KINGSDOWN School has introduced new roles in an effort to revitalise its prefect and senior student initiative.

In recent weeks, Year 9 and 10 students have been taking part in a rigorous interview process in order to identify 51 pupils who could join the programme.

Three different categories were included. 'Here to hear' focused on older students providing younger ones with emotional support, while 'school ambassadors' looked at publicising school events, communicating successes with the local community and raising money for charity. The third, 'school leaders', concentrated on collating student voice and feeding this back to staff for action.

Headteacher Emma Leigh-Bennett said: “We are incredibly lucky to have such a strong, talented and capable team of student leaders, who will work with us to further improve and to achieve our goal of being a school of excellence.”

Following the process, 20 of the Year 10 students were appointed as part of the Student Leadership team, which is now headed up by new head boy Evan Lehane and head girl Loren Hobbs.

Evan has an ambition for the school to continue to develop the student voice and ensure that every one of them is heard.

He said: “Kingsdown is a wonderful school that has helped me so much. I am incredibly proud to be part of the transformations taking place here.”

Head girl Loren, meanwhile, has a family with a long history with Kingsdown. Both of her parents and paternal grandparents attended the school, as well as her great grandmother and a number of aunts and uncles.

She said: “Kingsdown School has given me so many great opportunities. I am thrilled to be able to give something back to the school and make my family proud.”

Mrs Leigh-Bennett added: “We are delighted with the appointment of both Loren and Evan.

“They have been fantastic ambassadors for the school over the past four years and Loren’s family history at Kingsdown just goes to show how important the role of the school is to the local community.”