Student Leadership

Student Leadership at Our Academy

At Harris Invictus Academy Croydon, we believe that leadership opportunities help students develop confidence, responsibility, resilience and a commitment to serving their community. Our Student Leadership Team plays a vital role in shaping school life, representing the views of students and contributing to the continual improvement of our academy. 

Our leadership structure includes Head Students and Deputy Head Students from both Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, who work closely with senior leaders to promote student voice, lead whole-school initiatives, and act as ambassadors for the academy. Supporting them are Faculty Prefects from Key Stage 3 and KS4, with representatives selected from each class across every faculty. These students help to lead projects, support academy events, gather student feedback, and act as role models for their peers. 

Through assemblies, charity events, open evenings, student voice activities and community projects, our student leaders make a significant contribution to the culture and success of Harris Invictus. The programme provides students with meaningful opportunities to develop leadership skills, influence decision-making and prepare for future education, employment and civic life 

This structure ensures that all students have a voice and that leadership opportunities are available across all year groups and curriculum areas, helping to create a strong sense of belonging, responsibility and pride within our school community. 

Student Leadership - What we look for in our Prefects

Prefects play an essential role in supporting staff to maintain order and discipline in and around school. Prefects are expected to model excellent behaviour and attitude and act as role models for the student body of the academy. To do this you must demonstrate through the way you deal with students and staff, and through your actions:

 • A passionate belief in the Academy’s mission statement.

• High levels of attendance and punctuality to school.

 • High levels of honesty, behaviour and good language.

 • Good character – being conscientious about your duties, being helpful and fair to all students, and keeping confidential information to yourself.

 • Commitment to serving other people

The responsibilities of prefects will include:

 1. Providing excellent leadership and being a role model to all learners and members of the wider community.

 2. Supervising learners during key times in the academy to maintain the highest standards of discipline and behaviour. These could include assembly times, movement around the academy during break and lunchtimes and at the end of school.

 3. Support in supervising learners during assemblies, ensuring good listening and behaviour.

4. Checking and then encouraging learners across the academy to have the highest standards of cleanliness in their classrooms, effort in lessons, uniform and equipment.

 5. Supporting the Academy and delivery of school events such as parents’ evening, induction day and Open Evening.

 6. Organising and delivering community events to support learning and enrichment.

7. Representing the academy during outside events, conferences and activities.

8. Hosting visitors, providing a tour of the school and talking to them about the academy and its activities

 9. Preparing and delivering assemblies to the rest of the school.

10. Supervising small groups of students during learning and enrichment activities.

 11. Liaising with the media to represent the academy when appropriate.

12. Undertaking any other responsibilities that are requested by the Head Teacher and senior leaders.

Prefects will have a badge to designate their status. You will have designated tasks within the school and will receive training to help you to carry out your duties more effectively. In addition, prefects with senior leadership roles such as Head Prefects and Deputy Head prefects will be responsible for:

1. Coordinating the work of prefects, ensuring all are aware of their roles for each function or event delivered by prefects.

2. Liaising with the Assistant Principals responsible for prefects and communicating key messages to the group of prefects.

 3. Organising and chairing meetings of prefects on a fortnightly basis

Get involved

Speak to your tutor or Faculty lead to find out more about how to get involve.

Key Accomplishments of Student Voice at Harris Invictus Academy

1. Influencing school facilities and resources

Student leaders successfully advocated for improvements to social and recreational facilities, including:

• The purchase of new basketball hoops
• The purchase of a cricket net
• Requests for additional recreational equipment to improve break and lunchtime provision

2. Changes to school culture and student experience

• Culture Day
• Introduction of the 4G Pitch
• Uniform relaxation during Summer 2
• Development of the school garden
• Introduction of board games at break and lunch
• Increased opportunities for educational trips across all key stages
• Joint break and lunch arrangements for some KS4

Student leaders act as a bridge between students and senior leaders by:

• Holding regular Student Voice meetings
• Collecting feedback through tutor representatives and prefects
• Using "idea boxes" so students can suggest changes and improvements
• Meeting weekly to discuss issues affecting the student body and present them to senior leaders

4. Leading whole-school initiatives

Student leaders have:

• Organised and delivered assemblies on topics such as bullying, discrimination, Finding Your Purpose
• Led charity drives and fundraising activities
• Supported open evenings, rewards evenings and transition events
• Participated in community projects and academy events
• 5. Representing student views in decision-making

The Student Leadership Team works closely with senior leaders to:

• Gather student feedback
• Represent student concerns
• Contribute to continual school improvement
• Promote student voice across the academy
• 6. Improving dining and welfare provision

Student leaders successfully advocated for:

• A wider selection of food and drinks in the canteen, directly improving the daily experience of students.

7. Creating opportunities for leadership and personal development

Student Voice has enabled students to:

• Develop confidence and leadership skills
• Act as ambassadors for the academy
• Support younger students
• Prepare for future education, employment and civic life