Prep School Update

Future Leaders? Present Leaders!

Here at St Swithun’s, we know that empowering the children is extremely important: it is only when the pupils are able to recognise and appreciate the practical consequences of their actions that our three guiding tenets of caritas, humilitas, sinceritas can be put into real and meaningful application. As a result, every child from Reception to Year Six in the Prep School knows that their contributions make our world a better place: they are the active agents of change.

Since our return to school in September, we have implemented a new structure to ensure that each pupil feels valued and involved; absolutely no-one is left out. In addition to several traditional responsibilities in each class (such as art, library, science, music, digital, sports and organisational monitors) we have a revolutionary new Citizenship period on Tuesday mornings which runs on a three-week rolling programme: we might have House meetings in this slot (and, in line with prep tradition, everyone is either a Woodpecker, an Owl, a Robin or a Kingfisher), or we may be holding meetings of our various prep pupil committees, or the chairs of those committees might be meeting as the Prep Pupil Parliament. Democracy, as one of the Government’s fundamental British values that we are very proud to promote actively, lies at the heart of our committee and parliament membership: lots of hustings and many elections have been evident over the past few weeks! We now have a democratically-elected group of children with powerful, relevant voices who can influence key areas of our work and practice. There are separate committees for culture, health, community, food, charity fundraising and ecological sustainability. Three of the members of each committee are pupils in Year Six, and each class from Reception through to Year Five has put forward an additional representative; the children concerned know that they represent the views of their constituents (the other children in their class) and they then debate proposals to put forward for discussion at Parliament. There is a member of staff present at each meeting, but they are most definitely not in charge of proceedings; that responsibility falls to the chair (democratically elected by the members, of course!)

Parliament meets to discuss proposals with the deputy head and myself; we then work with the children to refine ideas and, whenever we can, we facilitate implementation of the changes requested. Chairs of the committees also attend meetings outside the immediate prep school whenever possible: as one example, henceforth the chair of the food committee will, escorted by the head, attend regular meetings with the school caterers to enhance and improve menus at break and lunch.

Does our Parliament have a Prime Minister? Well, yes and no. In keeping with the philosophy of this being essentially a position of service to others, we have adopted the title of Parliament Secretary. Indeed, for this first generation of children, elections to this highest accolade seemed determined to result in a dead heat. Hence, we currently have co-secretaries: something not in the original plans, but a good example in itself of pupil voice in action!

I will keep you posted regarding developments and successful projects!

Jonathan Brough

Head of the Prep School ■