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Student Leadership

At Chaucer School we believe that students should be given a wide range of opportunities to develop and practise leadership skills in preparation for life beyond school. It would be impossible to list all the opportunities students have to take on leadership roles at the school so this is just a selection of what is currently on offer.  Many Student Leadership activities will focus on supporting the school’s aim to be a place where everyone enjoys learning and is creative – trying new things, finding solutions and embracing their responsibilities.

Aims of our Student Leadership programme

  • To empower students to work in partnership with staff and other students 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 projects which impact positively on well-being for both students and staff at Chaucer School.
  • To prepare students for Higher Education and for achieving personal and professional excellence in life after formal education.

Our Student Leadership programme provides;

  • Formal and informal learning opportunities to develop individuals as leaders.
  • Processes and structures for student representation and the incorporation of students’ views into decision-making in the life of the school.

Chaucer School will;

  • Provide a Student Leadership Lanyard or pin badge so they can be easily identified around school site by all members of the community
  • Provide a wide range of participation and leadership opportunities which cater for all students in the school.
  • Provide recognition of all Student Leadership roles
  • Encourage the development of student participation and leadership skills through classroom practice by using the skills developed with in the LIFE curriculum.
  • Encourage students to differentiate between student participation and Student Leadership.
  • Provide students with access to key staff for support and guidance

Student Leader expectations

Student Leaders are the school’s role models. You need to be a student who works hard to reach our schools expectation of good behaviour, no unauthorised absence, constant punctuality; you also need to be always in full and correct school uniform. As a Student Leader you will be required to wear your Student Leadership identification (either a lanyard or badge) and complete at least one duty per week during the school day.

What Personal Qualities do I need?

  • You should like working with and talking to younger students
  • You should be able to build good working relationships with staff
  • You should want to make a lasting impact at school and be involved in decision-making
  • You should be able to work well in a team
  • You should have good time management skills e.g. balancing commitments
  • You should be polite, mature, respectful, responsible, and kind at all times

Opportunities

School 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:

  • 2 to 3 representatives per form group (maximum 15 student reps) who will meet half termly with their year managers.
  • 2 to 3 members from each year group form the Whole School Council who meet half termly to discuss items arising from year team level.
  • Begin recruitment process in September in years 7 – 10 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.

LIFE Leaders

Students are selected by the lead teacher to become LIFE Student Leaders based on their maturity and aptitude. Students receive training on a range of aspects which include:

  • Leadership 
  • Public speaking
  • Lesson delivery 
  • Lesson planning.

After completing training, students prepare and deliver aspects of the LIFE curriculum to Key Stage 3 students. Students work in vertical groups with the lead student typically coming from years 10 or 11.

Peer Mentoring Programme

Opportunities will be made available for groups of students to become peer mentors at different points in the year. Students will be invited to apply for these posts and will be shortlisted, in consultation with the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) and the Year Manager, according to their maturity and aptitude.

Transition Leaders - Year 7

A group of year 7 students will be selected and trained as transition leaders, and will accompany transition staff on primary transition visits to local primary schools. In addition, these students will be invited to take part in year 6 induction days in the summer term.

Peer Mentoring - Year 9

Year 9 students to receive training for Peer Mentoring; this is an ongoing program which runs throughout the year.  Following training the Peer Mentors will be given the opportunity to use their skills working alongside younger student in school.

The activities of the Peer Mentors will be evaluated each half-term. A member of the Peer Mentoring Team will report half termly to the school council. This Peer Mentor will be nominated by the Peer Mentoring Team.

Peer Mentors - Year 10

A group of year 10 Peer Mentors will be allocated to a Year 7 Tutor Group for one LIFE lesson per week, where they will support literacy based activities.

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