Student Advocacy

Student advocacy is a key part of The Gryphon School’s ethos, encouraging pupils to have a voice and make a positive difference in the world around them. The school offers a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved in social justice issues, both locally and globally. Through student leadership groups, charity work, partnerships, and learning across the curriculum, pupils are supported to recognise injustice, think critically, and take meaningful action. This approach helps all students develop a strong sense of right and wrong, as well as the confidence to stand up for others and contribute to positive change.

Just a few examples of student advocacy opportunities are listed below:

Sherborne Youth Council

As part of a Growing Faith Project and working alongside Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education, Church leadership teams and the local council The Gryphon School has developed a community hub and formed from this Sherborne Youth Council.

Following a wide range of consultations and discussions with young people and local leaders a specific focus on Sherborne being a Young person friendly town, which meets the needs of all members of the community, has been introduced.

Since 2023 a regular Youth Council, set up by the Gryphon, has been established in the town, brining together Church leaders, community leaders and young people from all of the town’s schools to meet 5 times a year to discuss key projects such as Cycle paths, environmental concerns, competitions and events.

Through this project church and school leaders are working together to better connect with and meet the needs of children and young people in Sherborne.

Student Chaplains

The Gryphon School Student Chaplains are a team of committed Year 8 students who act as positive role models and help support the wellbeing of the school community. As part of the Gryphon Life Ambassadors programme, they live out the core values of Leadership, Integrity, Fellowship and Exploration by being approachable, good listeners and a safe presence for other students, particularly those in Year 7. Student Chaplains help pupils build friendships, encourage kindness and respect, and support opportunities for reflection, stillness and spiritual exploration, including helping with Acts of Worship. They also represent the school through community and charity work, promote respect for cultural and religious diversity, and meet regularly with the school Chaplain for training, guidance and reflection, helping to shape and develop the role within the school.

If you would like to apply to be a Student Chaplain please see the application information below:

Student Chaplaincy Application FormDownload

Charity Fundraising

Each year the Gryphon School fundraises for many important causes, including food banks, Cancer research, Alzheimer’s awareness and Leprosy mission.

The School council select causes they are looking to support and ways that fundraising might take place.

Additionally students often come up with their own fundraising projects, such as Joe in Year 13 who did the ice bucket challenge with teachers to raise money for Mental Health Charity Active Mind.

or our Student Chaplains who came up with a Student Vs SLT Penalty Shootout to raise funds to help build a school in South Sudan.

SAST Youth Advisors

Working alongside schools across the trust The Gryphon School have helped to establish a student advocacy group called SAST Youth Advisors. These students meet as representatives of their school to discuss Trust-wide issues and to support the executive team to make choices to support Young people across the trust.

In addition, there are many other opportunities for student leadership, which you can find out more about here.