Pupil Leadership and Formation
At St Philomena’s, we believe that every child is created with unique gifts and talents which should be developed and placed at the service of others. Our children leadership programme is an intentional part of our commitment to forming confident, compassionate and responsible young leaders who understand that true leadership is founded on service, humility and a desire to make a positive contribution.
Rooted in our Catholic mission, we develop leaders who strive for excellence, show respect and serve others. Children are taught that leadership is not about position or privilege, but about responsibility, kindness and using their gifts to support the common good. Through meaningful leadership opportunities, children develop the character, confidence and skills required to become active and responsible members of their school, parish and wider community.
Our leadership programme provides carefully planned opportunities for children across the school to develop communication, teamwork, organisation and decision-making skills. Leaders are given authentic responsibilities which allow them to represent others, support younger children, promote our values and contribute positively to the life of the school.
Our Children Leadership Structure
Senior Children Leaders:
- Head Boy
- Head Girl
- Deputy Head Boy
- Deputy Head Girl
Our senior leaders act as ambassadors for St Philomena’s. They represent the children body, support school events, welcome visitors and model our expectations of excellence, respect and service.
Leadership Team Support Prefects:
- Office Prefects
- Headteacher Prefects
- Deputy Headteacher Prefects
These roles develop children’s confidence and communication skills while giving them opportunities to support the wider work of the school.
Specialist Leadership Roles:
Sports Captains
Sports leaders promote teamwork, participation, resilience and positive attitudes towards physical activity.
Wellbeing Leaders
Wellbeing Leaders support the emotional and social development of children by promoting kindness, inclusion and a positive school culture.
House Leadership
Our House Captains encourage belonging, teamwork and healthy competition across the school.
Walsingham House Captain
Canterbury House Captain
Aylesford House Captain
Faversham House Captain
House leaders develop responsibility by organising activities, encouraging participation and strengthening relationships across different year groups.
Year Group Leadership
Each year group has appointed prefects who support younger children, model positive behaviour and act as role models within their phase.
Year 1 Prefects
Year 2 Prefects
Year 3 Prefects
Year 4 Prefects
Year 5 Prefects
Chicken Leaders and Head Gardener
Children involved in caring for our animals and gardens develop responsibility, stewardship and an understanding of caring for God’s creation. Through these roles, children learn the importance of respect, compassion and protecting the world around them.
Subject Ambassadors
At St Philomena’s, we believe that leadership opportunities should be available to all children and that they should be encouraged to share their strengths, passions and talents with others. Alongside our prefect structure, we have developed a network of Subject Ambassadors across the curriculum, enabling children to take an active role in promoting a love of learning and celebrating excellence within each subject area.
Subject Ambassadors are chosen for their enthusiasm, commitment and positive attitude towards learning. They act as representatives for their subjects, helping to inspire others, celebrate achievement and support the development of a strong learning culture across the school. Through these roles, children develop confidence, communication skills, responsibility and pride in their own learning.
Subject Ambassadors work alongside subject leaders to gather children voice, share ideas, support curriculum events, celebrate examples of excellent work and encourage participation in subject-related opportunities. Whether promoting reading, scientific curiosity, creativity in the arts, sporting excellence or a deeper understanding of the wider world, ambassadors help to strengthen children’s engagement and enthusiasm across the curriculum.
This approach ensures that leadership is inclusive and purposeful, allowing children to recognise and develop their God-given gifts while serving others. Through subject leadership, children grow in confidence, develop expertise and understand that their knowledge and talents can be used to make a positive contribution to the school community.
Our Subject Ambassador roles include:
- Computing Ambassador
- Art Ambassador
- Design Technology Ambassador
- History and Geography Ambassador
- Science Ambassador
- Religious Education Ambassador
- English Ambassador
- Maths Ambassador
School Council
Our School Council provides children with a meaningful opportunity to share their views, represent their peers and contribute positively to the life of the school. Through this responsibility, children develop confidence, leadership skills and an understanding of service, collaboration and community.
The School Council is led by the Head Boy and Head Girl.
Leadership Formation and Development
Leadership at St Philomena’s is intentionally developed. Prefects, children leaders and Subject Ambassadors receive guidance and support to understand the responsibilities of their roles and the importance of leading through example. They develop skills in communication, collaboration, organisation, problem-solving and decision-making.
Through their roles, children learn to listen to others, respond to the needs of their community and use their influence positively. They develop confidence, resilience and empathy while recognising that leadership is a way of serving others.
Our leadership programme reflects our Catholic mission and supports our commitment to developing the whole child: academically, spiritually, socially and personally. Children are formed to understand the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, including dignity, solidarity, service and the common good.
Impact
The impact of pupil leadership is evident in children who demonstrate confidence, maturity and a strong sense of responsibility. Prefects, Subject Ambassadors and pupil leaders are positive role models who contribute to a respectful, inclusive and caring school community.
Through these leadership opportunities, children develop confidence, communication skills, resilience and empathy. They learn to listen to others, represent their peers and use their gifts and talents to serve their community. Whether leading through supporting younger children, representing a curriculum area, promoting wellbeing, caring for creation or contributing to school life, children understand that leadership is a responsibility to make a positive difference.
Our leadership programme ensures that children are formed as confident, compassionate and responsible young people who live out our mission to achieve excellence, show respect and serve others. They leave St Philomena’s understanding that their voices matter, their talents are valuable and they have an important role in contributing to the common good.
