Student Leadership
The Pupil Prefect Team
The school prefect is the highest student leadership position that a student can hold within Swallow Dell School. Students are chosen through a rigorous application process open to all Year 6 students. Prefects are appointed following applications and interviews with the Key Stage Leader.
Prefects have a range of responsibilities ranging from working alongside staff to deliver and plan pastoral curriculum activities, supporting at key events throughout the year and acting as ambassadors for the school. They help to support positive behaviour around the school and are seen as role models in their everyday interactions.
Our Year 6 pupils have shown they are clearly taking their roles seriously and have developed supportive and encouraging relationships with the younger pupils and new and existing staff.
We look forward to keeping you updated with all the wonderful work the prefect team are doing throughout this academic year.
Eco- Council
The Eco-Council is a group of students from across the school, who work collaboratively, with a focus on the school environment and local community.
The focus of the council will be to raise the awareness of the importance of recycling, as well as promoting how we can support nature and encourage other elements of sustainability. The council want to educate others and help them learn about how we can all look after our world and become successful citizens.
Our eco-objectives include litter picking around the school and local area, developing the outside areas and garden for children to learn more about nature and to have nicer spaces to relax in, considering the schools use of recycling and single-use plastic and much more.
We look forward to updating you with all the exciting projects that the Eco-Council participate in.
School Council
The School Council at Swallow Dell Primary represent the pupil voice of the school community. They are an essential part in the democracy of the school and are given the capacity to implement real changes and support whole school events.
The elected Council is made up of a representative from each year group. The school council is led by a Chair and Vice Chair who are chosen by the elected council members.
The Council then meets weekly throughout the school year with a delegated member of staff. These sessions are pupil-led by the Chair and Vice-Chair, and official minutes are kept by the secretary. The Council discusses recent issues and suggestions from the pupils and plan whole school events.
The overall aim of the school council is to increase the impact they have across the school community.
Our Vision
The School Council Vision Statement is as follows:
- Our school council works together as a team to ensure we can be the best school possible.
- We aim to make pupils kind, respectful and safe at school.
- We shall work hard to make our world a better place
- We want to improve our school by discussing ideas and making decisions.
- We aim to listen to others and discuss comments and suggestions that would make our school an even more wonderful place.
Play Leaders
At Swallow Dell Primary School, we encourage children to show our school values, be kind, be respectful and be safe at all times throughout the day. We believe that this doesn’t stop in the classroom!
One of the ways we try to encourage this is our voluntary Play Leader Scheme. This allows a group of specially selected Year 5 pupils to have the opportunity to lead outdoor games and encourage positive play (with plenty of curiosity!) for children of all ages. The scheme works very well developing the leadership skills of the older children whilst ensuring the younger children are active and learning to play well together.
The Play Leaders meet regularly to create their own timetables, ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to lead each game available on the playground. Activities range between ball games, co-ordination games, teamwork games, skipping and much more.
Another of the aims of the scheme is that it will increase the amount of physical activity undertaken during playtime/lunchtime and reduce the amount of behaviour issues or disagreements on the playground. Play Leaders are also specially trained to seek out children who seem lonely or too shy to ask to join in… We all play together at Swallow Dell!
Year 6 and Reception Buddies
We have initiated a buddy system between Year 6 and Reception. The purpose of this is to build relationships between the oldest and youngest pupils in the school and encourage links within the school community. The response has been extremely positive and there are smiles all round.
Year 5 and Year 1 Buddies
In addition to our Year 6 Buddies, we now have Year 5 Reading Buddies. Our Year 5 children join their Year 1 Buddy every Thursday to share a book. This is a new initiative which supports our commitment to develop a love of reading at Swallow Dell. The weekly meets provide support and motivation for our younger children and an opportunity for our older students to develop their leadership skills.
