Here at Howden Junior School, Pupil Voice and Pupil-Led Action is at the heart of all we do. It is a force for meaningful and sustainable change.
Class meetings: every member of our community regularly contributes to shared discussion on a range of action points and debate topics. We are a part of the ‘Smart School Council Community’ (link below) and use this platform to share virtual meetings and collect our votes on action points, debate topics and pupils’ curriculum feedback.
https://home.smartschoolcouncils.org.uk
We also aim to cultivate the next generation of young leaders through opportunities such as:
- House/team Captains and Vice Captains
- Take the lead on planning and implementing school events, charity days and are influential role models for our four core values.
- Wellbeing ambassadors
- Working with Helen Byass, these pupils support their peers at break and lunch times with structured wellbeing activities and by creating a safe place to relax and reset.
- Pupil Voice and Diversity group
- Championing diversity within our school community by running focus groups, planning educational stalls and delivering assemblies.
- Lunch time club leaders
- From comic club, to art club and acting club to chess club, our leaders apply for this privilege and spend a full term running their club, with adult support.
- Year six mentors
- In summer term, our year six leaders support their peers across school. They demonstrate enthusiasm for their subjects and champion positive learning behaviours.
Miss Starkey regularly provides updates on clubs, class meeting results, house events, whole-school events and school improvement in our Friday celebration assemblies. Our shared ‘Pupil Voice’ display can be found in the school hall and displays all that we do. Children can vote on additional topics at lunch time or check upcoming charity events on the shared calendar.
Most importantly, continuous feedback is an integral part of who we are and how we value each and every voice within our community.
Pupil Leadership
At Howden Junior School, we recognise the importance and value of House and Vice House Captains and give the children the opportunity to apply for these posts as they enter Year Six.
All the children who serve as this academic year’s House and Vice House Captains applied in writing to their Head of House and then took part in a House election to determine who would be the best person to hold these positions.
This year we have four House Captains and four Vice House Captains. They lead our four Houses – Yellow, Red, Blue and Green.
House Captains and Vice House Captains are expected to an example to younger children, to embody the values and ethos of the school and to contribute to the wider community. They play a pivotal role in special days and themed weeks, assisting the staff in their planned activities.
Some of the key responsibilities of our House Captains include:
- To be a role model in terms of attitude, attendance, behaviour, manners and appearance to all members of the school community
- To liaise with other House Captains and staff members
- To communicate clearly and effectively with all members of their House
- To help organise and support House activities including, Inter-House competitions such as House Sports Day
- To support and model positive behaviour around the school
- To wear their House Captain’s badge proudly at all times