At St Mary’s, key pupil roles are created to ensure that our students are making a highly positive, tangible contribution to the life of the school and the wider community. Meaningful opportunities are developed and embedded for pupils to understand how to be responsible and respectful active citizens who contribute positively to society.
Pupil Governors
KS1 and KS2 classes have elected one child from each year group to represent their class as Pupil Governor. They are role models for spreading our core values of ‘Love, Strength and Faith’ throughout the school.
Here are some of the ways the pupil governors help the school:
“We help the school become a friendlier environment by taking in people’s ideas and making them feel listened to.”
“We give new ideas in meetings like we fundraise and help charities so we helping to make the world a better place.”
“We help with church and assemblies.”
“It’s nice that we can make big and small changes in the school.”
Peer Mediators
Peer mediators play a pivotal role supporting other pupils to problem solve when resolving differences and to model respectful behaviours. Peer mediators are Key Stage 2 pupils who are trained to mediate disputes on the playground, supported by a member of staff. Peer Mediation is a process where those involved in a disagreement volunteer to discuss the issues and explore how best to take matters forward. Pupils learn to listen to others' points of view and to accept differences. The children wear hi-vis jackets so they are identifiable on the playground and there is a timetable for who is on duty each day. They enjoy making the school a friendly place for everyone.
"We help the children get along and make sure everyone is happy."
House Captains
House captains are voted in by the rest of the children in each of our four houses - Cuckmere, Rother, Medway, Teise. There are opportunities throughout the year for the house captains to lead their house of children in 'cross school' events including competing as a team in Sports Day, coming together for curriculum events and working together to read the most number of minutes each term to be recognised with the Reading Minute Champion Cup.
‘Buddy’ Programme
Our ‘buddy’ programme is at the heart of what makes Hartfield such a friendly school. All Year 6 children become ‘Buddies’ to a child entering our reception class. This forges friendships across the year groups. Weekly ‘buddy time’ helps to create long-term friendships.
Librarians
Our school librarians inspire a love of reading and support others on their reading journey. They do a great job organising and tidying the library too!