Teaching Our Children to be Leaders

At St. Michael’s, we are developing a programme of children as leaders. Throughout the school, there are opportunities for children to practise these skills.

School Council 

School council members are voted in, after explaining to the class why they would be a good councillor (linked to our British Values) by the class and attend meetings each week with SLT and the Headteacher. Last year, the children were asked to lead CLFs (Class Learning Forums) asking other children in the class to use our school values of ENRICH to help identify what that should look like within our school community. The children also interviewed the headteacher and deputy headteacher candidates.

Here is an example of a speech written by a Year 6 pupil:

I promise to do my best to be a role model to many. I will help people, to let them know that they should help others. I will do my best in and out of our school. These promises shall be met because my passion for this school is immense. I believe in the pupils, parents and the teachers. I promise to give people hope, integrity and the nurture that everyone deserves.

F.P

House Captains 

At the start of Year 6, teachers, and members of the school’s SLT decide who should be the representatives of the school. We have four houses: yellow, blue, green and red. There are two house captains for each colour. These children lead tours around the school; assemblies in their house colours and are responsible for the collection and announcements of team points every two weeks.

Ethos Team 

The Ethos Team meet once every half term with Father Ben and some parents from our school community. Within these meetings, children are responsible for articulating and explaining to the parents their understanding of the school vision and how it is expressed in the day-to-day life of the school. The children make suggestions and put actions into place to further develop this. 

The Ethos Team also represent the school during Remembrance Day services at the cemetery.

Play Leaders 

Mrs Bone delivers training to Year 6 pupils in September, who are intereested in becoming a Play Leader. They support Years 1 and 2 at lunchtimes playing games and demonstrating teamwork and cooperation.

Sports' Leaders 

Mr Curtis works with children in Year 6, who wish to take extra responsibility for sports. These children support teachers with equipment and help Mr Curtis with sports' events such as Sports' Day.

Librarians

Mrs Winslade trains children in Years 5 and 6 to become the school librarians. These children halp us daily with keeping the library working and looking fabulous. We couldn't do it without them!

Peer Mediators 

Peer mediators in Year 6 are trained by Mrs Heagarty in the Autumn term. Within these sessions, children are taught how to resolve conflict between younger children and help them to make friends again. The children are encouraged to seek adult support if a situation arises which they can’t resolve.

Courageous Advocates

Community Links

Mrs Winslade is leading the Community Links group. She has met with Pegasus Court and the children visit once a half term. Last half term, they spoke to the residents about a special memory and took a photograph with them. Last year, the group worked with Megan Roberts on a community arts project with older memebers of the community. They completed Nature Doodles together.

Global Links

We have joined the British School Council and have twinned with Freehold School in Kenya. The Global Links team have created some slide shows about our school and Exeter and sent these to Kenya. Mrs Bone and Mr Githui have videoed each other and in September, we will be joining together to report back on some of our country's history and geography. We're looking forward to learning more about the Rift Valley.

Eco Team 

The Eco Team is led by Mrs Eatherington and have worked with Devon Wildlife Trust in the past couple of years to improve our environment. They have competed in the Exeter Sustainability Award.

You can see their artwork in the hall and worked with Jen Gale from 'Let's Go Zero' looking at ways to improve the school's sustainability. Jen has given us lots of ideas for next year so we're very excited!

Wildlife Champions

Our Wildlife Champions have been busy making bug hotels this term. They have created an assembly about endangered animals and how we can help them. Last year, the group worked with Megan Roberts on a community arts project with older memebers of the community. They completed Nature Doodles together.