Student Leadership

Student Leadership at The Gryphon School

As an academy and Church of England school at the heart of the Sherborne community, The Gryphon School is committed to providing pupils with meaningful opportunities to lead, serve and make a positive difference. Our student leadership roles help pupils develop confidence, responsibility and the personal qualities set out in our vision – Leadership, Integrity, Fellowship and Exploration – so they can flourish and experience LIFE in its fullness.

Leadership roles and opportunities

Sixth Form Prefects

Sixth Form prefects are exemplary role models across the school.
They support open evenings, run tours for prospective families, assist at events and represent the school at external occasions.
Each prefect demonstrates Leadership and Integrity, helping younger pupils feel welcome and confident.

Student Tour Guides

Every year more than 100 pupils volunteer to show prospective parents and pupils around our school.
Tour guides are ambassadors for the school, sharing what life at The Gryphon is like and showing our community spirit in action.

Tutor Representatives & Year Council

Tutor reps gather views from their tutor groups and bring them to Year Council meetings.
Year Councils provide a structured forum for discussing issues relevant to a particular year group and preparing items for the School Council.
This ensures that pupils’ everyday concerns are heard.

School Council

The School Council brings together pupil representatives to shape school decisions, policies and initiatives.
Members work with staff and leaders to propose improvements and run student-led projects that reflect our values of Fellowship and Exploration.

Sherborne Youth Council

Pupils represent The Gryphon alongside other local schools to work with Sherborne Town Council.
This partnership allows students to influence town decisions, contribute to local projects and learn about civic responsibility.

SAST Youth Advisors

As part of the Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust (SAST), our SAST Youth Advisors collaborate with pupils from across the trust.
They discuss trust-wide concerns, provide feedback to the trust’s central team and help shape policies that affect multiple schools.

Reading Ambassadors

Reading Ambassadors promote a love of reading across the school.
They organise reading events, recommend books, support reading initiatives and work to make reading accessible and enjoyable for all pupils.

Peer Mentors

Year 9 peer mentors support pupils during transition from primary to secondary, helping them settle in and build confidence.
Year 12 and 13 peer mentors provide 1:1 support for pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4, offering guidance, academic help and a supportive listening ear.

Student Chaplains

Student Chaplains support the spiritual life of the school, help lead worship and pastoral activities, and contribute to our Church School identity.
They provide compassionate support to peers and help foster the spiritual and moral development that underpins our vision.

How pupils get involved

Opportunities are advertised through tutor time, assemblies and the student notices.
Many roles require an application or nomination process; others are volunteer based.