Student Leaders
Leadership at All Levels
Student Leadership at Acklam Grange School continues to thrive, with more students than ever stepping forward to lead, positively influence and make a difference across our school community.
Our Student Leadership Team continues to grow and is supported by our Pupil Parliament, Librarians, Sports Leaders, Creative and Performing Arts Academy Leaders, Head Student Team, Deputy Head Students. Together, they are helping to shape a culture where every student feels seen, heard and valued, knowing confidently that they can make a difference.
This year alone, student leaders have:
- Raised over £870 for charities including Young Minds, Teesside Hospice, Place2Be, Zoe’s Place, Comic Relief and Meserani.
- Led assemblies for Children’s Mental Health Week, Mental Health Awareness Week, Random Acts of Kindness Day, Comic Relief and International Day of Families.
- Created and delivered student-led initiatives such as The Positivity Post and Kindness Corner, generating hundreds of messages of appreciation and celebration.
- Supported whole-school events, welcomed families and visitors, and represented Acklam Grange with professionalism, confidence and pride.
- Produced and presented Inside AGS, celebrating opportunities, achievements and stories from across school life.
- Contributed to democracy in action by proposing, shaping and implementing ideas that have enhanced the student experience, including Culture Day, Comic Relief Non-Uniform Day and Breakfast & Beats, demonstrating how student voice can directly influence and improve school life for everyone.
Preparing Students for Life in Modern Britain
This year also saw the transformation of our School Council into an innovative Pupil Parliament. Through elections, manifestos, committee structures and student debate, pupils are developing the knowledge, skills and confidence required to become active citizens in modern Britain.
With voting rights soon extending to 16-year-olds nationally, our students are already learning how to use their voice responsibly, challenge constructively and contribute to meaningful change.
Student Leadership Conference
A highlight of the year was our Student Leadership Conference, attended by students representing leadership across the school, including Sports Leaders, Duke of Edinburgh participants, Librarians, CPA Academy Leaders and the Student Leadership Team.
Every student surveyed reported that they enjoyed the event and would like to attend future conferences, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm for leadership opportunities across the AGS Family.
Raising Aspiration Through Leadership Pathways
This year, Acklam Grange further strengthened its commitment to Leadership at All Levels through the introduction of the Student Leadership Passport, a progressive framework designed to develop character, aspiration and leadership capacity.
Through four stages, Red, Yellow, Green and Blue Badge, students build leadership experience by supporting events, representing the school, leading assemblies, contributing to Inside AGS, promoting AGS Extra and driving charity and community initiatives. Rooted in the AGS PRIDE Values and Fundamental British Values, the passport provides a clear and ambitious pathway for students to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to lead.
Alongside the passport, students can progress through a leadership structure that mirrors the world of work:
- Pupil Parliament
- Student Leadership Passport
- Student Leadership Teams
- Associate Assistant Head Students
- Assistant Head Students
- Deputy Head Students
- Head Students
This year, students also participated in a rigorous five-stage Head Student selection process, including written applications, workshops, team-building activities, leadership tasks and formal interviews. Through this experience, students developed resilience, communication skills, professionalism and confidence whilst gaining a genuine insight into real-world recruitment processes.
By making leadership visible, accessible and achievable for all, more students are stepping forward to contribute, influence change and realise their potential. Leadership at Acklam Grange is not reserved for a select few; it is an opportunity for every student to develop character, serve others and grow.
Whether organising charity events, supporting peers, speaking in assemblies, representing student voice or leading school improvement initiatives, our students demonstrate every day that leadership belongs to everyone. Through meaningful opportunities to contribute, influence and serve, students develop greater competence, confidence and connection, strengthening their perseverance and preparing them to thrive in school and beyond.