Student Leadership Team

Student leadership is important for individual students and the wider school community.  We believe that all students should have the opportunity to participate actively in school life by taking up roles and responsibilities throughout the academic year in order to contribute to whole school improvement. This is key to a deeper student engagement and enables our students to participate in the sort of leadership opportunities that prepare them for life and work in modern democratic Wales and a global society. A society where we value equal opportunities and one in which a variety of opinions are heard.

Student leadership opportunities can:

• Develop essential life skills such as communication, teamwork, decision making and problem solving
• Build confidence and self-esteem by giving students a sense of purpose and ownership.
• Encourage responsibility and accountability by helping others, setting a good example, and contributing to a positive school culture.
• Strengthen school community and voice by fostering a sense of belonging and respect.
• Promotes citizenship and social awareness by encouraging empathy, social responsibility, and awareness of wider community issues

Student Leadership Roles

Sixth Form: Prefects and Senior Prefects

In year 12 and 13 student leadership representatives are appointed through a process of application and interview; in year 13 this forms the process of Head Student and Prefect interviews.

The Head Students are the highest representatives of the Student Leadership Team (StLT) and report to the Governing Body and the Senior Leadership Team with the progress of the StLT action plan three times a year.

Sixth Form: Faculty Prefects

Year 13 students apply for the role of prefects. Year 13 prefects have a range of responsibilities and also support positive behaviour, uniform and attitude to learning. They are seen as positive role models in their everyday interactions in and around the school community and uphold and promote the vision and values of Ysgol Penglais School. They support the Student Leadership Team (StLT) in achieving the aims of the committee action plans during their year of office. Some prefects are assigned responsibilities to specific areas of school.

The role of the faculty prefects is an ambassadorial one and may include support at parents’ evenings; open evenings, presenting assemblies and support for extra-curricular activities.

Years 7-11: Form Group and Year Group Representatives

Form groups in years 7-11 vote for two form representatives who all attend year group student voice meetings with their Head of Year and senior prefects. In addition, four for representatives from each year group are elected as year representatives to the Student Council.

School Council and Committees

The Head Students chair the School Council and, together with other senior prefects in year 13, are responsible for producing an agenda and minutes. All year groups (7-11) have four representatives on the council. There is a representative from the Hearing Resource Centre and Canolfan Ni on the council. One member of the Senior Leadership Team is present at all Student Council meetings.

The council meets once every term, while smaller, more focused committees meet every half term. In the first meeting of the new academic year the council assigns senior prefects and year representatives to committees who then work strategically across the year on various projects. The Student Council will also plan when and how they will communicate their plans and progress with the rest of the school; this may be through assemblies, bulletins or newsletters.

Student Committees

Students have the opportunity to be part of student committees that focus on aspects of the School Improvement Plan agreed through form time by all students. They work with the link teacher and senior prefects in the committee to provide feedback, ideas and actions for the area.

Ysgol Penglais Student Groups 2025-26