From 2025 onwards only two students will be elected as School Captains each year. Many different School Captain leadership models have been considered and discussed. In 2025, Year 6 will only be a small cohort with 8 students in total and for the next few years our Year 6 cohort will be approx. 10 students. This makes it difficult to come up with a leadership model that fits our school context. If our class groups were at a more consistent number each year, we would be able to apply a more consistent model.

Researched into how other smaller school such as St Patrick’s select Year 6 leadership positions was completed. Most schools of a similar size or smaller, do not have School Captains and only have leadership roles. However, as the School Captain roles are part of the history of St Patrick’s, it was decided not to change to this model.

The School Community Council parent representatives were consulted over the ongoing model for St Patrick’s who also voted for the change to two School Captains to be made a permanent model. This will help provide continuity each year of the number of School Captains elected rather than changing from two to four (or vice versa) again in the future.

In Year 6, all students are provided with the opportunity to apply for a leadership role. These roles become the focus for these students as school leaders and provide each student (or several students) with an area of leadership that they can undertake during their last year of primary school. Year 6 have the opportunity to attend leadership training and become Peer Support leaders during the year as well. They are also provided with additional privileges during their final year of school, that they look forward too.

As a school, we value the contribution to leadership from all our Year 6 students and look forward to working with them as role models and school leaders in 2025 and beyond.