Pupil Leadership
Giving children the confidence to lead, the skills to inspire and the values to make a real difference.
Real roles. Real responsibility. Real impact.
From elected Parliament representatives to Buddy Mentors - every role matters.
At Yarrells, pupil leadership is not merely the wearing of a badge or the carrying of a title. It is a genuine privilege that comes with real responsibilities, ones that reflect our core values of Community & Kindness, Ambition & Excellence and Resilience & Determination. Our October 2025 ISI inspection recognised pupil leadership as a significant strength of the school, finding that pupils of all ages are keen to take on leadership roles and contribute positively to the school community, and that our young leaders successfully organise a range of initiatives that teach children the meaning of civic responsibility, collaboration and care for others.
Explore the ways our pupils lead at Yarrells:
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School Captains and Vice-Captains are selected from Year 6 each term by staff. They meet regularly with the Head, represent the school at significant events, including Open Days, Prize-Giving and drama performances, help younger pupils and look for ways to improve day-to-day life at Yarrells. They sit at the front of every assembly and take personal responsibility for hand delivering birthday cards to every pupil in the school. These pupils embody our vision of happy, kind individuals who demonstrate integrity and strength of character.
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Pupil Librarians are chosen from Year 6 and remain in post throughout the academic year. They take genuine responsibility for the running and care of the school library, helping fellow pupils to find books, keeping the space welcoming and orderly, and nurturing a love of reading across the whole community. In keeping with our value of Creativity & Curiosity, they help keep the flame of learning alive for every child who walks through the library door.
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Eight Year 6 pupils serve as House Captains with responsibility for coordinating and running charity events throughout the year. They research and nominate charities, present their ideas in assembly and plan events including Harvest Festival, the Summer and Christmas Fairs, Red Nose Day, the Poppy Appeal, Fairtrade Fortnight and the Shoebox Appeal. Our ISI inspectors noted that pupil leaders develop real skills in planning and leadership through these activities, and learn to be supportive of both national and local causes, including visits to Poole Food Bank to donate produce directly. This is our value of Community & Kindness in action.
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Buddy Mentors are older pupils who volunteer to support and guide younger children in the school. Whether helping a new pupil settle in, offering a friendly face at break time or supporting younger children in activities, Buddy Mentors embody the warmth and care at the heart of Yarrells. Our ISI inspectors found that pupils show respect, empathy and strong emotional awareness — qualities that are at the core of our value of Community & Kindness, and that our vision describes as being inclusive, compassionate and respectful.
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Form Captains, House Captains, Sports Captains and Music and Drama Captains give children at every stage the opportunity to take on meaningful responsibilities. These roles build confidence, communication and a sense of pride, reflecting our vision of pupils who flourish socially and academically, and who can balance their own wellbeing whilst always being kind to others. Our ISI inspectors found that the active promotion of these values is evident throughout the school ethos and curriculum.
Yarrells Parliament
Four committees. One shared voice. Real decisions made by real children.
The Yarrells Parliament is democracy in action. Representatives from Year 2 to Year 5 are elected each term by their peers, bringing the views, ideas and concerns of their classmates to regular Parliament meetings, presided over by the Head and Chair of the Advisory Governing Body. Our ISI inspectors found that pupils are taught to understand the role of democracy, elections and Parliament, and nowhere is this more vividly lived out than in the Yarrells Parliament itself. Recent achievements include Wellbeing Wednesdays, new play equipment, an Environment Day with new wormeries and composting areas, and an Inclusion and Diversity Day with drumming workshops. The Parliament gives every child's voice the weight it deserves, and our values of Community & Kindness and Ambition & Excellence shine through everything it does.
The Parliament is made up of four elected committees:
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Yarrells is proud to fly the Green Flag, awarded in recognition of the outstanding environmental work led by this committee. They have led the CUT YOUR CARBON campaign, organised World Ocean Day with a swimathon raising money for Project Planet, run virtual litter picks for the Marine Conservation Society, and encouraged families to join the Great British Beach Clean. They coordinate battery and pen collections, manage the school wormery, supported the Rags to Riches textile collection and lead the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Coming up: a photography competition and Wear it Wild day in the summer term. Our vision for Yarrells pupils includes positive attitudes towards the environment and sustainability, and this committee lives that vision every single day.
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The Inclusion and Diversity Committee ensures that every child feels seen, valued and celebrated at Yarrells. They have led initiatives including Inclusion and Diversity Day with drumming workshops and community events. Our ISI inspection found that pupils show genuine respect and empathy for different cultures and beliefs, and that the active promotion of these values is evident throughout the curriculum and ethos. This maps directly to our school value of Community & Kindness, being inclusive, compassionate and tolerant in all that we do.
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The Learning and Resources Committee gives children a direct say in how the school is equipped and organised for learning. Representatives have successfully bid for new play equipment through the PTA, contributed to decisions about school resources and brought forward ideas from their classmates. Our value of Ambition & Excellence drives this committee, children with high expectations who are determined to make Yarrells the very best it can be, finding opportunities for the whole community to shine.
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The Health and Wellbeing Committee is responsible for championing the physical and mental wellbeing of everyone at Yarrells. Their biggest achievement was the introduction of Wellbeing Wednesdays, conceived, proposed and run entirely by the pupils themselves. The ISI inspection found that safeguarding is central to school life and that pupils' wellbeing remains at the heart of the Yarrells community. This reflects our vision of pupils who can balance their own wellbeing whilst always being kind to others, and our value of Resilience & Determination in nurturing a positive, successful mindset for every child.
Come and see Yarrells for yourself and meet Mrs Cunningham, the head in person
The best way to experience Yarrells is to come and see it for yourself. Mrs Cunningham personally welcomes every prospective family and would love to show you around, a conversation over a tour is worth a thousand words.
