What is Student Leadership?

At The Willows, student leadership is a key part of being a Rights Respecting School. When pupils take on roles such as School Action Team, Playground Leaders or eco-monitors, they are helping to make sure that children’s rights are respected and upheld across the school. Leadership gives pupils the chance to enjoy their right to be heard (Article 12) and to take part in decisions that affect them, as well as their right to learn (Article 28) in a safe and supportive environment. By working together, our leaders show that respecting rights helps everyone to learn, play and succeed.

Have a read of our roles below!

School Action Team (SAT)

Our School Action Team is a group of children who work together to make sure everyone knows about children’s rights in our school. They meet regularly with Mrs Robinson to share suggestions, help make decisions, and plan projects or events that improve school life. The SAT give pupils a real voice, helping them to learn about responsibility, teamwork, and democracy, while making sure children’s ideas are heard and respected.

Well-being Champions

Our Well-being Champions are children who help to promote kindness, friendship, and positive mental health across the school. Mrs Livingston looks after our well-being champs and they meet regularly to discuss important things. Recently, for World Mental Health Day, all children wore a bright colour to school: a colour which made them feel healthy and happy! The well-being champions also might support children on the playground, check that everyone has someone to play with, and encourage others to look after their feelings and well-being. Well-being Champions help to lead activities, share ideas about how to make school a happy place, and remind everyone of the importance of caring for ourselves and each other.

Eco-Team

Our Eco Team help the school to care for the environment and make eco-friendly choices. They lead projects such as recycling, saving energy, reducing waste, or looking after the school grounds. This year, they worked hard on raising over £400 to provide eco friendly water bottles for ALL children across the school! The team encourages everyone to think about how their actions affect the planet and helps the school become more sustainable. By working together, they show leadership and responsibility while protecting the environment for the future.

Reading Buddies

Reading Buddies are a group of Upper Key Stage 2 children who support Key Stage 1 children with reading during lunchtimes in the library.  Each Key Stage 1 child is assigned a Key Stage 2 Buddy. This means they will see the same child each time they come in to read allowing them to build up a relationship and a bond over time. Twice a week Year 5 children take their Year 1 buddy into the library for 20-30 minutes to read their home-school reading book together, as do the Year 6 buddies with a Year 2 child. They spend some time reading the home-school reading book and then afterwards they choose a book from the library to share together, often with the older child reading to the younger child.  The Reading buddies are given training after applying for their role on how to help and support emerging readers so they learn how to coach (rather than tell) the younger child what to do.