Student Leadership

One of the stated primary aims of Washwood Heath Academy is that pupils are ready, respectful and safe. We also aim to ensure that Student Leadership opportunities are available to all students equally, with no bias or discrimination. Washwood Heath Academy believes that a key element in this process is the development of opportunities through which students can gain leadership skills by taking on roles of responsibility and by planning, managing and delivering their own projects. Student leaders sets an example of how the Academy’s ethos of H.E.A.R.T.S. can be adhered to, support charity events, support duties at social times, generate data for the Academy’s PSHE and careers programmes, ensure that human rights are upheld and respected in the academy, and co-deliver lessons and assemblies.

When pupils begin their Washwood journey in the primary school, they will be supported by pupil guardians and will have the opportunity to impact on their school community by taking part in Primary Council meetings.

The elected representatives of the Primary Council will then join in with the through school Student Council as part of the Student Voice cycle. The Student Council comprises of elected representatives from the Primary, the 6 House councils and the Sixth Form. When the Student Council meet, they collaborate on the respective minutes of their House Council agendas. The Head and Executive Head Boy and Girl, then bring these minutes to the Leadership team for consultation. The outcome of this meeting will then be shared with the school community via form times and assemblies.

Pupils in the secondary school also have the opportunity to be Young Wellbeing Leads, Mentors in Violence Prevention and Police Cadets. YWBLs plan and deliver Washwood Heath Health Awareness Weeks every half term. Mentors in Violence Prevention will attend Prison Visits in Year 9, receive training and then mentor younger pupils in school. Police Cadets receive weekly training sessions from the West Midlands Police Cadets leaders and also take part in external trips and community projects.

In the Sixth Form, students may volunteer to become Eco-Warriors and lead on positive impacting the environment in and out of school.