Student Leadership
Student Leadership: Re-engaging Students Through Voice and Responsibility
What this means for parents and carers
We know that disengagement can come from many different experiences—anxiety, low confidence, gaps in learning, friendship difficulties, or a sense that school is something that happens to a young person rather than with them. One of the most effective ways to rebuild trust and motivation is to help students experience genuine responsibility and influence. That is why we place student leadership at the centre of our culture.
When students feel listened to and can see change happen, their sense of belonging grows—and for many students this is a key step towards improving engagement, participation and attendance.
We want every student to develop into a mature and confident citizen—equipped for the demands of the 21st-century workplace, training providers and further education. To achieve this, students must have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the educational experience they receive.
We do this through Student Voice: a planned programme where students share feedback, propose ideas and take part in decisions that affect learning, routines and the Academy environment.
Student Voice sessions take place regularly and are supported by staff so that all students—including those who have found mainstream settings difficult—can contribute in a safe and respectful way.
This helps to re-engage students because it creates a partnership: students see that their views matter, staff respond, and improvements are made together.
The feedback gathered through Student Voice strengthens students’ sense of belonging and helps us create the calm, consistent and supportive climate needed for students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Aims of our Student Voice and Leadership Programme
- To increase engagement by giving students real roles, responsibilities and reasons to participate in Academy life.
- To develop the skills students need for future success: communication, independence, teamwork, and mature relationships with peers and staff.
- To build a culture of high expectations, where students are supported to improve attendance, learning habits and behaviour—without shame, and with clear guidance.
- To grow leadership capacity through genuine opportunities to influence decisions, contribute ideas and see outcomes.
- To shape an appropriate curriculum and enrichment offer by formally capturing student views—within the Academy and, where appropriate, beyond it.
How parents and carers can support student leadership
- Ask your child what they have contributed through Student Voice (even small ideas matter) and what they would like to improve next.
- Encourage them to share concerns with staff early—many students re-engage when they feel problems are noticed and addressed promptly.
- Celebrate leadership behaviours at home: turning up, being prepared, helping others, speaking respectfully and trying again after a setback.
- If you feel your child is struggling to engage, contact the Academy so we can agree simple, achievable leadership or participation targets together.