Pupil Leadership

At Washwood Heath Academy nurturing our pupils to be leaders both inside our school and as part of the wider community is a priority for us, performance virtues such as; confidence, motivation, resilience, leadership and teamwork are fostered both through our challenging Curriculum and Personal Development.

Our formalised pupil Leadership roles are visible throughout all phases of the academy, they are the representatives of pupil voice and are role models to their peers.

Our pupil leadership programme is designed to nurture essential character virtues that contribute to our students' personal growth, resilience, and sense of responsibility. Through a range of leadership roles—from Year Group council representatives and prefects to Head boys and girls—students develop a set of core virtues that will serve them both in school and in the wider world. Key virtues we promote include:

1. Responsibility: Taking ownership of their duties, understanding the importance of reliability, and making decisions that positively impact others.
2. Empathy: Building the ability to listen, support, and appreciate diverse perspectives, fostering an inclusive school community.
3. Resilience: Learning to persevere through challenges, adapt to new situations, and approach setbacks as opportunities for growth.
4. Integrity: Acting with honesty, fairness, and strong moral principles, even when faced with difficult choices.
5. Respect: Developing an appreciation for others, regardless of background, and understanding the value of cooperation and teamwork.
6. Confidence: Building self-assurance in their ideas, communication skills, and abilities to lead, inspiring others through their example.

Our leadership programme support students in becoming positive role models within our school and empowered, thoughtful individuals beyond it.

Head Pupils: There is a democratically elected head boy and girl from year 7 to 13. These pupils are expected to lead by example, be active participants in all aspects of school life. They are also good communicators, that hold student council meetings twice per half term and gather the thoughts and opinions of others, to share with the SLT team. They lead assemblies, charity days, attend school events such as open evening, they also support extracurricular activities and collaborate with the lead for the RRS whole school award.

Prefects and senior prefects: The prefects help to support the running of the school, they work alongside staff and are upstanding members of the school community, they show courage and responsibility through supporting in the dinner halls, and encouraging those around them to be ready, respectful and safe. Prefects are year 7 and above, though senior prefects must be in year 9. The senior prefects support lunch time activities and support the work of the key stage 3 prefects.

Student Council: ‘Everyone has a voice’. Each form in school has 1 student council representative, they are tasked to be good communicators, they gather the thoughts, opinions and ideas of their form group and they represent them at the council meeting, led by the Head boys and girls and a member of the pastoral team.

Primary Student Leaderrship: Student leadership in primary school provides a vital foundation for young learners to develop confidence, empathy, and a sense of responsibility. By taking on roles such as school councillors, playground buddies, or eco-warriors, children begin to understand the importance of having a voice and contributing to their community. These early leadership opportunities encourage students to practice active listening and collaborative problem-solving as they represent their peers' ideas to teachers and staff. Ultimately, stepping into these roles helps children build the self-esteem and communication skills necessary to become active, engaged citizens as they transition toward secondary school.

Eco Warriors: Eco Warriors in secondary school are student-led activists dedicated to driving environmental change through hands-on action and sustainable advocacy. These groups lead impactful initiatives like planting native trees across the school site to create carbon sinks and boost local biodiversity. They also champion greener transport by encouraging peers to complete Bikeability courses, ensuring students have the safety skills and confidence to swap car journeys for cycling. By collaborating with staff to audit energy use and reduce waste, these students act as ambassadors to promote sustainability. Ultimately, being an Eco Warrior fosters a sense of global citizenship and equips students with the leadership skills needed to tackle the climate crisis head-on.