Student Leadership and Student Voice

Student leadership initiatives empower our learners to become confident and positive citizens.

We are committed to the development of the leadership capacity of all students through the BVGA Competencies (aiming high, creative thinking, independence and teamwork) and Attributes (compassion, resilience, responsibility and respect). By demonstrating these Competencies and Attributes, all students can be leaders.

Further student roles and responsibilities are available to extend learners’ leadership capacity, including:

• Academy Captain and Vice-Captain
• Year Captains and Vice Captains
• Form Captains
• Wellbeing and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors
• Anne Frank Trust Ambassadors
• Reading Ambassadors
• Sports Leaders and STEM leaders
• Members of the Eco School Committee
• Faculty Ambassadors.

Form Captains are elected, whilst other student leaders are appointed following an application process and, in the case of Year Captains and the Academy Captain, an interview. Candidates are required to demonstrate their application of BVGA Competencies and Attributes in line with detailed job specifications which are made available.

The Academy Congress is our student council. It includes representatives from all year groups (Year Captains and Vice Captains). The Academy Congress meets several times per half term and has played a significant role in organising initiatives such as Charity Weeks, fundraising and raising environmental awareness. It provides opportunities for students to discuss issues or those requiring feedback. The Academy Congress plays an important role in shaping the direction of the academy and as a ‘sounding board’ for proposed initiatives. It is a vital link between students and staff.

Student leaders from the academy have played a significant role in local and national initiatives with other schools, such as Relationships Reset campaigns challenging sexual harassment, Bradford School Games Primary Panathlon and Bradford/Citizens UK projects. Student leaders attend Senior Leadership Team meetings at least termly to feed back information about their projects to the headteacher, deputies and assistant headteachers. Involvement in student leadership is tracked and evaluated through the use of Unifrog logging, and opportunities are opened up to students where gaps are found. Impact is tracked by the Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Personal Development.

Student Voice is highly valued within the academy. Student Voice activities take place half-termly, bespoke to each year group or theme. Student Voice feedback is discussed at Senior Leadership Team meetings on a regular basis, for example feedback from Impact Ed and Born In Bradford surveys.