Roles and Responsibilities

From Year 1 upwards, all children are given the opportunity to be on the school parliament with class representatives elected following a vote from their peers based on a presentation they deliver. This democratic process is an early introduction to the workings of society and gives everyone the experience of presenting to a group. The school parliament comprises school council, lunch council, eco council and harmony council and each meet regularly, reps involving their classes in follow up discussions. Recent initiatives saw the school council sharing their ideas for the development of the school grounds and the library spaces and involved in interviews of a potential new staff member.

Building an awareness of our responsibility for the environment all children are given the chance to take part in litter picking activities. Surprising popular, these supervised rotations see pupils taking pride in their school environment with the older children litter picking in surrounding areas to the school as well as the main grounds.

A very special part of Elmhurst is our buddy system and the work we do to ensure older pupils buddy younger children throughout the school.

This means opportunities are found for lunch together, playtimes and shared reading. Both older and younger children benefit and treasure the relationship.

Our older girls also take on leadership of the girls’, making time to play with them and building a supportive relationship with them. Our older children make extraordinarily good role models.

Each class appoints monitors to keep the classroom tidy and carry out tasks. The chance to take on responsibility is one many enjoy and it certainly helps the teachers too!

Who better than to show visitors round the school than the pupils who know it best. Our older children enjoy the chance to share their pride in their school with visitors but it is also an excellent chance to develop their interpersonal skills. At every Open Event the senior pupils are invited to meet visitors and talk to them about the school, something they absolutely love to do. Elmhurst Prep is a happy place to be.

Each house elects an older pupil to lead the House and a deputy to support them. These boys contribute to House Meetings and gladly collect trophies when the house is successful. Regular inter-house sport competitions and events keep the competitive juices flowing and weekly assemblies reveal house point leaders.

The role of Head Boy is a coveted one and the chosen pupil shoulders the responsibility of being a role model for all boys in the school at all times. The names of previous head boys are shown on an honours board in the school, something our returning alumni are keen to look at!