Student Leadership
We believe that students should have the opportunity to participate actively in academy life by taking up roles and responsibilities throughout the academic year in order to contribute to whole school improvement.
This is key to a deeper student engagement and enables our students to participate in the sort of leadership opportunities which prepare them for life in modern democratic Britain and a global society. A society where we value equal opportunities and one in which a variety of beliefs and opinions are heard.
The aims of student leadership at Verulam is to help our young people to build relationships and enable others to make a difference in our world. It is a shared process of building a stronger community, improving the way things are done, developing better relationships, showing compassion for others. As can be seen below student leadership opportunities also focus on improving the quality of learning and teaching in the classroom, supporting the school’s aim to be a place where everyone enjoys learning, is creative, happy to try new things and find new solutions and embrace their responsibilities. At Verulam, there are countless opportunities every day for our students to practise their leaderships skills, for example; leading parts of lessons, assisting their form tutor, helping to run clubs and workshops, charity fundraising, Sports Leadership and taking part in the ever-popular DofE programme.
Senior Prefect System
Senior Prefects, in Sixth Form, support the staff by carrying out duties that support the smooth running of the school and leading charity events.
Our elected Sixth Form student School Captain, Vice-Captain, Head Boy and Head girl along with a team of Senior Prefects organise a range of events throughout the year and take part in an array of school events such as the Abbey Service.
Year 11 Prefects support the school by participating in school events and supporting the Head of Year 11 in roles that show our Prefects to be role models for students in lower years.
Alongside our team of Year 11 Prefects, our House Captains contribute to the school by organising House events and leading their team of House Representatives from Years 7 to 10.
School Council
During the Autumn term we hold elections for each form to choose school council representatives. The announcement of the elected members to the School Council coincides with Parliament Week. The election is a free vote and students and staff are invited to take part. We use a ‘transferable vote’ system to identify the elected members and our Politics teacher uses this as an opportunity to inform students as to how to run a free and fair election. We believe that the more involved pupils are made to feel in the running of the school and the more they feel respected and valued, the better relationships are likely to be. Staff and pupils should see the Council as an important consultative body within the school and it is hoped that pupils will consider it prestigious and a valuable learning experience when elected by their peers to serve on it.
Civic Duty Programme
At Verulam we have a strong belief in the benefit of creating meaningful and sustainable partnerships which have a positive impact on society and help others.
There is a genuine desire among students and staff to engage in partnership and charitable work and a commitment to share our expertise, energy and facilities for the benefit of all within our local and wider community.
We give our students the opportunity to contribute to our Civic Duty Programme, regularly volunteering in the community in primary schools, supporting enrichment lessons, summer schools, supporting local, national and internal charities through volunteering, litter picking and environmental initiatives and fundraising.
At Verulam, students are actively encouraged to give their time and energy as well as contributing financially.
