Student Leadership

At Swanshurst, we believe that student leadership is one of the central strands of success. Through collaboration with staff, governors, parents and the local community, we can take an active role in shaping the student experience – both inside and outside of the classroom.

The student leaders at Swanshurst are led by the Head Student and Deputy Head Student from Year 12. One of their responsibilities involves running the 6 school council meetings that will take place throughout the course of the year that focus on items relating to “Teaching & Learning”, “Community & Pastoral” and “Enrichment & Environment”.  The school council decisions will be actioned and then fed back to their year group in form time led by the school council representatives.

They are play an active role with leading prefects, Mental Health Ambassadors as well as our Cultural Ambassadors.

The aims of our student leadership programme

• Empower students to work in partnership with staff towards shared goals
• To enable creativity to flourish as the school community benefits from the wealth of experiences, ideas, skills and sense of fun that students bring
• To provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills through a variety of inspiring, challenging and valued projects which impact positively on learning, teaching and well-being for both students and staff at Swanshurst School
• To prepare students for Higher Education and for achieving personal and professional excellence in life after formal education

What we are working towards

• A Leadership structure that reflects the hierarchical structure of the school
• A Leadership structure that promotes excellence through leadership, teamwork and dedication
• A Leadership structure that is high profile and is inspirational for all
• A Leadership structure that is self sustaining
• Student Leaders that are equipped with the tools that once they leave Swanshurst they will reflect and say being a Prefect helped shape them to be the BEST they can possibly be

Student Council

The school council’s aim is to create a working party where the School Council are to be high profile within school, so that student voice can be channelled through the representatives. The student council will run as follows below:

• 1 representative per form group who will meet half termly with the head student and Deputy Head Student alongside Mrs Bowler
• 3 groups set up (year 7 to 9) (year 10 to 11) and year 12 who meet half termly to discuss items arising based on school improvement priorities
• Begin recruitment process in Sept in years 7 – 12 so that selected reps can then be involved in planning the school council action plan
• School council notice board/display area in school to raise profile/highlight current work as well as feedback to forms

Head Student

Main Duties

• To Organise and plan regular meetings with the School Council and ensure that decisions are carried out. To represent and speak for all students in Swanshurst and support and prepare activities that encourages and supports the learning of others.
• To be internal and external ambassadors for the school and to act as role models for all students at Swanshurst.
• To give key presentations about the school, for example to prospective parents and students and at information evenings
• To greet important visitors to Swanshurst.
• To be involved in assemblies.
• To report to the Senior Leadership Team.
• To attend one Governor’s meeting and report on how student voice has had an impact on the school’s planning.
• To co-ordinate a team of student leaders
• To ensure that prefects perform their duties adequately and respond to additional duties
• Charity and fund-raising events
• Any other duties that may be reasonably called upon to undertake by Senior Members of Staff

Personal Qualities

Leadership

• Reflect the Swanshurst values
• Work well in a team
• Time-management and very good organisational skills
• Ability to talk confidently and appropriately to parents and staff
• Ability to talk confidently and appropriately to students
• Willingness to get to know the students in the school
• Politeness
• Maturity
• Clear judgement
• Responsibility
• Reliability

All current Year 12 students who meet the criteria are eligible to stand for application

If you wish to run for head student you must provide: a formal letter of application which covers the following points explaining why you believe you will make a good head student (please limit this to one side of A4) and how you have to supported the ethos of Swanshurst. Please give specific examples of achievements which demonstrate these qualities.

Applicants who have been successful at the shortlisting stage will be invited to interview.

Prefects

Overview

At Swanshurst all pupils in Year 12, 11 and 10 are encouraged to become prefects. Prefects are the schools role models. If you are a student with an excellent record of behaviour, attendance, punctuality and uniform then you are a suitable candidate. However if you are someone who has struggled previously with any of these in school but are now able to be a role model, please do not be put off from applying.

Job description for a Prefect

Purpose

You should like working with and talking to students across the year groups and able to build good working relationships with staff. You should want to make a lasting impact at school and be involved in the decision making.

Reporting to:

• A senior Prefect Leader
• The Head student

Main Duties

• To be internal and external ambassadors for the school and to act as role models for all students at Swanshurst
• To undertake Prefect training
• To be a role model to which lower school pupils aspire to
• Meet high standards of politeness, courtesy, dress, attendance and punctuality
• Carry out regular duties as required and directed by the Head of Year 10
• To be punctual to your duties
• To meet with the Head of Year 10 at least every half term
• To work as part of a team – this means listening to others
• Any other duties directed by the Head of Year 10

Personal Qualities

Eligibility

All current Year 12, 11 and 10 students who meet the criteria are eligible to apply for application.

If you wish to apply to be a Prefect you must provide the following:

• A completed Prefect application form signed by a member of staff
• On your Prefect application form give specific examples of achievements which demonstrate the qualities in this job description.