As the current Head Girls’ Team departs for study leave in May, the privileges and responsibilities of the job will soon rest on the new team: Lola, Ellie, Kaji and Sierra. They agreed to meet me for an interview at the end of last term to get to know them and discuss
their hopes for the coming academic year. Judging by their answers, SWPS should expect a great year for the leadership of the school, and I wish the new HGT every success in their roles!

Why did you decide to put yourselves forward for the role of Head Girl/Deputy?

Sierra: I decided to put myself forward because I love the school – I always wanted to represent it. I felt like everyone else who was applying for the roles would make a fantastic team, so I knew I would work well with the people I was in the team with. I think it would just be really fun to have the opportunity to enact change and leave our stamp on the school.
Lola: It’s a nice way to conclude my final years at SWPS, and it’s something that I’ve never really done before, so it’s a whole new world. You have a lot of opportunity to make a lot change.
Kaji: For me, too, I think I applied so that I can gain more skills, because I feel like I’ve never had much opportunity or put myself out there before. Now I feel like I have a platform, I can finally use that in my own way to create change and represent the school.
Ellie: I think from Year 7, seeing the Head Girls’ Team sat in assembly, they embodied a role model position for me, and I’d love the opportunity to have that effect on some of the younger students myself, which is why I applied.

Are there any areas that any of you individually would like to focus on – e.g. charity events,
eco, diversity etc?

S: My focus was definitely eco going into this. I think we’ve really started a movement of preserving the environment and changing things within the school, but there are still a lot of areas that can be improved. Especially lunch, and with the new printers we can start looking at printer regulations; working with the eco reps, I think, will be really helpful.
L: In terms of the diversity of the school, I wanted to raise more awareness, not just within the student body but also among the teachers. I wanted to continue the legacy that the year above have put in place before us and keep that going.
K: Like Lola, my main focus is also diversity, and I think, for me, it’s how teachers and students handle situations – I’d really like to get into that more.
E: I also thought about the sustainability side of things – I read a great book over Christmas that got me interested in it – and also helping out with the local community. With the rising gas prices and everything like that, people might be struggling, so I think helping out in whatever way we can is important.

What do you think will be the most challenging thing for your team?

L: Adapting to the new Senior Leadership Team, as Mr Muller and Mrs Husselbury are leaving – just working with them as it’ll be a whole new environment. The school’s going to change a lot, I’m guessing.
S: And we’ve spoken to some of the current Head Girls' Team about how the dynamic works in the weekly meetings with the SLT, and the idea that that could all change and we wouldn’t have any reference or any way to deal with that.

What are you most looking forward to doing as a team in the coming year?

K: I think going to events and representing the school – that will be really fun!
E: And meeting with the younger students, like how through Young Enterprise you’re selling to the younger years and meeting them. 
L: Yes – we never really spend much time with the younger years now that we’re in sixth form.
S: I think lower school council is going to be really good fun – hearing what the younger years want, what they think would improve the school, will be really interesting, and working to make change that is good for everyone.

Finally, if your team could be remembered for one thing, what do you hope to leave as your
legacy?

S: I would say coming out of Covid and being the HGT that puts on loads of events, after our previous teams really struggled with being able to hold big events because of the pandemic. But now, I think it’s going be more to do with the new SLT, adapting to that, starting the traditions, and getting into a good pattern before we pass on to the next HGT. Also, it’ll be Mr Muller’s last SWPS panto – I wonder if we can get him in it?!
All: Yes, definitely!

Written by Natalie N (13NM), current member of the Head Girls' Team