Pictured from left to right; Safwar, Aashir, Zara and Niamh.
Neil Wilson, assistant principal at Waterhead Academy, explains the range of student leadership opportunities at the academy and why this is important for their pupils
Waterhead Academy is a community in which students are fully-integrated into a range of student leadership roles that support the work of our academy and the wider community. Students develop leadership skills through a variety of opportunities which impact positively on the academy’s teaching, learning and wellbeing for both students and staff, as well as providing a platform for them to make a positive contribution to our local community.
The breadth of student leadership opportunities available at the academy also enables our students to develop a range of employability and life skills to support their future post-16 education, training and employment pathways. Our current academy head girl, Niamh, and deputy head boy, Aashir perfectly summarise the importance of student leadership roles at our academy.
“Hi, I’m Niamh, head girl at Waterhead Academy. Being a member of the student leadership team is about the empowerment of youth voice and it enables us (young people) to form our own paths and legacies at Waterhead Academy.
“It’s a community in which we rely on each other as inspiration for a better and brighter future. I have personally set up extra-curricular clubs, started an eco-committee, participated in charity events and found the support to take a leap into new innovative ideas for the academy. In summary, student leadership provides a glimpse into the next generation of leaders and change makers!”
“Hi, I’m Aashir, deputy head boy at Waterhead Academy. Part of my role is to work alongside staff and students to create a positive environment, where our students work to achieve their personal best and make a positive contribution to our local community.
“During my role as deputy head boy I have developed a range of leadership skills including communication, teamwork and initiative. It is an honour for me to be the deputy head boy at Waterhead Academy and I strive to uphold our core values of ‘responsibility, determination and success’ on a daily basis.”
Student leadership opportunities
Year 7-11 leadership teams
Members of the appointed student leadership teams apply by completing an application form and undertaking a formal interview process. Successful applicants must demonstrate exemplary behaviour and model the academy core values to their peers. Student leaders undertake leadership training, support at key events, and have additional school duties. The respective heads of year oversee the student leadership teams.
House captains
Every student and staff member at the academy are allocated to one of three houses; Dovestone, Strinesdale and Hartshed; house captains play an integral role in the organisation, planning and officiating at the range of academy house competitions. House captains must demonstrate leadership qualities through recruiting students from their respective houses to participate in competitions, as well as being a role model to their fellow peers through modelling the academy’s core values.
Subject ambassadors
Subject ambassadors are students who show a flair, apparent ‘natural ability’ and/or commitment to a particular subject in school. They are those who are likely to read around the subject and find opportunities to learn about elements of the subject independently. Subject ambassadors contribute to their appointed department through participating in activities such as open evenings, transition days, student voice initiatives and interview panels.
Proud ambassadors
Proud ambassadors play an integral role in promoting and celebrating diversity within our academy. The proud ambassadors meet on a regular a basis to plan and implement a range of initiatives to promote and celebrate diversity within our academy. They also receive regular training from a range of organisations including Oldham Youth Council and the national charity, Just Like Us.
Health and wellbeing ambassadors
Health and wellbeing ambassadors work towards promoting positive health and wellbeing initiatives to students and staff throughout the academy. They undertake regular training and support with planning and implementing the academy health and wellbeing strategy. As an affiliated Kooth ambassador school students also receive additional opportunities to work towards achieving additional qualifications.
Eco academy committee
Our eco committee meets regularly to discuss environmental issues and actions. Our focus is on developing a growing understanding of litter, energy, waste, water, environment and healthy living. Furthermore, the eco academy committee contributes to whole school initiatives and present at SLT and governing body meetings.
Sports leaders
Sports leaders are selected by the PE department based on effort, participation and commitment to sport. Sports leaders assist members of the PE team in a range of ways including notifying their peers of sports fixtures, organising, and officiating at, sports-based house competitions, leading warm ups and cool downs during lessons and the promotion of enrichment opportunities.
Waterhead Arts Council ambassadors
The Arts Council plays an integral role in planning and facilitating a range of performing arts initiatives at the academy. The Arts Council showcase their work by assisting with planning and implementing academy shows, performing in assemblies and participating in a range of community initiatives.
Our Year 11 student senior leadership team members are pictured receiving their Year 11 Waterhead Academy ‘Black Blazers’ at the annual awards evening; this is a Waterhead Academy tradition where all members of our Year 11 student leadership team receive a bespoke ‘black blazer’. Presenting the ‘black blazers’ to our students is Hamra Hanif-Ali, former Waterhead Academy head girl and current Oldham youth mayor.
Be the first to comment