Student Leadership 2025-2026

A huge thank you to all of our amazing Student Leadership pupils for your dedication, enthusiasm, and support throughout this academic year. Your hard work and commitment have made a real difference to our school community. We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved. Have a fantastic and well-deserved summer!

2026-2027 Leadership

At Christ Church Academy we believe that offering all pupils the opportunity to become leaders is an essential part of their learning and personal development.  Regardless of academic ability, every Academy pupil is valued and staff carefully consider how all children who wish to embrace a leadership role can best meet their potential and flourish in service of others. With this in mind, a range of roles and responsibilities are available.

Super Six 2026-2027

These pupils are specially selected after a rigorous application process to represent the Academy as ambassadors for who we are and what we stand for. 

We are proud to introduce the 2026-2027 cohort of our Super Six :

  • Ben
  • Hattie
  • Jaalycia
  • Libby
  • Louis
  • Mathew

Assisting them will be our amazing Senior Prefects.

Peer Mentors

To become a Year 8 Peer Mentor as part of the Student Leadership team requires specific qualities and attributes such as responsibility, enthusiasm, hard work, dedication and above all students must have an interest and the ability to support and work well with our younger pupils at the academy. Peer Mentors undergo a thorough selection process and training schedule, and in order to pass and ‘graduate’ as a Peer Mentor they must have completed at least 80% of the training modules. The training programme takes place over a 4-week period and students can opt out at any time before the end of their training. Successful students are awarded with a certificate and an enamelled shield style ‘Peer Mentor’ badge. In addition, the students are encouraged to wear a purple ‘Peer Mentor’ lanyard and ID badge whilst carrying out their duties in school.

Peer Mentors receive ongoing guidance, supervision meetings, and further training opportunities from the Peer Mentor Coordinator (Mrs Stangroom)- who manages their training and responsibilities around the school. We are extremely fortunate to have 20 Peer Mentors this year, where 10 of these students have volunteered to take on additional responsibilities as a Hope Ambassador (wellbeing mentor). Hope Ambassadors are issued with yellow ‘Peer Mentor’ lanyards, and are offered training on mental health and wellbeing themes.  

Evidence indicates that well-structured peer mentoring programmes in schools with tailored training, support and management of the mentors have had a great and long-lasting impact. For every pupil experiencing challenges in school, be they academic or socio-emotional, there is an older pupil in the same school who is very well placed to help. That older pupil, in acting as a mentor to the younger person (the mentee), will develop a whole host of skills and habits that are crucial to their own success in school and beyond.

Benefits for the Mentor:

  • Improved academic achievement
  • Improved attitudes towards learning
  • Improved levels of resilience and perseverance
  • Improved leadership skills
  • An ability to empathise with, and a desire to help those around them

Benefits for the Mentee:

  • A relatable and dedicated role model and a safe space to talk
  • Improved academic attainment
  • Improved attitudes toward learning
  • Improved levels of focus in class, and behaviour around school
  • Improved levels of confidence and self-esteem

What is a Peer Mentor?

“Peer mentoring is traditionally a one-to-one (or group) non-judgemental relationship in which an individual (mentor) voluntarily gives time to support and encourage another (mentee). Peer mentors provide advice and guidance whilst acting as a positive role model for younger people who require their support”.

At Christ Church Academy, Peer Mentors are valued members of the student leadership team and they voluntarily spend their free time offering support and activities to the Y5 and Y6 children. 

‘Budding’ Peer Mentors are expected to attend a total of 9 training workshops – which consists of 2-3 sessions per week over a 4-week period where each workshop runs for approximately 60 minutes. Students can request to be removed from the training programme at any time if they later decide that the role is not suitable for them. Students are able to ‘graduate’ as a qualified Peer Mentor providing, they have completed all 9 sessions to the required standard and expectations. Concessions are of course allowed for students who are absent due to sickness and who have completed 80% or more of the course.

Training Sessions Content

Session 1 – Understand Peer Mentoring and the skills/qualities required

Session 2 – Understand different perspectives and their impact on behaviour

Session 3 – Develop and promote good communication and listening skills

Session 4 – Develop good communication and questioning skills

Session 5 – Understand anti-bullying strategies and how to support as a mentor

Session 6 – Recognise ways to raise self-esteem, wellbeing and empathy

Session 7 – Understand boundaries and the importance of confidentiality

Session 8 – Introduction to Restorative Practice used when resolving conflicts

Session 9 – Peer Mentor contracts/evaluation and the duties and responsibilities at the Academy

Successful Peer Mentors are awarded with a certificate and a shield style enamelled peer mentor badge at their ‘graduation’ ceremony/party. In addition, the studen

tinue to receive regular supervision, meetings, guidance and ongoing training as and when required for the full academic year.    

Duties and Responsibilities

At Christ Church Academy, there are a variety of leadership duties and responsibilities that are managed by the Peer Mentors / Hope Ambassadors via the Coordinator. The following list highlights some examples of the type of activities that have been carried out by a select few or all of the Peer Mentors:

  • Break time drop-ins
  • Lunch time playground duty (on a rota)
  • Organising play activities during lunch and wet breaks and lunchtimes
  • Y5/Y6 form activities during base times
  • Support with reading and home learning
  • Taking part in Mental Health assemblies
  • Virtual quizzes
  • Fundraising events
  • Voluntary support at Open evenings / Open days
  • 1:1 emotional coaching
  • Voluntary support at Parents evening
  • Advertising – e.g. event posters
  • Direct link and support to Y5/Y6 mental health champions

Peer Mentors are expected to adopt a responsible code of conduct and promote a positive role model to the younger children at the academy.  Peer Mentors should also be familiar with and follow the guidelines outlined in school policies in regards to behaviour, anti-bullying, confidentiality, dress code, freedom of information, mental health and wellbeing, and safeguarding – which is covered during the training.

Hope Ambassadors

The launch of Hope Ambassadors (wellbeing mentors) was a ‘Hope Project’ initiative that was developed as a direct response to the nationally reported rise in mental health problems amongst younger children, which had been steadily rising since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hope Ambassadors are Peer Mentors who have volunteered to take on additional responsibilities as a wellbeing mentor. Ambassadors have the opportunity to receive further training, information and guidance regarding wellbeing activities, such as mindfulness, mental health support, and emotional coaching strategies (early intervention). Ambassadors are able to demonstrate appropriate strategies to groups of younger children or on a targeted 1:1 basis.

Hope Ambassadors are encouraged to raise general awareness of mental health and wellbeing across the Academy, and can take part in assemblies and form activities to promote this. Ambassadors can volunteer to carry out 1:1 emotional coaching sessions with targeted students and often participate in fundraising events for mental health charities and the Hope Project.

Each Ambassador is assigned to one of the Y5/ Y6 forms as their designated wellbeing mentor, so there are usually 9-10 Hope Ambassadors each year. Hope Ambassadors can be identified by their Yellow ‘Peer Mentor’ lanyards and ID badge.