Across school pupils are given opportunities to take responsibility in areas that we think are really important. Pupils are democratically elected to these responsibilities. They take their roles very seriously and strive to make a difference in our school.

As well as the children below, each child plays an important role of being a monitor in their class - from being in charge of watering classroom plants to sharpening pencils!

Here at Esh Winning Academy, some of our Year 5 and 6 have become Mini Police. The Mini Police project is set up and ran by the Durham Constabulary as a means of engaging with the local community. The aim of the project is to introduce the Mini Police to a positive experience of policing, the principles of good citizenship and developing an understanding of their local community and the constructive role they can have  within this.

The Year 6 Mini Police have complete independence when it comes to recruiting the Year 5 Mini Police – a very tough task!

Our Mini police are ambassadors for both Durham Constabulary and Esh Winning Academy. This year, the Mini Police have visited the Police Training Site and taken part in litter picking within Esh Winning village. The local police officers joined the team of Mini Police during the litter picking session, and emphasised the importance of helping and supporting within our community.

The Mini Police meet with Mrs Hodgson on a fortnightly basis to discuss how they are helping and supporting within school, but also any issues that they think adults should know about.

The School Council works to make improvements to the school and the way that we do
things at Esh Winning Academy. We hold elections at the start of each year. All children are
given the opportunity to stand for the post of School Councillor. They explain their reasons
why the class should vote for them and then the rest of the class decide who should
represent them. Each class has two School Councillors, who leads the meetings in their own
class to ensure that all of our children have a voice.

All of the School Councillors think that it is important that they represent everyone in school
and carry forward ideas from their peers. They believe that they should be an outstanding
role model to others in school. They all think it is important to raise money for school and
other school-supported charities.

Peer mentors are a specially trained team of children to support all of our children at breaks
and lunchtime.  They have their all-important tool box of resources and they learn how to
engage and empower other children in developing a positive ethos across our school;
creating an environment that helps to support emotional and social needs. Our mentors are
committed to encouraging happy and sociable playtimes. They will be a point of contact for
children during breaks and can help encourage friendship and games, making sure no-one
feels alone and will be able to sort out any minor concerns, they will learn how to best
communicate, keep calm and understand the need for confidentiality in different situations,
whilst gaining confidence and self-esteem.