At St James C of E Primary School, we believe that every child has the potential to lead and make a positive impact on their school and community. Our values of love, respect, unity, and courage underpin everything we do, shaping our approach to pupil leadership and ensuring that every child has opportunities to develop confidence, responsibility, and a voice in their education.

At St James C of E Primary School, we are committed to developing leaders who are not only confident and capable but also compassionate and inclusive. Through these varied leadership opportunities, we nurture independence, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility that will benefit our pupils throughout their lives.

By embedding leadership within our daily school life, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow, contribute, and shine. With love, respect, unity, and courage as our guiding principles, we empower our pupils to become the leaders of tomorrow

Opportunities for Pupil Leadership

We offer a range of leadership roles that allow pupils to contribute to school life, develop key skills, and follow their interests and strengths. These include:

School Council

A democratically elected group of pupils from across the school represent their peers. The School Council plays a vital role in decision-making, sharing ideas, and working on school-wide initiatives. This ensures that pupil voices are heard and valued in shaping our school community.

Eco Council

Passionate about sustainability and environmental stewardship, our Eco Council members lead projects to improve the school’s ecological footprint, promote recycling, and encourage responsible energy use.

Key Stage Librarians

Our Key Stage Librarians support reading for pleasure by helping to maintain the school library, recommending books, and assisting younger pupils in developing a love for reading.

Reading Ambassadors

Pupils who want to promote a love of reading can become Reading Ambassadors. They have a role across the school; sharing book recommendations, supporting younger readers, and helping to organise reading events and initiatives.

Year 6 Ambassadors

As role models for the younger pupils, our Year 6 Ambassadors take on responsibilities such as welcoming visitors, supporting events, and assisting with transitions for younger children joining the school.

Year 6 Sports Leaders

Pupils who enjoy and want to promote physical activity and teamwork can become Sports Leaders, helping to organise and lead sports activities, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage participation in school competitions.

Year 6 House and Sports Captains

House and Sports Captains are elected democratically by their peers. They take responsibility for leading their house teams, inspiring others, and encouraging participation in school competitions and events.

Year 5 and 6 Club Leaders Initiative

At St James, we empower our Year 6 pupils by allowing them to become club leaders. This initiative encourages students to come up with ideas for clubs, plan activities, promote their clubs to peers, and manage the running of these clubs. This not only fosters leadership skills and creativity but also strengthens student engagement and community spirit within the school.

Charity and Strength-Based Leadership

We encourage pupils to take the lead in fundraising and social action projects based on their interests. Whether it’s supporting a chosen charity or developing a personal skill, we empower pupils to take initiative in meaningful ways.

Collective Worship Team

Our Collective Worship Team is developing to be more child-led, with pupils taking an active role in planning and leading worship sessions, sharing reflections, and helping to embed our Christian values in daily school life.

Classroom Discussions and Debate

In our classrooms, we cultivate leadership skills through daily discussions that encourage open debate, respectful challenge, and critical thinking. We want our pupils to be kind, articulate, and confident in expressing their ideas while respecting different perspectives.