Pupil Leadership Opportunities: Head Students and Prefects

Knole Academy Student Leadership functions as a proactive body, ensuring our students are represented, heard and valued as key stakeholders within academy planning and development.

Our Aims

Enable student voices to be heard and responded to
Enable students to voice concerns and make suggestions about aspects of school life that affect them and their learning.
Allow for greater collaboration between year groups
Undertake projects that help to take forward the development of Knole Academy

The Academy Council

The Academy Council meets each half term. Student representatives are joined by the Academy Council co-ordinator, Deputy Head Teacher and when appropriate Head Teacher. Governors are invited to join Academy Council meetings at their discretion.

The items discussed at these meetings will be generated from our student leadership prior to full Academy Council meetings. Tutor groups elect House Leaders and Sports Leaders. One elected representative from each house years 7-10 will then be chosen to represent the house.

Heads of House will organise and chair half term meetings with their 10 house leaders where points are agreed with house representatives who are then fully prepared to actively participate in Academy Council meetings. Form Tutors are responsible for ensuring all students are given the opportunity to voice ideas, concerns and opinions to their tutor group representative in a timely fashion.

The academy council will be attended by Head Students, House Leaders, the 4 House Representatives (1 from each house) and prefects.

Senior Student Leadership

Head Students and School Prefects

Tenure for senior students runs from April to March, ensuring that there is no disruptions to academic studies. Prefects are invited to apply in March of Year 10 and will take up responsibilities at the beginning of April. Head student applications are submitted in March of Yr12, responsibilities assumed by the beginning of April and finish at the end of the winter term of Yr 13.

Those wanting to serve on the Senior Student Leadership Team make a formal application for their role as Prefect. Prefect positions are limited to 16, four from each house. Those who are successful are invited to interview with HOY and Senior Deputy Head Teacher.

Prefect Specific responsibilities:

Break and lunch duty rota
Attending and supporting key events throughout the year
Actively promote Knole Scholar/Sports Competitions/House Events
Liaising with academy council members to support student’s voice
Attend prefect meetings
Support Knole Student News publication
Support and assist with Knole Interact
Act as role models to promote Knole values in all that they do
Attend house competitions to encourage participation by younger students

Prefect Rewards:

Develop confidence, resilience and independence
Prefect tie and badge in house colours
One free lunch a week
Front of the lunch queue
Paid for trip at the end of the year

Head Students

Freya

I am extremely fortunate to have been given this opportunity to formally represent Knole Academy as Head Student, which has long been a goal of mine. I am currently studying A-level Photography, Textiles and Criminology, and completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award following my previous completions of bronze and silver. The Duke of Edinburgh programme has taught me invaluable lessons in communication, leadership and responsibility and has shaped me into the determined person I am today.

Alongside my studies, I am also currently completing an online course studying Future Trends of Fashion and Textiles, learning about the key aspects of sustainability, consumer behaviour, production and design, all of which are essential in aiding my future aspirations.

Knole Academy has offered me a variety of opportunities, including attending career events like the National Apprenticeship Show, which had numerous representatives from universities and companies and also being selected to formally represent the school by attending the International Woman’s Day event where I socialised with strong, ambitious women from the community and other Sevenoaks schools and also had the honour of meeting the Mayor of Sevenoaks.

I am exceptionally grateful for the support and experiences Knole Academy has provided me, allowing me to thrive and find happiness during the last 6 years. Now that I am approaching the end of my time at the school, I couldn’t feel any more prepared to continue my journey into the future.

Rebecca

I am extremely grateful to be a part of the student leadership team as a head student. It is an honour to represent the school and work alongside dedicated individuals. As head student, I advocate the well-being and success of each and every fellow student.

I currently study the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme which has a prestigious global reputation. I currently study Maths, Physics and Psychology at higher level, French, English and Biology at standard. I am in the process of applying to Oxford University to study astrophysics. As a student at Knole, I have been fortunate to experience opportunities I would not be able to anywhere else, such as being able to go to Switzerland to visit the CERN Hadron Collider as a part of my work experience. The school also provided me with many new experiences such as taking apart of DofE and learning new skills in Knole’s army cadets.

During my time at Knole, I also undertook the National Citizenship Service programme which taught me and my fellow peers various leadership and teamwork skills, as well as raising money for charity. My experiences have taught me the value of giving back to my community and making a positive impact on the lives of others.

My journey at Knole Academy has been a transformative one, filled with valuable lessons, personal growth, and unforgettable memories. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and look forward to applying what I have learned to make a difference in the world.