and engaging others.
- Attend student leadership meetings.
- Promote positive change in 1 of 4 areas that you feel most passionate about; environment, LGBTQ+, race or gender.
Prefects
During term 6, each academic year, we will recruit new Prefects. They will be year 10 when they are recruited but will take on the role for the duration of year 11. The job purpose, accountabilities and responsibilities are:
Job Purpose:
To act as an ambassador for the school and be a role model for the younger year groups. Work with the Student Leadership Team to be a voice for students and engage students with the House System which involves competitive events, charitable fundraising and communal celebration.
Accountabilities:
- Wear your Prefect Badge with pride, wear the right attire and try your hardest with your education.
- Work closely with the Assistant Head of Achievement to organise the Year 11 Prom and create a yearbook and/or leavers hoody.
- Support at evening events such as Subject Evenings, Open Evenings and other events.
- Support staff with the running of events during the school day e.g., handing out poppies, helping with student photos.
Additional Responsibilities:
- To liaise with the other Student Leadership Team Members to run and manage your house.
- To support and promote the House System Vision by supporting routines and activities pertinent to the house including fundraising / charity work and competitive events.
- Facilitate student engagement in the house system.
- Be an active participator in house weeks by leading activities and engaging others.
- Attend student leadership meetings.
Buddies
During term 5, each academic year, we will recruit new Buddies. Many schools use year 10 students as Buddies, however, we give the responsibility to year 7 students which is a testament to the trust that we have in our students and gives them an early taste of responsibility and an opportunity to develop their skills. They will be year 7 when they are recruited but will take on the role for the duration of year 8. The new intake of students for the next academic year should have a fantastic team of happy, helpful and motivated Buddies to assist them when they join Highdown School. The job purpose, accountabilities and responsibilities are:
Job Purpose:
Support year 6, going into year 7, students with their transition from primary to secondary school. Work with the Student Leadership Team to be a voice for students and engage students with the House System which involves competitive events, charitable fundraising and communal celebration.
Accountabilities:
- Support at events such as Year 6 Welcome Evening, Year 5 Parents Information Evening, Year 5 Day, Year 6 Induction Day and more.
- Help year 7 students get to know the school by guiding them to their lessons for the first few weeks of term 1.
- Do your best to make the new cohort of year 7 students feel part of Highdown School by smiling when you greet them.
- Be an outstanding role model for your peers.
Additional responsibilities:
- To liaise with the other Student Leadership Team Members to run and manage your house.
- To support and promote the House System Vision by supporting routines and activities pertinent to the house including fundraising / charity work and competitive events.
- Facilitate student engagement in the house system.
- Be an active participator in house weeks by leading activities and engaging others.
- Attend student leadership meetings.