Student Leadership
Student Leadership Team 2023-2024
Farrah Scofield
Head Student
I am Farrah Scofield and I am a Head Student at Willingdon Community School.
My area of responsibilities are:
· Overseeing student leadership projects and decisions.
· Supporting our two Deputy Head Students with the school newspaper and communication projects to help our team.
· Peer mentoring younger students so that they have a place to go for support and to ask questions whenever they need.
· Leading by example, with Toby, to lead a wide, bright, and positive team that want to make a difference.
A bit about me:
I am very creative– I enjoy English, Art and Business Studies and bring this into everything I do, trying to make projects and goals imaginative and interesting. I love to travel and see new places and cultures to widen my perspective.
My main skills are in leadership, communication, and a focus on wellbeing. I am passionate about young people’s mental health and that is why I joined the Student Leadership Team – to make a difference and support our student body with a voice.
Toby Shepherd
Head Student
Hello, my name is Toby Shepherd and I attend Willingdon Community School. I am one of the Head Students.
My areas of responsibilities are:
1) Improving the peer-to-peer support for each individual subject so that everyone benefits the most from one another.
2) Participating in the launch, planning and development of our House system.
3) Promoting and implementing enrichment activities for all year groups.
4) Offering various fundraising, volunteering, and collective projects for all students to partake in.
A little about me:
I am incredibly sporty; I am a sprinter competing for clubs and thoroughly enjoy competing in different locations. I am always looking to meet new people and provide guidance to anyone who needs it.
My best qualities are that I'm approachable, nice, ambitious, and excellent at teamwork. I joined the Student Leadership team because I have a strong desire to give every student a voice.
Our Head Students
As Head Students, we are the main representatives for our student community and we can be called upon at any time should you have any queries. Our Student Leadership Team, consists of a variety of roles for students from all year group. These include: Deputy and Assistant Head Students; Senior Prefects; Student Council Representatives and a wide range of Subject Leaders.
We are a vibrant school that actively supports diversity and individuality. Each student is encouraged to pursue any areas of interest through the wide variety of enrichment clubs offered at Willingdon. This is also a great opportunity to solidify friendships and meet new people.
At Willingdon, our teachers are encouraging and supportive- they strive to provide us with engaging, varied lessons which push us to achieve our full potential and make progress every lesson. Every day the values of Personal Excellence: Compassion, Respect, Courtesy, Honesty and Ambition are embedded into each student, helping us to be the best versions of ourselves! At Willingdon, we value student voice immensely as it allows us to improve our school environment and ensures that all members of our school community are heard, happy and healthy.
Students leave Willingdon Community School feeling confident that they will have the skillset, qualities, and qualifications to achieve all their ambitions.
Our Deputy Head Students
Krystal Baily
Deputy Head Student
Matthew Searle
Deputy Head Student
George Kemp
Deputy Head Student
Elektra Sabattini
Deputy Head Student
Krystal Baily
Deputy Head Student
I am Krystal Baily. I am Deputy Head Student at Willingdon Community School.
My area of responsibility are:
· Writing and editing the school newsletter, making sure all key information and events happening in the school are reaching everyone in the school as well as parents/ carers.
· Peer mentoring younger students, allowing them to have a place for support and to have any questions answered.
A bit about me:
I enjoy Art a lot, as well as being outside, painting, drawing and going for walks.
Some of my skills consist of communication and supporting others. I am passionate about mental health and making sure everyone is able to get the support they need whenever they need it. This is why I joined the Student Leadership team.
Matthew Searle
Deputy Head Student
I am Matthew Searle and I am Deputy Head Student at Willingdon Community School.
My aims and responsibilities for my year as Deputy Head are:
· To make students’ transition from year 6 to year 7 as stress-free as possible.
· To try and get every student involved in the school's activities.
· I hope to support the inclusion of more enrichment activities after school.
· I hope to develop more events and have more charities involved with our school.
A bit about me and what I like to do:
I play football for Eastbourne Borough I have represented the school sports team. I like gaming and speaking to friends.
My main skills are teamwork, listening and compassion. I am passionate about helping students achieve their goals and that is why I joined the Student Leadership team.
George Kemp
Deputy Head Student
I am George Kemp and I am a Deputy Head Student in the Student Leadership team at Willingdon Community School.
My area of responsibilities are:
· Leading and supporting students with fundraising and charitable projects.
· Leading and supporting Student Voice and all the areas that come with it such as organizing meetings and assemblies and passing on suggestions and ideas.
· Helping and supporting the school to develop and grow our House System.
A bit about myself:
I am very active – I enjoy playing football, table tennis and hockey. I love to go out with my friends and socialize with everyone.
My main skills are in organization and arrangement. I am passionate about making the school more student-run and that is why I joined the Student Leadership team – to make sure everyone's voice is heard.
Elektra Sabattini
Deputy Head Student
I am Elektra Sabattini, one of the Deputy Head Students at Willingdon Community School.
My areas of responsibility include:
Being part of our ‘Communications’ team, which involves editing, writing, and overseeing our school newspaper as well as our new school podcast. I am involved in organising and possibly leading the assemblies at school for the various year groups and Houses. This can include choosing particular themes for assemblies as well as responding to topics that students want to discuss, taking into consideration what will be most beneficial for the students at our school.
A bit about me:
I typically enjoy playing sports as well as spending time outdoors in the fresh air, as I find it relaxing and stress-relieving. I tend to also be very academically oriented and am interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the future, particularly neurology as I am interested in the power of the mind. I am looking forward to be able to have a positive influence on someone’s life, however small that may be.
Our Senior Prefects
Jessica Collins
Senior Prefect
Elijah Wyman-Walshaw
Senior Prefect
Jessica Deadman
Senior Prefect
Evie Steedman
Senior Prefect
Alfie Richardson
Senior Prefect
Emily Ashcroft
Senior Prefect
Jessica Collins
Senior Prefect
I am Jess Collins and I am Senior Prefect at Willingdon Community School.
My areas of responsibility are:
· Supporting the Leadership Team and Student Council to develop a House system.
· Working with the Leadership Team to promote fundraising around the school.
· Developing opportunities for collaboration with younger students.
A bit about me:
I enjoy team sports like netball which I play in and out of school. This has really helped to develop my sense of teamwork. I love travelling to discover new places, and I like spending time with my family and friends.
My main skills are organisation and listening. I really enjoy working with other people, talking through challenges and looking for positive solutions. I can normally be found supporting school projects like the Fireworks Night and other ‘Friends of Willingdon’ events, fundraising at Awards Evenings and supporting School Productions like the play and Phoenix festival. I enjoy being an active part of the community and I hope that I can encourage other people to do that as well.
Elijah Wyman-Walshaw
Senior Prefect
Hi, my name is Elijah Wyman-Walshaw and I am Senior Prefect. My hobbies are rock climbing, BMX, and having walks in the woods.
I feel that I have many traits that are helpful for supporting the Leadership team:
· I am a compassionate and fun person and easily approachable.
· I am also a very thoughtful and innovative person
· I am a very sporty person
· I am very helpful at taking care of our international students and also if we have visitors from other schools.
· I am a mindful and always there for someone no matter the problem.
As a Senior Prefect I am responsible for supporting assemblies and developing ways to give all students opportunities to be involved in them.
I am always involved in supporting Sports Day, team assemblies and other events. I have also volunteered to help my team with helping mental health around the school and in creating a safe environment where students can talk with each other about how they feel.
Jessica Deadman
Senior Prefect
Hello, my name is Jessica Deadman and I am a Senior Prefect at Willingdon Community School.
My areas of responsibilities are:
Peer mentoring and helping to assist the mental health of younger students so that they have a place to go for reassurance, support and to ask questions.
To support and deliver ideas for the new student newsletter.
My key area of focus will be on Student Voice, making sure that all voices are heard and ideas are delivered by their chosen representatives.
A bit about me:
I am very charitable - I love giving back to our community, supporting those in need and volunteering where I can. I enjoy travelling (especially abroad) with my family, thrill- seeking adventures and meeting and socialising with new people.
My main skills are communication, teamwork, charity and the ability to empathise with a variety of people. I am passionate about young people’s mental health and improving the school community with the students’ welfare is my main interest. This inspired me to join the Leadership Team - to make a difference.
Evie Steedman
Senior Prefect
I am Evie Steedman and I am a Senior Prefect at Willingdon Community School.
My area of responsibilities are:
· Helping the Head Students in developing the school House system.
· Helping plan and coordinate projects and events.
· Being part of the wellbeing/mental health group inside the Student Leadership team to help highlight student struggles and help to fix them and support pupils.
· Being a reliable source for the younger years to go to if they need help or advice.
A bit about me:
I am very into musical theatre-I enjoy dancing in our school’s dance shows and clubs and I also take part in singing lessons supplied by the school. My main skills are in speaking and communication. I strive for inclusivity of pupils and staff and am determined to make a difference. I’m looking forward to contributing towards making the school the best it can be.
Alfie Richardson
Senior Prefect
My name is Alfie Richardson and I'm a Senior Prefect at Willingdon school.
My job is to collaborate with the rest of the Student Leadership team in order to work through ideas together and aid in the organisation of school events like our new House System. This would also include fundraising/charity projects, mentoring younger students, preparing the younger students for assemblies as well as supporting students and staff throughout the school.
I'm a keen drummer- this has helped boost my confidence. I’m also a passionate football fan; I support Brighton and I play for the Willingdon Athletic U16s team which has helped to both improve my confidence and resilience. All these skills that I have acquired through hobbies have amalgamated in order to give me the skills to take into my role.
If you see me around school, feel free to stop me to ask me for help, or to give me your ideas which I can help you with, or bring to future meetings.
Emily Ashcroft
Senior Prefect
I am Emily Ashcroft and I am Senior Prefect at Willingdon Community School.
My area of responsibilities are:
· Helping the Prefect Team in supporting the school to develop our House system.
· Leading my House in gaining achievement points and supporting students with fundraising and charitable projects.
· Peer mentoring younger students so that they have a place to go for support and to ask questions.
· Helping organise enrichment clubs to enable students to get involved in the things they love.
A bit about me:
I am very sporty – I enjoy netball and play for the school team and outside of school. My main skills are communication and teamwork. I am passionate about young people’s mental and physical health and that is why I joined the Student Leadership team – to make a difference.
Our Student Leadership Team
At Willingdon Community School we believe that we have a responsibility to develop leadership skills in all students. School life provides many opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills. Through daily interactions with peers and teachers, shared responsibilities and by contributing to decision making forums, students at Willingdon Community School have the opportunity to become part of the school student leadership team.
Student leaders have the potential to influence the school environment and the behaviour of their fellow students by becoming advocates for positive change in the school community.
Students who actively participate in school life and feel that they are encouraged to share their ideas and opinions, feel respected and want to make further contributions to the school.
Our Aims
The aim of the student leadership procedures is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to build leadership skills through training programmes and during lessons that reflect the core values taught at Willingdon Community School, including ambition, respect, courtesy, compassion and honesty. At Willingdon Community School we encourage and provide a variety of ways for our students to become involved as leaders within the school setting.
The school aims to empower students to work in partnership with staff towards shared goals and to enable creativity to flourish as the school community benefits from the wealth of experiences, ideas, skills and sense of fun that students bring. The school prepares students for Higher Education and for achieving personal and professional excellence in life after formal education.
The school encourages these leadership roles to be spread amongst the student body and across all year groups. Student Leaders are expected to work with staff, students and GIt is important that students prioritise which role is better suited to them. The roles may include but are not limited to:
Student Leadership Structure
Head Students
Deputy Head Students
Senior Prefects
Prefects
House Captains
House Vice-Captains
How do students become a Student Leader?
All leadership roles undertaken at Willingdon Community school will involve an application process. During the process all candidates will be interviewed to ensure they are suitable for the roles and to represent the school student community.
When applying to become a senior student leader all applicants will have to undertake a comprehensive application process which will involve a range of stages culminating in a formal interview with the Chair of Governors and Head Teacher.
Student Leader Expectations
Student Leaders are the school’s role models. Our Student Leaders need to be students who work hard to reach our school’s expectation of good behaviour and embrace Progress Every Lesson, 95% attendance, constant punctuality; you also need to be always in full and correct school uniform. As a student leader you will be required to wear your student leadership identification and complete at least one duty per week during the school day.
Training
Students Leaders are also expected to develop appropriate understanding, skills and attitudes of leadership and action during their term of leadership. All student leadership roles will involve training for students. Training will be delivered by the subject areas or area leads that oversee the range of roles. Subject Leaders are responsible for quality assuring the student training and will help develop the key skills required to fulfil each leadership role effectively.
Senior Student Leadership Team Training Programme
Training | Trainer |
Peer Mentoring | Deputy Head Teacher and Safeguarding Team |
Managing Teams | Student Leadership Lead |
Public Speaking | Vice Chair of Governors |
Event Planning | Chair of Governors |
Aspirations and Post-Willingdon | Head Teacher |
Work Life Balance and Wellbeing | Student Leadership Lead |