Student Leadership

Pupil leadership is a key strength at St Christopher’s, with a range of opportunities for children to take on responsibility and influence school life. Alongside the School Council, pupils are encouraged to lead, make decisions and act as role models for others. These roles develop confidence, communication and a strong sense of responsibility, while ensuring that pupils play an active part in shaping a positive and inclusive school environment.

School Council

At St Christopher’s School, our School Council is a strong and active pupil leadership group, made up of elected representatives from every class from Year 1 to Year 6. Each member is chosen by their peers, ensuring that all pupils have a voice and are represented in decision-making across the school.

The School Council meets fortnightly and plays a key role in shaping school life. Representatives gather views from their classes, lead discussions, and take feedback back to the council, often facilitating class votes to ensure decisions are democratic and inclusive. This process empowers pupils to take ownership of change and develop important leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

The impact of the School Council can be seen in whole-school developments. For example, council members led the process of selecting our new house system. They gathered ideas from their classes, organised votes, and helped the school community agree on the final theme of Fire, Earth, Air and Water. This has strengthened a sense of identity and belonging across the school, as well as increased opportunities for collaboration through house events involving pupils from different year groups.

Currently, the School Council is leading an eco-project to improve the sustainability of our school. Pupils are actively promoting small but meaningful changes, such as turning off lights and improving recycling habits. They are also planning to introduce wildflower planting in the courtyard to encourage biodiversity, supporting wildlife such as bees and butterflies. This work is already raising awareness and fostering a shared sense of responsibility for the environment across the school community.

Through their work, the School Council contributes significantly to our vision of enabling all pupils to “live life in all its fullness.” Pupils are not only listened to but are empowered to lead change, make decisions, and see the real impact of their contributions on the school environment and culture.

Sports Leaders

Our Sports Leaders are selected from Year 6 by the PE lead and play a vital role in promoting physical activity and teamwork across the school. They support the delivery of PE lessons, help to organise and run sporting events, and lead activities during intra-school competitions. Sports Leaders demonstrate excellent leadership by modelling positive attitudes, encouraging participation, and supporting younger pupils to develop their skills and confidence. Their contribution has increased engagement in sport across the school and helped to create a culture where all pupils feel motivated to take part and succeed.

Play Buddies

Our Play Buddies are trained pupils who support positive playtimes by encouraging inclusive games and helping younger children to engage in activities on the playground. They act as approachable role models, helping to resolve minor disagreements, promote kindness, and ensure that all pupils feel included. Their presence has had a clear impact on behaviour and wellbeing during unstructured times, with increased participation in games, improved social interaction, and a reduction in low-level incidents. Play Buddies contribute to a happy, safe and supportive play environment for all.

House Captains

Our House Captains are influential pupil leaders who work closely with the Head of Houses to organise and lead a wide range of competitive house events across the year. These include activities such as house singing, poetry, dance and characterise competitions, which provide opportunities for all pupils to participate and showcase their talents. House Captains play a key role in promoting team spirit, encouraging participation, and ensuring events run smoothly. Through their leadership, they foster a strong sense of belonging and pride within their houses, while also developing their own organisational, communication and leadership skills. Their work has contributed to high levels of engagement across the school and a vibrant, inclusive culture of healthy competition.