This year our Year 7 to Year 11 ambassadors meet fortnightly with a group of Year 7 students. They support and give advice on dealing with worries around school, homework and friendships. They help students to develop strategies to build positive mental wellbeing.
Our Sixth Form ambassadors also meet fortnightly with Year 11 students to give advice about exam stress and share successful strategies that have worked for them.
Our Mental Health Ambassadors help to raise awareness of the school’s wellbeing support during assemblies and visiting form time learning. They will also be helping to plan and run activities during Mental Health Awareness Month. They will be attending the Notts Alone Event during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week to find more ideas to help improve student wellbeing at George Spencer Academy.
‘I have gained a deeper understanding of mental health and it’s complexities but also I have improved my people skills…I believe we can improve the mental wellbeing of students with effective communication while also creating a supportive environment with student run schemes such as the mental health ambassadors’ William, Year 9
‘I have been able to push myself out of my comfort zone and talk to others about positive wellbeing’ Viktoria, Year 10
‘I have chosen to be a mental health ambassador because I like to help people when they are feeling down or worried’ Tara, Year 8
If you are interested in becoming a Mental Health Ambassador you can speak to Miss Hembrow or email ehembrow@georgespencer.org.uk
Our Confidence Ambassadors have worked really hard to create a 6-week programme with resources that will be delivered to students in Year 7 after February half term. Ambassadors have planned sessions and created a resource booklet that they will work through with the Year 7 students as part of their 1 to 1 sessions.
Students have stated they have enjoyed sessions from Mr Dakers and Mr Steane and learnt about strategies to help and support young people. The have enjoyed planning the confidence programme and are looking forward to putting the programme into practice and working with younger students.
Confidence ambassadors meet during form time every Friday. If anyone is interested in joining, please speak to Mr Dakers or email jdakers@georgespencer.org.uk
Over the last year, they have successfully provided feedback to every Faculty area, with specific strengths and areas for development included in each Faculty’s improvement plans.
‘I love my subjects and I like talking about my learning and having the opportunity to say what’s going well and what can be improved’ Hollie
‘I like being able to have a say and feel like our views are listened to about our lessons in class’ Olivia
The group meets twice a half term during form time learning to discuss different subjects and should you wish to become a Curriculum Ambassador speak to Mr T Furber or email him at tfurber@georgespencer.org.uk , the more the merrier!
- Promote reading competitions and events taking place in school – linked to the reading calendar
- Help to curate the half termly reading newsletter – the ‘Book Shelf’
- Raise awareness and interest about the wide selection of books in the library
- Provide feedback and student voice on the reading provision in school and its improvement
Over the last year they have reviewed a wide range of books and promoted them through the newsletter, developed ideas for competitions for events like World Book Day, designed new displays and helped advise on new titles and genres for the library to invest in.
‘I love being able to talk about the books I’ve read, take part in competitions and give ideas for them’ Isla
‘I like being part of a group who talks about reading and helps to promote it to the school’ Josh
The group meets twice a half term during form time learning and should you wish to become a Media Rep speak to Mr T Furber or email him at tfurber@georgespencer.org.uk
- 1:1 or small group work with students focusing on particular strategies or subjects
- Sharing revision resources that they have made and used last year
- Planning revision timetables
- Reviewing Year 11’s own revision resources and finding ways to improve them
Our ambassadors are also building positive relationships with those who are wanting to join our Sixth Form next year and who they will be working closely with when they become year 13.
‘I enjoy helping people who are struggling and feel I would be good at explaining my methods. I am confident my study methods helped me achieve during my GCSEs and would like to share them to help others’ Louise
‘I would like to support the year 11s in their exams and as I achieved good grades with the support of my teachers last year I would like to support the year 11s in whatever way I can’ Andrea
‘I feel like that’s important as many of us last year only realised how serious it was around 6 months from our GCSEs. I also think that my love of the subject would influence the year 11’s to enjoy it more.’ Nyree
If you are a Year 11 who is interested in talking to a Study Skills ambassador, they are available in the LSRC at Break 2. If you would like to find out any more about the role of our study skills ambassadors, please speak to Miss Jenkinson or email ljenkinson@georgespencer.org.uk
Most recently they have visited the Memory Café and independent living schemes in Stapleford to provide entertainment to residents and get to know out local community. The have supported with charity donation drives such as the collection of chocolate selection boxes for Operation Orphan.
‘I like being a community ambassador because I can help people and feel like I am doing something for others’ Emily, Year 9
‘It feels good knowing that a small part of my day can have a huge impact on other people’s lives and community’ Libby, Sixth Form
‘This year, we’ve become community ambassador and been involved in many schoolwide fundraisers and donations drives. We have really enjoyed being ambassadors so far and we know there is lots more to come’ Eleanor and Jess, Year 8
Community Ambassadors meet on a Tuesday morning. If you are interested supporting charities and our local communities please speak to Miss Hembrow or email ehembrow@georgespencer.org.uk
- Current affairs in the UK and internationally
- Developments and new initiatives inside and outside the classroom
- Extra-curricular trips
- Debates on topical issues
The News Team consists of an editorial team of 3-4 students from older year groups who set the direction of the student newspaper, the GSA Times. The GSA Times is published every term.
‘I only joined the GSA Times last year and recently I became an editor. I am really enjoying being a part of this team because it is helpful for later in life, specifically for English to be regularly writing large pieces of factual information that still keeps the audience interested. Being a part of this team is just really fun because you know that you are all working together with like-minded people to create something awesome.’ Matthew, Year 8
‘I have enjoyed editing the GSA Times for two years and working with students in other year groups to research really interesting topics and write them up.’ Emma, Year 11
If you would like to become part of the News Team, reporting on events and developments at George Spencer Academy and beyond, please email thopkins-burke@georgespencer.org.uk
The student leadership, led by four elected Year 13 Presidents, are a collection of elected form representatives who have been trained and supported to carry out their important role. They encourage students to have their voices heard, and the whole school council work to ensure that happens.
There are 3 sub council groups for the different Key Stages, who meet to discuss ideas and suggestions from the student body to create positive change and development at George Spencer Academy.
So far this year, the council have put forward the continuation of the school equipment shop so students can use their positive points to replenish stationery. They have also been working on ways to increase awareness around events such as month of the Military child, British Science week and fundraising for year group charities.
‘As Student Presidents we have gained valuable training but also have been given the opportunity to train others, which has allowed us to build a rapport with the whole leadership team. We have regular meetings that allow ideas to be shared easily and give students in younger years the opportunity to take on roles in council meetings’
If you would like to know more about the student leadership team, please contact Miss Jenkinson ljenkinson@georgespencer.org.uk
Anti-Bullying Ambassadors take part in a 4 week training programme to develop leadership skills and learn about the different types of bullying and the impact it can have on young people. Following this, they develop ideas and projects to support our anti-bullying policy. Ideas and projects have included;
- Support workshops for students that have experienced bullying
- Workshops for students that have demonstrated bullying type behaviours
- Assemblies to promote our anti-bullying message
- Whole school campaign to promote anti-bullying message.
Anybody that is interested in becoming an Anti-Bullying ambassador should speak to Mr Dakers