POTENTIAL new teachers at New Rickstones Academy will now be grilled by students in the interviewing process.

The responsibilities are being stepped up for the Student Leadership Team.

The head boy, head girl, their deputies and prefects will be expected to become ambassadors for the school, act as learning mentors for peers, lead assemblies, assist with clubs and represent students in meetings.

They will also sit on interview panels for future members of staff.

Carmel Comerford, director of upper school, said: “There has always been a student leadership team at New Rickstones, but this year we want to give them more responsibility.

"When I took on this role, I was really nervous about leading assemblies and it almost put me off taking it. So, for our children to have the confidence to take this on blows me away.

“They will come along to the Senior Leadership Team meeting once every half-term and they will take part in lesson observations and book walks so they can share best practise.”

Students keen to be a part of the team had to go through an application process, including completing an application form, sitting an interview and, for some, giving a presentation to senior staff.

Miss Comerford said: “We were looking for candidates who believed in themselves. The successful team are really good students who are passionate about driving forward change on the academy’s journey to outstanding.

"They spoke during their application process about what the school has done for them and about wanting to give something back and have a positive impact on others around the school.”

The new team, starting in Year 11 in September, are head boy Robert Benson, deputy Ben Spooner, head girl Masi Kawome and deputy Darcey Spenner.

Senior prefects are Thomas Banks, Betsy Goodfellow and Jakub Drawert with Billy Bantounas, Kaitlin Godfrey-Wyatt, James Vivian, Olivia Hodges, Sophia Cook and Emilie Mason chosen as prefects.