Pupil Leaders

The School Council is made up of a boy and a girl from each year group in the school, beginning in Year 2.

The School Council are part of the pupil voice within school, listening to the views of all children and communicating these clearly. They decide on which charities they would like to support throughout the year and think about ways to raise money. They also consider ways of improving Holy Family and many of their ideas have been put in place over recent years.

At the start of each academic year, each class elects new members, choosing from willing volunteers! Each member of the School Council is designated a role which carries specific responsibilities.

Achievements:

• Building strong links with Parish sister school, St. Bernadette’s.
• Development of our school lunchtime experience.
• Campaigning for safer roads around our school with Jess Phillips MP.

At Holy Family we have introduced Attendance Champs, to not only improve attendance throughout school but to enable our pupils to role model outstanding school attendance. They will take ownership of helping to improve class attendance and punctuality.

Attendance Champs are chosen by their class peers and teachers. They will encourage the children in their class to attend school every day and will share the daily and weekly class attendance within their class. Attendance Champs are presented with badges and are wear these with pride. In addition to this, they are invited to support the Head Teacher on the gate to promote punctuality at school.

The Attendance Champs meet regularly with the Attendance Officer to monitor the attendance of individual classes within school, sharing percentages and targets, on a weekly basis within school assemblies. They support initiatives to further improve attendance and also give out a range of rewards to pupils within school.

Our Eco Warriors have been elected to work for our school environment and God’s creation. They have an important role within school to lead us in our work towards the Live Simply Award. Pope Francis has addressed us in his letter Laudato Si to work together to protect our common home.

Together our Eco Warriors will lead us to live simply, live sustainably and to live in solidarity with our fraternal family.

At Holy Family we have four house teams: St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke and St John.

Our House Captains are children from Year 6 that have been democratically elected to the role. Each candidate prepares and delivers a speech to their house members, and then all members are given a vote to elect their captains.

The House Captains are responsible for leading their houses at sports events in school, representing the school at event outside of school, and motivating their house members to be the best they can be. They are also responsible to collecting and totalling their house points each week.

Our team of Liturgical leaders are made up of children from Year 6.

The children are asked to apply for this role via a letter in which they explain which qualities, values and virtues they process which would make them an excellent role model to the rest of the school.

The Liturgical Leaders are a vital part of our school’s Catholic life and Collective Worship. They welcome guests to our school, giving tours and answering questions, prepare and lead whole school liturgies and assemblies, help evaluate our learning environments and collective worship and take charge of communal prayer areas throughout the school. They are true ambassadors of Holy Family.

Mini Vinnies is a St Vincent de Paul group made up of two children from each class.

Guided by a shared sense of purpose, the Mini Vinnies meet regularly to explore innovative ways of helping others who are in need, both within our school community and beyond. The Mini Vinnies show their love for others through contributing to the common good. They work together and shine a light on the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate by extending a helping hand in times of need.

This year the Mini Vinnies have been very busy fundraising to support others. They organised guess the number of eggs in the jar and raised lots of money for our Lenten charities. Also during Advent, the Mini Vinnies ran a treat bag sale to raise money to support our fraternal families showing their dedication to helping others.

The Wellbeing Team plays a vital role in creating a positive ethos within our school, where children are encouraged to support and think of one another. Under the guidance and supervision of the Wellbeing Team, pupils will have the opportunity to contribute to a nurturing environment that reflects our Catholic Social Teaching principles, particularly the call to love our neighbours and care for the vulnerable.

The Wellbeing Team consists of pupils who:

• Care for Others: They demonstrate a genuine concern for the mental health and wellbeing of their peers, living out  the Catholic value of charity and the principle of solidarity. By working to make a difference, they reflect the teachings of Jesus, who called us to love and support one another.
• Support New Pupils: Members of the Wellbeing Team are committed to helping pupils who are new to the school find friends and settle in. This aligns with the Catholic Social Teaching principle of community, as they foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels included and valued.
• Provide a Listening Ear: They are available to listen to children who wish to talk about their feelings or concerns, embodying the virtue of compassion. This practice reflects the Catholic value of empathy, recognising the importance of being present for others in their times of need.
• Develop Knowledge of Mental Health: Team members are willing to enhance their understanding of mental health and wellbeing to better support their peers. This commitment to learning reflects the Catholic principle of stewardship, as they take responsibility for their own growth in order to help others.
• Research and Reflect: They work collaboratively with the Wellbeing Team to assess the effectiveness of the school’s initiatives related to mental health and wellbeing. This links with the Catholic value of discernment, as they seek to understand how best to serve their community and promote the wellbeing of all pupils.
• Educate Peers on Wellbeing: The Wellbeing Team actively engages in educating fellow pupils about how they can look after their mental health and wellbeing. This initiative reflects the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the common good, as they strive to empower their peers with knowledge and resources for healthier, happier lives.
• Support One Another: They are dedicated to being a source of support for other pupils, fostering a sense of belonging and community. This links with the Catholic value of fraternity, encouraging a spirit of unity and collaboration among all members of the school community.

Through their compassionate actions and commitment to the wellbeing of others, the Wellbeing Team embodies the core values of our Catholic faith. They play an essential role in nurturing a school environment that prioritises mental health, fosters positive relationships, and reflects our shared responsibility to care for one another.

Our Play Leaders are a dedicated group of caring pupils who have received training to organise and support other children play during break times on the playground. Their role is to encourage participation in games and foster friendships among children. By embodying our gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching principles, they actively contribute to our mission of creating a nurturing and inclusive school community. The leadership skills they develop not only enhance their own self-esteem and self-confidence but also promote physical activity and positive interactions within the school.

Essential Qualities of a Play Leader:

• Role Model: Play Leaders demonstrate positive behaviour and attitudes, reflecting the virtue of integrity. They inspire others to follow by living out our gospel values of love and respect for one another.
• Kindness: They show compassion and understanding towards others, embodying the virtue of charity. This links with the  principle of the dignity of the human person, recognising the  worth of every pupil.
• Supportive: Play Leaders assist other pupils and encourage participation, demonstrating the virtue of service. Their actions reflect the principle of solidarity, promoting a sense of community and belonging among all children.
• Rule Abider: They follow and promote the established playground rules, showcasing the virtue of justice. This links with the  principle of the common good, ensuring that all pupils can enjoy a safe and respectful play environment.
• Respectful: By treating equipment and shared spaces with care, Play Leaders demonstrate stewardship, a vital aspect of our faith. This reflects the  principle of caring for God’s creation, fostering a sense of responsibility for our environment.
• Integrity: They act honestly, reliably, and can be trusted by their peers, embodying the virtue of honesty. This aligns with the Catholic value of truthfulness, which is essential for building trust and respect within the community.
• Team Player: Play Leaders collaborate effectively with others, demonstrating the virtue of humility and the importance of working together. This reflects the principle of community, highlighting the significance of collective efforts in achieving common goals.

Our school Maths Ambassadors are a dedicated group of children, with two representatives from each year group, from Reception to Year 6.

The enthusiastic ambassadors play a vital role in enhancing the love of maths across the school and they actively suggest ways to promote maths within their classes. One of their key initiatives is running an after-school times tables club to support Year 4 pupils in mastering their multiplication skills. Additionally, they promote the ‘Number of the Week’ across the school, encouraging curiosity and mathematical thinking in fun and creative ways.

Their leadership helps to inspire a positive maths culture within our school.