Student Leadership

Student leaders play a vital role in the life of Grace Academy. They work with key staff in order to bring about positive change in many areas of academy life: rewards and sanctions, after-school enrichment, break and lunch times, charity and community events to name a few.

Any student interested in being a student leader should:

  • Consider themselves as a role model in all areas of academy life: behaviour, attendance, punctuality, uniform, participation, etc.
  • Be able to live out our five shared values of Amazing Grace, Mutual Respect, Genuine Integrity, Limitless Potential, and Intentional Excellence.
  • Be willing to attend and contribute to regular meetings and events, often after school.
  • Lead by example whether they are officially “on duty” or not.

Academy Student Ambassadors

Student leaders in Years 7, 8, and 9 serve as Academy Student Ambassadors (ASAs) and receive a badge to be won on their blazer. Their primary responsibility is to their Year group, meeting as a year group council, with their head of Year on a regular basis. These meetings are focused on to discussing issues, planning events, deciding rewards, and make recommendations relevant to the needs of their particular year group.

ASAs are regularly involved in representing the academy at parents’ evenings, transition events, community and charity events, student panels involving other schools, etc.

The ASAs also meet once a term with a member of the Academy Leadership Team to discuss issues which are relevant to the whole academy.

Prefects

Student leaders in Years 10 and 11 serve as Prefects and receive a special tie to be worn daily. Their primary responsibility is to their Year group, meeting as a Year group council, with their Head of Year, on a regular basis. These meetings are focused on to discussing issues, planning events, deciding rewards, and make recommendations relevant to the needs of their particular Year group. The Year 11 Committee also have special responsibilities around planning the prom, yearbook, leaver’s assembly, and other activities specific to Year 11.

All prefects are on a once-a-week rota to assist with supervision of lunch 1 day a week, particularly in the small gym area with the Year 7s. In exchange, Prefects may buy their lunch in the Thinking Cup Café each day, with the staff and Post 16 students. Prefects are regularly involved in representing the academy at parents’ evenings, transition events, community and charity events, student panels involving other schools, etc.

The Prefects also meet once a term with a member of the Academy Leadership Team to discuss issues which are relevant to the whole Academy.

Head Boy and Head Girl

All Year 11 Prefects are eligible to put themselves forward for Head Boy or Head Girl as well. The Heads of Year 11 will shortlist 2 boys and 2 girls, after interviewing all candidates. The remaining Prefects then vote as to which students become Head Boy and Head Girl and which will be Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl.

In addition to all regular Prefect duties, the Head Boy and Head Girl: help chair the Year 11 Prefect Committee; prepare and deliver 1 Year 11 assembly per term; prepare and deliver a speech at the Year 11 leaver’s assembly; and have lunch with the Principal and the Heads of the Post 16 Student Guild every half term to discuss the overall state of the Academy.