Student Leadership and Student Voice

Student leadership initiatives empower our learners to become confident and positive citizens.

We are committed to the development of the leadership capacity of all students through the BVGA Competencies (aiming high, creative thinking, independence and teamwork) and Attributes (compassion, resilience, responsibility and respect). By demonstrating these Competencies and Attributes, all students can be leaders.

Further student roles and responsibilities are available to all students to extend learners’ leadership capacity, including:

• Academy Captain and Vice-Captain
• Year Captains and Vice Captains
• Form Captains
• Wellbeing and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors
• Marketing and Branding Champions
• Sports Captains
• Reading Ambassadors
• Post-16 Sports Leaders and STEM leaders
• Members of the Eco School Committee

Student leaders from the academy have played a significant role in local and national initiatives with other schools, such as Relationships Reset campaigns challenging sexual harassment, Bradford School Games Primary Panathlon and Bradford/Citizens UK projects in areas such as mental health and anti-racism. This involvement has led to significant impacts locally and nationally, for example through the contribution made by BVGA student leaders to the drafting of a charter signed by CEOs of academy trusts committing to challenging sexual harassment. Developments initiated at BVGA have been extended more widely beyond the school, for example the student Wellbeing Ambassador project which has been adopted across BDAT.

BVGA student leaders have contributed to local community initiatives, for example the Heritage England spoken word project regarding special spaces in Bradford and by producing BCB Radio broadcasts on topics such as wellbeing and mental health. A community mural at Zara Sports Centre has been designed by student leaders working as part of the Near Neighbours and Wellsprings Together Catalyst programme. At Post-16, BVGA is a Leadership Skills Foundation Centre of Excellence.

Form Captains are elected, whilst other student leaders are appointed following an application process and, in the case of Year Captains and the Academy Captain, an interview.  Candidates are required to demonstrate their application of BVGA Competencies and Attributes in line with job specifications which are made available. Adaptations are made to the process to ensure access for all students.

The Academy Congress is our inclusive student council. It includes representatives from all year groups (Year Captains and Vice Captains). The Academy Congress meets several times per half term and has played a significant role in organising initiatives such as Culture Days and fundraising. It provides opportunities for students to discuss issues or to provide feedback or new ideas. The Academy Congress plays an important role in shaping the direction of the academy and as a ‘sounding board’ for proposed initiatives. It is a vital link between students and staff.

Student leaders attend Senior Leadership Team meetings at least termly to feed back information about their projects to the headteacher, deputies and assistant headteachers. Involvement in student leadership is tracked and evaluated through the use of Unifrog logging, and opportunities are opened up to students where gaps are found and to ensure inclusivity. Impact is tracked by the Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Personal Development. 

Student Voice is highly valued within the academy. Student Voice activities take place half-termly, bespoke to each year group or theme. Student Voice feedback is discussed at Senior Leadership Team meetings on a regular basis, for example feedback from Impact Ed and Born In Bradford surveys. These surveys help to inform strategy, for example the content of the Personal Development programme.