Pupil Leadership
Pupil leadership continues to be a significant driver of school improvement, pupil engagement and personal development across Ash Green. This year, we have created over 100 leadership roles, giving a large number of children the chance to contribute meaningfully to school life while developing confidence, responsibility and a strong sense of belonging. The impact of these roles is clearly visible across curriculum areas, behaviour, wellbeing and community engagement.
- Impact on Pupil Confidence
Across all leadership groups, children have demonstrated increased confidence in speaking, presenting and sharing ideas. Many groups have led assemblies, supported whole‑school events, and contributed to decision‑making.
- Art Council completed a three‑page pupil voice survey and confidently shared ideas for improving art provision, including lunchtime clubs and a school gallery.
- Reading Heroes designed and led the entire World Book Day assembly, showing strong ownership and pride.
- Learning Council conducted break‑time and lunchtime surveys across KS1 and KS2 and fed back to the whole school during Star Assembly.
- RE Ambassadors wrote and delivered prayers, readings and introductions during Christmas and Easter services.
Children are increasingly able to articulate what is working well in school and what they would like to improve – a clear sign of growing agency and empowerment.
- Impact on Peer Support and Cross‑Phase Relationships
Leadership roles have strengthened relationships between year groups and created a more supportive school culture.
- Reading Heroes read weekly with KS1 children, boosting early reading confidence and creating positive role‑model relationships.
- Playground Leaders support younger children at lunchtimes, helping them join games, resolve small issues and feel included.
- Science Squad delivered workshops for KS1 and visited EYFS to promote science learning.
- Sports Ambassadors gathered pupil voice across year groups and supported whole‑school events such as “Let the Girls Play” day.
Children report feeling valued, trusted and proud to help others – and younger pupils benefit from increased encouragement, guidance and connection.
- Impact on Curriculum Engagement and Standards
Leadership roles have directly contributed to raising the profile of key curriculum areas.
Reading
- Daily story‑time bell, Star Reader awards and KS1 reading support have increased reading visibility and motivation.
- World Book Day was pupil‑designed and pupil‑led, strengthening whole‑school engagement.
Science
- Science Squad’s “Super Scientist” recognition and KS1 workshops have raised the profile of scientific enquiry.
- EYFS visits have helped embed early science vocabulary and curiosity.
Art
- Art Council’s postcard project has influenced practice across year groups and contributed to whole‑school displays and assemblies.
PE & Wellbeing
- Sports Ambassadors have gathered extensive pupil voice, supported Well Schools initiatives and promoted local clubs.
- Wellbeing Ambassadors have begun shaping wellbeing questionnaires and drop‑ins, supporting a culture of care.
Across subjects, children are not only participating – they are shaping the direction of curriculum experiences.
- Impact on Community Engagement and School Identity
Many leadership groups have strengthened links with families, the parish, local schools and the wider community.
- RE Ambassadors have represented the school at Trentham High School and engaged with the parish church.
- RUGS have visited multiple schools and settings, sharing experiences and representing Ash Green with maturity.
- Sports Ambassadors, Science Squad and Reading Heroes have all featured on Facebook, helping families see the value of pupil leadership.
- Displays across school (e.g., Playground Leaders, Science Squad) celebrate children’s contributions and reinforce a shared identity.
This visibility enhances pride, belonging and community confidence in the school.
- Impact on Personal Development and Character Education
Across all groups, children have developed:
- Leadership and teamwork
- Communication and presentation skills
- Responsibility and independence
- Problem‑solving and decision‑making
- Empathy and peer support
- Pride in representing the school
Examples include:
- Digital Leaders identifying how they want their role to grow and requesting more responsibility.
- P4C Leaders supporting visitors, leading enquiries and creating new resources for Happy Plates.
These experiences contribute directly to our personal development curriculum and prepare children for future leadership roles.
Summary
Pupil leadership at Ash Green is thriving. Children are not only participating – they are influencing, shaping and improving school life. The impact is clear in:
- stronger pupil voice
- improved confidence and communication
- enhanced curriculum engagement
- better peer relationships
- increased community involvement
- deeper personal development
The breadth and quality of leadership opportunities reflect a school culture where children are valued, trusted and empowered.
Learning Council
Our Learning Council members:
Here are the Learning Council’s definitions of our school values:
RUGs
Really Useful Generation Students’ Group (RUGS) – ‘Inspiring Development Strategies for Learning Across the MAT’
Ash Green – Bobby Moorhouse & Freddie Daw
The RUGS is the name for our MAT Student Council. It stands for the Really Useful Generation Students’ Group. Its membership is (usually) a boy and a girl from each of the academies within the Trust elected by their own student communities. Click the link to find out more about our RUGS: https://www.societastrust.org.uk/our-rugs/
Playground Leaders
At our school, we believe playtime is just as important as learning time — and our Playground Leaders help make every break fun, safe, and inclusive for everyone!
Who are Playground Leaders? Playground Leaders are a team of responsible, friendly, and enthusiastic pupils who volunteer to help make playtimes enjoyable for all. They are trained to support younger children, encourage positive behaviour, and lead fun games and activities.
What do they do?
· Organise games and activities that everyone can join in with
· Help children make friends and feel included
· Promote kindness, teamwork, and fair play
· Support staff by helping to keep the playground safe and happy
Why is it important? Playground Leaders help build a stronger school community. They develop leadership skills, boost their confidence, and act as role models for others. Most importantly, they make sure no one feels left out during playtime.
We’re proud of our Playground Leaders and the brilliant work they do every day.
Happy Plates Helpers
Lunchtime is a special part of the school day , a chance to refuel, relax, and enjoy time with friends. To help make this time smooth and enjoyable for everyone, we have a fantastic team of Happy Plates Helpers!
Who are Happy Plates Helpers? Happy Plates Helpers are responsible and caring pupils who volunteer to support in the dining hall during lunch. They help younger children, encourage good manners, and make sure the lunch experience is positive for all.
What do they do?
· Welcome children into the hall and help them find seats
· Support younger pupils with clearing trays
· Encourage polite behaviour and good table manners
· Help keep the hall tidy by assisting with clean-up and organisation
· Promote a calm and friendly atmosphere during lunch
Why is it important? Happy Plates Helpers play a key role in creating a respectful and caring lunchtime environment. They develop leadership and teamwork skills, and they set a great example for others. Their kindness and helpfulness make a big difference every day.
Reading Heroes
I am exceptionally proud of our reading achievements at Ash Green Primary, even more so at present with the development of our very own Reading Heroes:
Our Reading Heroes are our vision and our voice for reading at the academy – a group of children who have an unshakeable belief that reading is magic. Our young reading leaders are a group of children who meet regularly with Miss Blake in order to continually strive ‘for more reading’ for our children. We believe that the beauty of reading at Ash Green is that it is completely democratic. Everyone has a say. Every child’s voice counts, and everyone has the chance to paint the world from their own perspective – which for me, is the most important thing of all. The roles of the reading heroes include:
- Supporting with ‘whole school reading initiatives’ to raise the profile of reading
- Supporting with holding our teachers and children to account – they are exceptionally fantastic at checking learning environments!
- Creating 1:1 reading opportunities for key stage 1 children to read at lunch times and break times
- Having a voice and meeting regularly to discuss how the subject can be improved even further
Best of all, they wear super hero capes!
Sports Ambassadors
At Ash Green, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to lead, inspire, and develop a lifelong love for physical activity. Our Sports Ambassadors are a dedicated team of pupils selected for their leadership potential, passion for sport, and commitment to our school values.
They act as the “youth voice” for PE and school sport, working closely with staff to ensure that every student feels included and motivated to stay active.
What Do Our Sports Ambassadors Do?
Our Ambassadors take on a variety of responsibilities throughout the school year to raise the profile of PE and healthy living. Their key roles include:
- Leading Playground Activities: Organizing and refereeing games during lunch breaks to ensure playtimes are active, fun, and inclusive for all year groups.
- Role Modelling: Setting an example of excellent sportsmanship, fair play, and resilience, both in PE lessons and during competitive fixtures.
- Equipment Management: Taking responsibility for our sports stores, ensuring equipment is safe, organized, and ready for use.
- Event Support: Assisting in the planning and delivery of major school events, such as Sports Day, intra-school house competitions, and charity “fun runs.”
- Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Delivering presentations during assemblies and creating posters to share the benefits of physical and mental well-being.
- Pupil Voice: Acting as a bridge between the students and the PE Lead, sharing ideas from their peers on how to improve our sports clubs and curriculum.
Science Squad
The Science Squad is a group of KS2 children who help make science fun and exciting at Ash Green. They share ideas from their classmates, help plan Science projects, and talk to teachers about what could make Science lessons even better. Being on the Science Squad means working as a team, using your voice, and helping everyone enjoy learning about the world around us.
Each Science lesson, they choose a ‘Super Scientist’ from their class:
P4C leaders
At Ash Green Primary Academy, our P4C (Philosophy for Children) pupil leaders play a vital role in fostering thoughtful dialogue and critical thinking across the school. These dedicated pupils provide valuable feedback on lessons to Mrs Murphy, ensuring that P4C continues to grow and improve. They actively promote the principles of P4C among their peers and have even supported our parent sessions, helping to share the benefits of philosophical enquiry beyond the classroom.
Art Ambassadors
At Ash Green, we pride ourselves on offering a vibrant, creative art curriculum, with the firm belief that our children’s ideas should be at the very heart of their learning. Therefore, we decided to set up a group of Art Ambassadors to enhance our art provision. We asked children to submit their creative entries to show us they could be true ambassadors who eloquently champion art. Twelve children from Years 1-6 were selected to be part of the pupil-led group to harness the ideas of all children across school. The group meets every half term to generate new and exciting ideas that all our children benefit from. Have a look at the gallery to see their applications to be part of the team:
Wellbeing Ambassadors
Our Wellbeing Ambassadors are pupils who help make our school a happy, safe, and supportive place for everyone. They are kind role models who listen to others, promote kindness and inclusion, and help pupils share their worries or ideas with adults. Wellbeing Ambassadors support wellbeing activities in school and help others understand that it is okay to talk about feelings and ask for help. We are very proud of the positive difference they make to our school community every day.
Digital Leaders
Digital leaders are a group of children from Years 5 & 6 who wish to use their own digital skills to help their peers and increase the profile of Computing across school. They are developing help sheets for out IT suite for children to use in their lessons, help teachers to support learners during computing lessons and ensure that our ICT suite is always ready to be used. Being a digital leader means using your skills, working as a team and helping everyone to become more confident in an ever growing digital world.
RE Ambassadors
Meet our RE ambassadors! These ten children, from across KS2, have all applied to represent their classes in order to make RE exciting at Ash Green. They work with Miss Moss to come up with lots of great ways to look at RE across school and to engage their peers with the subject. They are brilliant at teamwork and are always busy thinking of different ways in which they can monitor and improve our RE curriculum for their peers.
