Shireland Collegiate Academy hosted a student council day with Dupoto, bringing together student representatives from Years 7 to 13 from all secondary schools across Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, including Thorns Collegiate Academy, West Bromwich Collegiate Academy, Shireland CBSO Academy and Shireland Biomedical UTC.
The one-day event aimed to develop students’ leadership skills, empowering them to drive positive change in their school communities.
Throughout the day, students participated in interactive workshops and group discussions, sharing examples of best practice from their own academies and debating key issues affecting their peers. They then explored ways to strengthen student voice and leadership, mapping out how they would put their ideas into action over the course of the school year.
Anti-Bullying ambassadors from Shireland Collegiate Academy supported the event with a performance highlighting the importance of promoting respect, inclusion and wellbeing. Their involvement emphasised the key role students play in shaping a positive and inclusive school environment.
The event concluded with groups presenting their drafted plans to fellow students and staff, sharing ideas that will be developed into tangible projects in their schools. The day was marked by focused energy and teamwork, reflecting Dupoto’s ethos of unity, ambition and impact.
Thomas Daly, Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy, said: “It was inspiring to see students from across the Trust work with such maturity and purpose. Days like this empower young people to lead with confidence, make a bigger impact trust-wide and turn their ideas into action with long-term positive outcomes.
“Their passion for improving school life shows just how powerful student voice can be when nurtured and taken seriously.”
Dupoto is an external organisation that supports learning, wellbeing and personal development across schools. Its central approach, Territory Mapping, uses visual tools to help students reflect on who they are, where they are going, and how they can grow. The programme combines personal reflection with real-world challenges, leadership development and curriculum integration, giving students a framework to build self-awareness, purpose and wellbeing.
Working collaboratively with Dupoto, the event showcased the Trust’s commitment to nurturing confident, proactive young leaders. It also highlighted the Trust’s focus on initiatives that promote inclusion and social responsibility across its schools.
