Malvern Primary School Newsletter

Student Leadership Update

Providing more opportunities for MPS students to practise their leadership

 

Late last year there was a parent forum held at school where the parent community voiced their concerns about the imbalance of gender in the leadership positions appointed in Year 6 for 2023.

 

The school has consulted the parent community and captured their concerns  following two open forums and other personal communication.  The school values the parents support for change to provide more opportunities for MPS students to practise their leadership

 

Our aim is to improve student voice and agency and provide meaningful discussions around ‘leadership’ and increase opportunities for leadership roles outside of the ‘badged’ roles we currently offer students. This involves a whole school approach where we explore leaderships values, appreciate differences in diversity of leadership styles ( for example gender, ethnicity, assertive/non assertive)

 

Actions taken so far

  • Gleaned information with senior leadership personnel from nearby schools to learn lessons about how they are addressing these areas (Assistant Principal Cadell Duke)
  • Organised for all of our Year 5 & 6 students to attend the GRIP (Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity, People) leadership forum on 28/3 subsidised by the school
    • 122 students & 7 staff attended
  • A team of teachers have begun their training in our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support program
  • Arranged student mentoring with community  leaders such as local MP Michelle Ananda-Rajah
  • Examine the process of leadership selection at MPS
  • Regularly informing the parent community via the newsletter of their school council representatives and school achievements
  • Introduction of House Spirit Friday to provide further leadership opportunities for our Year 6’s and increase the connection between the whole school
  • House Spirit Leaders have self nominated and been elected
  • School leadership working with each year level to run sessions around their thoughts of leadership. The first session's theme was about voicing ‘who are our leaders?’ and ‘what qualities do leaders have?’. These will be run twice per term
  • Organising with Camp Coolamatong a theme of Leadership that ran throughout the entire week of Year 6 camp

We appreciate everyone’s feedback and involvement to date and look forward to updating everyone about our progress next term.

 

Ben Parker

Assistant Principal