Pupil Leadership; empowering children

We believe that all children should have the opportunity to be a leader within the classroom. We also provide further opportunities for all pupils to become leaders school-wide. This enables them to further develop their confidence, responsibility and also key skills, such as teamwork, communication and problem solving. Being involved with a leadership role at Our Lady of Lourdes helps pupils to be active within our school community, as they take more ownership for what happens around them. These early leadership opportunities help pupils to develop a sense of purpose and experience what being involved with our community means.

Below are some of the leadership opportunities that we offer at Our Lady of Lourdes:

Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are vital members of our school community who champion our values and ensure every pupil feels respected, valued and heard. They serve as positive role models, demonstrating kindness, responsibility and leadership throughout their daily school life.

The Ambassadors work to promote children's rights, support school events and charitable causes, and gather the views of their fellow pupils to help strengthen our school community. Their contributions have included:

• Organising food bank collections
• Leading charitable fundraising activities
• Arranging and selling poppies for Remembrance Day
• Sharing information to enable pupils to vote on new library and playground equipment designs

Through their dedication and enthusiasm, our Ambassadors help make our school an inspiring and inclusive place for everyone.

Guardian Angels; Pupil Mentors

Our Guardian Angels are volunteers who help to organise games and model using playground equipment with our younger children. From helping to find a particular friend in the playground to initiating traditional games for pupils, the Guardian Angels look out for and support our younger children. This role is in line with our ethos and values and demonstrates the importance of caring for others and being a role model.

Junior Librarians

With the support of our School Librarian, our dedicated Junior Librarians run and maintain the school library and at the same time share their passion for books and reading. The library is a haven for all of our pupils. From the Nursery children visiting after lunch each day, to our more independent pupils choosing another book to immerse themselves in, the library is a welcoming and calm haven, supported by the work of our Junior Librarians.

OPAL Monitors

Every child is given the responsibility of tidying up after each play and lunch time. However, our OPAL Monitors ensure that resources are sorted, children are guided and things are put away properly. By having organised systems in place, our OPAL Monitors ensure that the children have more playtime and less tidying up time, so everyone benefits from their leadership and support.

Year Six Buddies

Every Reception Child is introduced to a Year Six Buddy in the Autumn Term. This provides a familiar face and friend in the playground who will ‘look out for them’, provide a smile and be a friend as needed.  The Buddies share a school prayer book, teach the children how to make the Sign of the Cross and say our school prayer and then act as a role model.

Community Leaders:

Our Community Leaders are a dedicated group of pupils from Years 2 to 6 who play a vital role in promoting Gospel Values throughout our school.

Children apply for these positions and work together to strengthen the Catholic life of our school. They come from a range of faith backgrounds and are united by their commitment to supporting both our school community and the wider world.

What our Community Leaders do:

• Lead worship – They help prepare and lead assemblies and Masses
• Promote Catholic Social Teaching – They make meaningful connections between Catholic values and our school's core principles
• Serve the common good – They organise fundraising initiatives and raise awareness of local and global issues
• Build community – They help pupils understand our place in both our local area and the worldwide community

Through their leadership, our Community Leaders inspire others to live out our school values and make a positive difference in the world.