Pupil Leadership

At St John Fisher, we believe that children should be active participants in their school community. We want our pupils to feel listened to, valued and empowered to make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Pupil leadership is an important part of our approach to personal development. Through a range of leadership roles and responsibilities, children learn to express their views, listen to others, work collaboratively and take responsibility for the world around them.

Our leadership opportunities reflect our Catholic mission and our LIGHT values of Love, Integrity, Growth, Hope and Togetherness. They encourage children to put their faith into action, recognise the dignity of every person and understand that even small actions can make a meaningful difference.

School Council

Our School Council provides an important opportunity for pupils to have a voice in shaping school life.

Representatives from Years 1–6 are elected by their classmates, with two representatives from each year group. Through this democratic process, children learn about representation, fairness, listening to different viewpoints and the importance of contributing to their community.

School Council members meet to share ideas, discuss matters raised by their classmates and consider ways to make our school an even better place to learn and grow.

The School Council has already demonstrated its creativity and enthusiasm, including helping to organise a Black History Celebration Catwalk. This gave children the opportunity to showcase their outfits and contribute to a whole-school event celebrating identity, culture and diversity.

Following suggestions from the School Council, we are also developing additional leadership opportunities for older pupils:

Head Boy and Head Girl - Year 6
Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl - Year 5
Assistant Head Boy and Assistant Head Girl - Year 4

These roles provide further opportunities for children to develop confidence, demonstrate responsibility and act as positive role models. Pupils will be supported to contribute to school events, welcome visitors and help lead greetings and prayers during visits to church.

Faith Leaders

Our Faith Leaders play an important role in supporting and promoting the Catholic life of St John Fisher.

They help to encourage prayer, worship and reflection across the school, supporting their classmates to understand and celebrate our Catholic faith. Through their actions and example, they are encouraged to show kindness, compassion and respect, following the example of Jesus.

A particularly special experience for our Faith Leaders was attending the beginning-of-year Mass at St George's Cathedral in Southwark on 25 September. Celebrated by Archbishop John Wilson, the Mass brought together children and staff from Catholic schools across the Archdiocese.

This experience gave our pupils an opportunity to celebrate their faith alongside others and reflect on the responsibility they hold as Faith Leaders within our school.

During the year, our Faith Leaders will continue to support school prayer and worship, contribute to the school's Catholic celebrations and attend the Advent service at St George's Cathedral alongside our Mini Vinnies.

Mini Vinnies - putting faith into action

Our Mini Vinnies encourage children to live out the values of the Gospel through practical acts of kindness, compassion and service.

Inspired by the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Mini Vinnies consider how they can help others, particularly those who may be vulnerable, lonely or in need of support.

They have already taken an active role in helping the school understand Catholic Social Teaching. Through a whole-school assembly, they introduced its key principles:

Human dignity – recognising that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and deserves to be treated with respect.
Solidarity – standing alongside others and recognising that we are all part of one human family.
The common good – considering how our actions can help everyone to flourish.
Participation – ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute.
Care for creation – looking after the world God has entrusted to us.
The option for the poor and vulnerable – showing particular care and compassion for those most in need.

The Mini Vinnies encouraged their classmates to consider how these principles could be reflected in everyday actions: welcoming someone who feels lonely, standing up for others, sharing what we have and caring for our environment.

We want our children to understand that faith is not simply something we learn about; it is something we live through our words, choices and actions.

Eco Club - caring for God's creation

Our Eco Club gives pupils an opportunity to take responsibility for caring for our school environment and the wider world.

With representatives from every class, the club ensures that children across the school can share ideas, contribute to decisions and help promote environmentally responsible choices.

Led by Mrs Clarke, Eco Club encourages pupils to think about sustainability, look after their surroundings and consider how small changes can make a positive difference.

This work is closely connected to our Catholic understanding of stewardship and our responsibility to care for God's creation. Through practical initiatives and shared responsibility, children are encouraged to recognise that we all have a part to play in protecting the world around us.

Developing confident, responsible young people

Each leadership group is supported by a member of staff:

School Council - Miss Idowu
Faith Leaders and Mini Vinnies - Mrs Bennett
Eco Club - Mrs Clarke

Together, these opportunities ensure that pupil leadership at St John Fisher is varied and meaningful. Children can contribute through democratic representation, faith, service, environmental responsibility and the wider life of the school.

We want leadership to be about much more than holding a title or wearing a badge. It is about listening, taking initiative, showing compassion, accepting responsibility and making a positive contribution.

As our children grow in confidence, we want them to recognise that they each have a voice, their ideas matter and they have the ability to make a difference.

We grow together in faith and learning, encouraging every child to lead through example and put love into action.

Love. Learn. Shine.