Pupil Leadership
At our school, we believe in empowering our pupils to take on leadership roles and make a positive impact on our community. Our School Council gives children a voice to share ideas and represent their peers, helping to shape school life. The Eco Council works hard to promote sustainability and care for the environment, encouraging us all to be eco-friendly. Our Digital Warriors lead the way in promoting online safety and supporting the use of technology across the school. Additionally, the Mini-Vinnies embody our values of kindness and compassion, leading charitable initiatives to help those in need. Through these leadership groups, our pupils develop confidence, responsibility, and a strong sense of citizenship.
School Council
This year, the election of our Year 6 school councillors provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to develop their public speaking, leadership, and democratic participation skills. Each candidate prepared and delivered a presentation to the whole school, confidently sharing their individual policies and ideas about how they would represent their peers and improve school life.
Following the presentations, the entire school community took part in the voting process. The school bungalow was transformed into a ballot station, ensuring an authentic experience for all pupils. Every child in the school visited the ballot station to cast their vote in private, mirroring a real democratic election.
Throughout the day, Year 6 pupils took on key roles in managing the ballot station. They worked responsibly and with great maturity to ensure the process was organised, fair, and inclusive. Their commitment to upholding the integrity of the election was evident in the way they supported younger pupils and maintained confidentiality.
Once the voting closed, all ballot papers were securely transferred to the Senior Leadership Team. Due to the number of votes cast, counting took place carefully and was verified twice to ensure accuracy.
Finally, the successful candidates were congratulated and welcomed into their new roles, while all participating candidates were commended for their effort, enthusiasm, and courage in taking part. The process not only elected our new school councillors but also provided an excellent real-world learning experience in democracy, fairness, and citizenship.
GOT – Girls of Tomorrow is a pupil-led group in our school, created by a team of inspiring girls who are passionate about making a positive difference. Their mission is simple but powerful: to spread kindness, support others, and show what it means to be thoughtful, responsible young leaders.
The group was formed through the girls’ own initiative, and they have developed a clear and purposeful plan to help improve school life for everyone. They are excellent role models, demonstrating empathy, teamwork, and leadership in action.
One of their key projects is delivering “Love Hearts” across the school — sharing kind messages and reminders about “what we’ve GOT to do to be kind.” Alongside this, GOT members take on helpful roles around school, support younger pupils, and celebrate acts of kindness they see in others.
Through their work, Girls of Tomorrow are helping to build a caring, inclusive school community where everyone feels valued and respected.
💫 We’ve GOT to be kind! 💫
Latest Project Alert: Each child in the school has drawn a picture of themselves and how they can spread kindness in our school community and beyond. These pictures are to be displayed in our school's new 'Bridge' room.
Latest Project Alert: GOT are supporting in re designing pages on our school website. This includes drawing pictures of our full Academy Council Team.
Latest Project Alert: GOT Box! Got has designed their own box where children or adults can place positive comments. These comments are then shared with individuals.
Mini Vinnies
Welcome to St. Joseph’s Mini Vinnies
Mini-Vinnie groups are set up in Catholic primary schools, and carry out good deeds in helping the needy within school, the local community and the wider world.
The group is part of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing practical assistance to those in need. ‘Mini Vinnies’ are children in Years 3,4,5 and 6 who are encouraged to embark on their first steps as possible ‘Vincentians for life’.
These are some examples of the work that the Mini Vinnies do:
· Organise the 'Friday Foodbank' initiative - this is where each class takes it in turn to try and fill the school foodbank box (during the last Friday of each month)
· Organise events to support the school in raising money for charity, especially during Advent (CAFOD) and Lent (Good Shepherd Appeal)
· Decide what happens with money raised during Advent;
· Serve the sick in our Parish
· Make cards to the housebound of the parish so that they feel less lonely;
· Organise 'Rosary ' during the months of October and May - giving up their playtime to pray with other children
· Support staff in school when organising liturgical celebrations.
· Support the school council with whole school initiatives that enhance the development of everyone in school, such as the Prayer Garden, choosing Class Saints and Stations of the Cross designs.
Mini-Vinnie Pledge
As a member of Mini Vinnies, I promise to make a difference to my world by:
· Caring for, respecting and loving myself
· Strengthening my friendship with Jesus by talking to him each day and talking to others about him
· Caring for others in my school and community by being a friend to those who are alone, in need or in trouble
· Making my family happy by my help, respect and showing kindness and consideration
· Caring for and enjoying God’s world
· Treating others, the way I would like them to treat me
Mini-Vinnie Prayer
Lord, thank you for our gifts and talents.
Lord, show us who needs our help.
Lord, use our hands to help those who are hungry.
Lord, open our hearts to love and comfort those who are sad and lonely.
Lord, let us share our time, gifts and talents with those in need.
Lord, help us to care for the sick.
Lord, may we all help and support each other as Mini Vinnies to build a better world. Amen
Mini-Vinnie Leaders
Mr Gilhooly and Miss Middleton lead our Mini Vinnies in school. They meet fortnightly to pray and decide which charities they would like to support during the year. They also make links with our local community and help others in need.