We provide our pupils with extensive opportunities to engage in valued Pupil Leadership roles. Such roles and responsibilities enable our young people to excel and prosper in their personal development.

At Ryecroft Academy, young people engage in an age appropriate recruitment process which supports their understanding of the world of work and connects firmly to our academy drivers of aspiration, communication and community. Our Pupil Leadership job descriptions provide a clear outline of the valuable leadership contributions made by our young people.

Pupil Leadership roles and responsibilities include:

Pupil Leadership roles

Librarian

Gorse Gets Healthy Representative

Conservation Leader

Equality Ambassador

Hospitality Team Member

Prefect

House / Vice Captain

The role of the Ryecroft Academy Librarian is to support all pupils, parents, carers and staff members to develop a love of reading. We believe that reading is fundemental in securing the gift of choice and so it is highly promoted and valued within our setting. In order to develop positive reading habits, our librarians work to ensure that everyone is able to find high-quality texts that match the different interests of individuals at the academy.

Person Specification

Ryecroft Academy Librarians must:

  • Demonstrate commitment to the role by attending the weekly meetings;
  • Have strong organisational skills to support with the organisation of books within the library;
  • Model strong communication skills to ensure that they can offer pupils and staff support when selecting appropriate reading materials;
  • Be a pupil currently in Key Stage 2;
  • Have a love of reading themselves to inspire others.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Librarian are detailed below:

  • Attend the weekly librarian meetings to ensure that you are up to date on reading developments at Ryecroft Academy;
  • Support with organising the library to ensure all books are organised in line with the colour-coordinated systems;
  • Maintaining the plants in the academy library to establish a welcoming and inspiring environment;
  • Coordinating with Miss McPhee to organise events throughout the year that promote a love of reading (World Book Day, Pyjamarama, etc);
  • Gathering pupil voice on the different elements of reading to help to inform and changes or improvements to our systems.

Your line manager will be Miss McPhee.

The role of the Ryecroft Academy GORSE Gets Healthy Reps is to promote the vision of healthy lifestyles and physical activity acorss our school community. We believe that living an active, healthy life is essential to being the best version of yourself and leads to achieving high levels of success. In order to develop positive habits, our GORSE Gets Healthy Reps will set challenges based around food, drink, physical, social and mental health to help encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy GORSE Gets Healthy Reps must:

  • Demonstrate commitment to the role by attending regular meetings;
  • Show high organisational skills to support with the organisation and leadership of GORSE Gets Healthy initiatives, challenges and whole school events such as Sports Day;
  • Demonstrate strong communication skills to ensure that they can clearly present the GORSE Gets Healthy challenges during assemblies;
  • Have strong teamwork skills;
  • Have a passion for healthy lifestyles and physical activity;
  • Demonstrate an ability to motivate and inspire others;
  • Be a pupil currently in year 4, 5 or 6.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a GORSE Gets Healthy Rep are detailed below:

  • Attend frequent GORSE Gets Healthy meetings to ensure that you are up to date with the sporting / physical activity events happening around school;
  • Support with the organisation of whole school exercise events such as Sports Day, Mile Challenge, Skipathon and others;
  • Support with the organisation and delivery of the GORSE Gets Healthy challenges in assemblies;
  • Lead on GORSE Gets Healthy initiatives;
  • Support your class teachers with rewarding GORSE Gets Healthy stamps to your classmates;
  • Designing posters for around school to promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity;
  • Lead by example and be a role model to others.

Your line manager will be Mr Raine.

The role of the Ryecroft Academy Conservation Leader is to support all pupils, parents, carers and staff members to develop genuine care of and consideration for the environment. We believe that taking action to address environmental issues is paramount and represents perhaps the biggest challenge facing society today. We recognise that there are changes we can all make to our daily habits which will help in looking after our local environment as well as having a positive impact on distant and different eco-systems.

Person Specification

Ryecroft Academy Conservation Leaders must demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the role by taking part in key conservation activities;
  • A love of the outdoors and an enjoyment of physical work, helping to tend to key areas of the school grounds;
  • Strong communication skills to contribute to presentations and assemblies, also writing about conservation.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Conservation Leader are detailed below:

  • Develop and maintain the Conservation Garden and the Orchard;
  • Seed and care for the Pollinating Insect Meadow and the Commemorative Poppy Meadow;
  • Develop and maintain the academy Living Walls;
  • Help to monitor the schools use of energy and take action to reduce this;
  • Support and extend the academy’s recycling initiatives;
  • Take responsibility for key planters on the academy grounds such as the Friendship Bench planters;
  • Monitor that the recycled ‘Scrap Shed’ resources are available when appropriate to support recreational play;
  • Check that each class is looking after their class plant and that staff based in offices are looking after their plants also;
  • Regularly take part in litter picking, and planting initiatives;
  • Help to install further animal homes, baths and feeders on our school grounds.

Your line manager will be Mrs Townsley.

The role of the Ryecroft Academy Equality Ambassador is to promote the importance of valuing everyone. A key part of this will be ensuring respect and admiration for difference and diversity recognising that everyone is unique and that difference and diversity enriches and strengthens society. Much of the work of the Equality Ambassadors will connect to Protected Characteristics, showing and encouraging appreciation, compassion and understanding.

Person Specification

Ryecroft Academy Equality Ambassadors must demonstrate:

  • Deep rooted kindness and respect;
  • An ability to be reflective, thoughtful and empathetic;
  • The courage and integrity required to be helpful bystanders;
  • A strong work ethic to ensure significant steps are taken to help secure the Equality Status Award.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Equality Ambassador are detailed below:

  • To plan activities and events that promote respect and admiration of key Protected Characteristics (for example – Disability, Race, Religion, LGBTQ, Gender);
  • To support the planning of inspiring visitors to the academy focused on promoting respect and admiration of the Protected Characteristics;
  • To contribute to reviewing and refining our Compassion Reflection Sessions;
  • To be an excellent representative of the academy on a key visit focused on appreciation of a Protected Characteristic;
  • To help to implement the Anti-Bullying policy;
  • To lead by example, helping to ensure that everyone feels valued, safe and cherished in our academy;
  • To work towards the Equaliteach Status Award.

Your line managers will be Mrs Townsley.

The role of the Ryecroft Academy Hospitality Team is to support class assemblies and other academy events. This is a role that has making our families and other visitors feel welcome at its heart. As an academy, we are eager to ensure our parents and carers feel valued as important partners in learning and the Ryecroft Hospitality Team are pivotal in exhibiting our friendly and kind school character.

Person Specification

Ryecroft Academy Hospitality Leaders must demonstrate:

  • High levels of courtesy and polite manners;
  • A kind, generous and friendly persona, making families and visitors feel welcome and valued;
  • Being a pupil currently in Key Stage 1;
  • An ability to serve enjoyable bite sized snacks to visitors with a warm smile and friendly greeting.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Hospitality Leader are detailed below:

  • Play a key role in Celebration Assemblies, giving all parents, carers and other family members a warm and friendly greeting as they visit;
  • Serve bite sized treats to our families and demonstrating great manners and kind generosity;
  • Looking after other guests who visit our academy and being able to help care for their hospitality needs;
  • Wearing the Ryecroft Hospitality apron with pride.

Your line managers will be Mrs Nicholson and Mrs Farmer.

The role of the Ryecroft Academy Prefect is to support the smooth running of the academy and work in a collaborative manner with staff members and leaders.  This is a role of significant responsibility, requiring pupils to help ensure the academy is a kind, caring and inclusive environment for everyone.  Prefects will contribute to the organisation of whole school events and they will be required to work in partnership with different groups of stakeholders, including governors and parents / carers. 

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy Prefects must demonstate:

  • Clear organisational and creative skills – being able to contribute to the planning of whole school events such as the Year 6 Prom, Rebellious Ryecroft Day and The Year 6 Leavers Assembly;
  • Notable empathy and compassion, ensuring our academy in an inclusive and kind environment for all;
  • Being a pupil currently in Year 6;
  • Strong communication skills to contribute to recruitment, presentations to governors and communications to parents / carers.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Prefect are detailed below:

  • Play a key role in recruitment, this may include carrying out tours of the academy, asking interview questions, sharing our academy values, answering questions about our academy, feeding back on candidates and having lunch with candidates;
  • Taking a lead role on supporting any children who find they need to use the friendship benches, showing kindness and empathy to young people and feeding back to staff appropriately;
  • Generating ideas and making organisational contributions to key school events such as the Year 6 Prom and Rebellious Ryecroft Day.
  • Presenting and leading a section of the Year 6 Leavers Assembly;
  • Taking action to support children who are new to school, ensuring that they feel welcome and cherished as part of our community;
  • Meet with and present to academy governors to support the strategic leadership of the academy;
  • Carry out checks of our academy environment;
  • Craft communications to parents and carers which are aimed at helping them understand the importance of driving and parking safely.

Your line manager will be Mrs Townsley.

The role of the Ryecroft Academy House and Vice Captain is to support all pupils, parents, carers and staff members to develop a sincere interest in our House System.   The House and Vice House Captains must be highly enthusiastic and motivational, encouraging both children and staff to do their very best for their House team.  As key communicators, the House and Vice House Captains will ensure House events are represented well on our website, on the DoJo platform, in the newsletter and in assemblies and ceremonies. 

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy House Captains and Vice House Captains must demonstate:

  • Commitment to the role by promoting House competitions and encouraging participation;
  • Dedication to the role by promoting high standards on a daily basis as this is a significant contributor to the overall House standings;
  • Being a pupil currently in Upper Key Stage 2;
  • Strong communication skills to contribute to presentations, assemblies, ceremonies and promotional videos;
  • Strong organisational skills to monitor such aspects as the use of House tokens and Perspex collectors;
  • An ability to produce high-quality photography.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy House and Vice House Captain are detailed below:

  • Take photographs and write captions connected to House events and competitions;
  • Promote House competition participation ensuring both children and staff take part and apply their best efforts with strong sportsmanship;
  • Create House colour themed planters as a kind gesture for our neighbours (an evolution of our daffodil gifts);
  • Design certificates for House competitions;
  • Produce videos which help children practise their spellings and times tables as these skills will be central to House success this academic year.

Your line managers will be Miss E Rankin and the Staff House Heads.

Smart School Council Roles

Charity Action Team

Communications Team

Take Over Day Team

Tuck Shop Assistant

Year 3 and 4

The role of the Charity Action Team Member is to select and raise money for a nominated charity.  An important part of the Charity Action Team role is to raise awareness of diversity and celebrate differences, as the charity selected each year will always be linked to one of the Protected Characteristics. This role encompasses the academy key drivers of communication and community through team members presenting and speaking in assembly about charities that benefit the local community.

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy Charity Action Team Member must demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the role by attending all meetings;
  • Awareness of the Protected Characteristics;
  • Strong communication skills to be able to present in assembly;
  • Creative and exciting ideas for fundraising;
  • Organisational skills for fundraising events;
  • Good mathematics skills for calculating how much money has been raised.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Charity Action Team Member are detailed below:

  • Prepare a presentation on a charity linked to the Protected Characteristics;
  • Present in assembly and speak about a charity to a large group of children;
  • Think of creative ideas to fundraise for a charity;
  • Organise fundraising events for a charity.

Your line manager will be Miss Field

2 student per class Years 1-6

The role of the Ryecroft Academy Communication Team Member is to be the link between their class and the leaders within school. At Ryecroft Academy we value the opinions of all our students and gather pupil voice in a variety of ways. One of the main methods that students can express their views and opinions on the academy policies and practices is through the work of the Communication Team. The Communication Team consists of 2 members from each class.

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy Communication Team Members must demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the role by attending all meetings;
  • Kindness, empathy and the ability to make sure all children’s views are heard;
  • Strong organisation skills to ensure teachers ask the questions;
  • Strong communication skills to feedback to senior leaders.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Communication Team Member are detailed below:

  • Attend school council meetings;
  • Attend ‘Lunch with The Principal’ meetings;
  • Think of interesting questions to ask;
  • Leading class meetings to answer the question;
  • Ensuring teachers plan time to ask the question;
  • Monitoring that all children take part in answering the question and are given the opportunity to express their opinion;
  • Supporting quiet or shy children to contribute;
  • Updating the school council board;
  • Taking time to talk to classmates at lunch and break time to get their views;
  • Liaising and feeding back to leaders in school as necessary.

Your line manager will be Miss Field

Year 5 and 6

At Ryecroft Academy, one of our key drivers is aspiration. Take Over Day is an opportunity for our students to experience the world of work in a familiar and safe environment as they take over the roles of staff within school and in the local area. The role of the Take Over Day Team Member is to facilitate the running of two take over days throughout the academy year.

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy Take Over Day Team Member must demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the role by attending all meetings;
  • Good persuasive skills to ensure a wide range of roles are available;
  • Good communication skills with adults and children;
  • Good reading skills to be able to read and shortlist candidates;
  • The ability to conduct interviews in a fair and robust manner.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Take Over Day Team Member are detailed below:

  • Attend all meetings as required;
  • Liaise with staff in school to encourage and persuade them to take part;
  • Liaise with local businesses to encourage them to take part;
  • Read through application forms and short list candidates for an interview based on a criteria;
  • Conduct interviews with short listed candidates in a fair and robust manner;
  • Communicate the successful appointments to students and staff.

Your line manager will be Miss Field

Year 6

At Ryecroft Academy we promote healthy eating and as part of this commitment we provide a selection of healthy snacks at the tuck shop. This role is equally about promoting healthy eating and providing a friendly, polite and welcoming service to students who are attending the tuck shop at morning break time.

Person Specification

 Ryecroft Academy Tuck Shop Assistant must demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the role by opening up Tuck Shop on the days required;
  • A friendly and polite character, with confidence, good manners and customer service skills;
  • Good reading and mathematics skills to be able to find children’s names and calculate how many tokens they have remaining;
  • Good communication skills to liaise with admin staff regarding tokens and reordering stock.

Duties

Whilst not exhaustive, some of the main duties of a Ryecroft Academy Tuck Shop Assistant are detailed below:

  • Attend Tuck shop at break time on Monday, Wednesday and Friday;
  • Collect the Tuck Shop from the office;
  • Unlock and lock the Bamboo base door;
  • Arrange the healthy snack items;
  • Greet customers in a polite and friendly manner;
  • Locate customers names and record how many snacks they have purchased;
  • Liaise with the admin team regarding restocking of snack and parents who need to purchase more tokens.

Your line manager will be Miss Field

School Council

We run a Smart School Council. The members of the communications team are selected once a year. Children apply for school council roles by filling in an application form. The Communications Team meets at least twice a half term to set the class question and review and set actions from the previous question. School council also runs a number of action teams, the members of each action team work on specific projects that emerge either from school priorities, the weekly questions or pupils own ideas and passions. The Communications Team meet each half term with the principal.

Our current action teams are:

  • The Charity Team – we are deciding which charity to support this year and raising money for that charity
  • The Tuck Shop Team – we are running the healthy tuck shop
  • The Take Over Day Team – we are planning and running the next take over day

Take Over Days

Children write applications to take over job roles in school for part of the day. They come dressed for the role and fully take part in all tasks that job role requires, including taking assemblies, conducting lesson observations and locking up.

Latest Take Over Days