JO HENWOOD meets head boys and girls in Cheshire’s secondary schools

YOUNG people across Chester are taking leading roles in the running of their schools, making important decisions, organising large charity events, speaking in public and admonishing their peers.

Queen’s Park, Christleton, Bishop Heber, Helsby, Blacon, and Catholic high schools all have head boys and girls and independent schools like Queen’s, Kings and Abbey Gate College also have students in the top jobs.

Sixteen-year old Jonathan Ducker and Lisa Medcalfe, 15, at Blacon High are only the second pair to step in to the roles and Ieuan Griffiths Pearson and Danielle Alderson, both 18, at Queen’s Park High have only three predecessors.

On the other hand, The Queen’s School’s Poppy Mackay is 131st in a long line of head girls.

Upton, Tarporley, Bishops’ Bluecoat, Neston, and St David’s High Schools have leadership teams of sixth formers but no two individuals have been singled out.

Lorraine Heyworth, director of sixth form at Upton High School said: “Our objective is to maximise the potential of every student at Upton.

“We are concerned that appointing a head boy or head girl would single out students.Š Consequently we provide many leadership opportunities so that every student can matchtheir own particular talents and interests.”

Some head boys and girls are voted in by their peers, others have to face a grilling by the headteacher, head of sixth form or the previous incumbents. However they are elected, they all represent the student voice and are excellent ambassadors for their schools.

They feel that their peers see them as approachable and respect their positions but can sometimes get frustrated when other people don’t fulfill their promises.

Between them they raise thousands of pounds for charity and Christleton’s Matthew Healing is justifiably proud of the £10,000 raised during his tenure.

Some come over as born leaders and are already taking part in extracurricular leadership roles like sports coaching, drama directing and running clubs for younger pupils.

They all come over as popular, hard working youngsters and each one is a credit to their school and their parents.