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Establishing commitment, support and leadership
A key feature of successful pupil champion programmes is that they have ongoing, active support from the Headteacher and senior leadership team. This is to make sure that programmes are fully embedded and driven to create an ethos and environment that is informed by both pupils and staff.
Senior leadership need to ‘buy in’ to your programme and value its importance so that it has the time and resource needed to be sustainable over time. Ideally your programme will have a named lead on the senior leadership team who will be responsible for overseeing the programme.
Senior leadership will also need to obtain the support of both the staff body and the board of governors. This may take time and discussion over several meetings.
Ideally you will also have a programme coordinator in school to oversee your programme. This person needs to be well trained, committed to the programme, organised and able to be a strong leader. Suggested training for the coordinator would be levels 1, 2 and 3 of Compass BUZZ training or an equivalent school mental health training programme. The coordinator also needs to be available to offer vital support to the pupil champions when they need this.
