Student Leadership at Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo gives every student the chance to have a voice, take responsibility, and shape positive change within our community. Our goal is to develop confident, compassionate, and proactive young people who lead by example, represent their peers, and contribute to the life of the academy. Through student leadership, we aim to nurture skills such as teamwork, communication, resilience, and integrity—preparing students not only to influence school life today but also to thrive as active citizens in the wider world.
The Student Leadership Team at Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo is made up of Head Students, Deputy Head Students, Prefects, Form Representatives, and Subject Ambassadors. Together, they represent the voice of the student body and play an active role in shaping academy life. The team meets regularly to share ideas, discuss priorities, and present student perspectives to school leadership. They also work collaboratively on fundraising initiatives and community projects, ensuring that student-led actions have a meaningful and positive impact across the academy
Meet the Student Leadership Team
Mei-Lein
Head Student
Hello everybody, I’m Mei-Lien, and I’m one of the Head Students of the Leigh Academy: Hundred of Hoo. I’ve been at the academy since Year 10, starting during my GCSEs in 2023 and returning for both years at the Sixth Form. I’ve always strived to be an active member of my school community, and being a part of such a welcoming environment has motivated me to help improve it further; I want to use my role to empower fellow students to achieve both academic success and a fulfilling social life. I want them to be reassured that they are not only seen but also heard. This vision will extend beyond our school; it will reach our children, staff, and the wider Hoo community.
It was what motivated me to become Head Student, a role I take immense pride and joy in, and it has also led me down other leadership paths. I have been an Equality Ambassador since Year 11, working with my fellow Ambassadors to create a safe space for people of colour, those under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, people with disabilities, and more. Although I haven’t been at the academy for my entire secondary school career, I believe that attending this school has been a very positive and enriching experience for me; I’ve met incredible, like-minded individuals who inspire me to improve, teachers who challenge my skills, and I have found comfort in a community where I can express myself in ways I previously thought impossible. The options available to me at GCSEs helped to nurture my curiosity and imagination, and it was that sense of wonder and creativity that kept me so captivated by the Sixth Form’s A-Level options.
Art has always been something I’m passionate about, and a subject which has become a core part of my identity and story. It was my expression, my escapism, my home – and getting to translate that passion into my coursework has helped me to delve into the more creative side of myself. 3D Design has even elevated my desire for practical studies, to experiment with my own thoughts and turn them into something beautiful. Within the same vein, it’s that thought that helped me discover my passion for English Literature; being able to partake in thoughtful, nuanced conversations and debates with my peers has helped me to not only fall back in love with reading, but has also taught me how our ideals shape our perceptions and individuality.
Whilst I don’t take part in clubs after school, I love what they offer throughout the year and even during the school day. From singing Christmas carols in December to more freelance music at July’s Summer Concert, I enjoy taking part in musical outlets and utilising my subpar singing skills. I also have a lot of fun playing cards with my friends during my free time, enjoying how their faces light up with unadulterated joy and reminding me of how these small things can really seem so big, as long as you look at them from another perspective. All these activities have made me feel organised, motivated, and accountable; they push me to do better, keep on top of things, and inspire not only myself but also my peers to look beyond their preconceived limitations.
One of my favourite principles to live by is the idea that “to live a life of power, you must have faith that what you believe is right, even when others say you’re wrong.” I used to struggle with being a follower, afraid of standing out or being judged for thinking differently. The fear of being isolated held me back from embracing what I truly believed in. But, as the saying goes, “the first step toward a life of power is to find courage.” Choosing to break out of that mould, that fear, and carve my own path has been far more rewarding than suppressing the parts of myself that mattered most. That sense of individuality is what helped me become a Student Leader; who knew blue hedgehogs could be so insightful?
Sajad
Head Student
Hey there, my name is Sajad, and I am the Head boy at the Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo. I have been a member of the community here since Year Seven and have remained with the Academy since. I believe I can provide my experiences with the school to the table when it comes to providing an environment where both students and staff are able to prosper. I have always had a desire to take part in something that will have a lasting, positive impact on the wider community and, with this generous opportunity, I have strong faith in my ability to fulfill the expectations of others as well as my own aspirations to support the Academy and the wider community here in Hoo.
This role means a lot to me as I was raised in a South Asian household, and I am living proof of the diversity within the Academy and the village as whole. My motivation as a Head Student is to unite the community and bring them together to celebrate what makes us both similar and different. This has been my aspiration since Year 6; to ensure that students and staff alike are heard and understood, and I have built up the skills in teamwork, coordination and time management over the course of my time to ensure that my peers and I can set a lasting positive example that will be maintained throughout even after we leave the academy, an example that will reach to our children and even reach out to our village community as a whole. Every student deserves equal opportunities to prosper and flourish, we should foster that growth as an academy, not just for our generation but for our younger relatives and those that follow.
Victoria
Deputy Head Student
Hello, my name is Viktoria and I have the role of deputy head student. I’ve been attending Leigh Academy: Hundred of Hoo since Year 7, from 2019, even going ahead into sixth form. My years within secondary school collated many positive experiences for me. Making friends, improving my confidence and having supportive teachers; being in this academy has inspired me to challenge myself, which reinforced my decision to join the sixth form. Within my role of deputy head student, I want to improve the safe space in our community for students to learn and to be excited. School should be a place where children have the freedom to be expressive and have the chance to take part in activities that they enjoy, having them eventually leave with no regrets and positive memories.
I take English literature as an A level and intend to go on to university doing an English course; English developed my critical thinking and inquiry skills, which will aid me in my effort to create change within our academy utilising my role as deputy head student. 3D design encourages me to use my innovation skills and creativity, which helps me solve problems and come up with solutions that satisfy everyone. Although I don’t take part in any clubs, I do involve myself with the school through events (such as touring, academic occasions and peer reading), allowing me to understand our school community better; volunteering for these develops my skills as a patient and compassionate leader, and person, as I learn to listen to and comprehend others problems and opinions, providing me insight on our community and on individual students.
In my free time, I enjoy relaxing by reading, watching series or movies and writing poetry – even having one of my poems published in the school magazine a couple years ago. Reading creates a space for me to escape to, expanding my vocabulary and pushing me to think about authors intentions, carving my own understanding of society. Movies improve my ability to read body language, making it easier to read social situations, along with inspiring some of the themes and emotions that run through my poetry.
As I have progressed throughout the years as a student and person, I have realised that being different is a blessing, more than something to be ashamed of. Being judged for being from a different country created frustration and doubt, but it made me realise that I have the opportunity to have cultural traditions and even know a whole other language. Defining yourself by others’ judgement takes away your individuality; remember, as Aaron Burr said, “I am the one thing in life I can control”. There will always be judgement for others, good or bad, so when I look into my future, I remind myself: “And when you’re gone, who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame? Who tells your story?”
Sarah
Deputy Head Student
Hi, I am Sarah, and I am one of the Deputy Head students at the Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo. I have been at this school since Year 7 up until Yr12 completing various achievements within academic years. I am a highly dedicated member for advocating change and making our community flourish whilst being a part of the Deputy Head students team ensuring we can deliver a high quality of changes that the HOH community needs.
I am known to be a very sociable person who always ensures those around me are heard and not feel left out in an activity or in social time. I demonstrated key attributes such as being an excellent communicator, caring , being an inquirer and knowledgeable, whilst also being able to work as a team, and provide qualities of good leadership.
For A-levels I choose criminology, health and social care and history. These subjects will enable me to push myself and to become a well rounded individual that can excel in my future plan after school. After sixth form, I plan to go to university and study criminal law. This has been my passion for over 5 years now and I am aiming to work extremely hard to achieve my goals . This role will enable me to speak in front of a crowd, and advance my communication skills.
My favourite hobbies are cooking, dancing and singing. I have a passion for cooking as I am able to express myself in creative ways when making dishes, I find it very relaxing and fun to do. I am also in the school drama production team in which ties in my love for dancing and singing. It creates a safe environment for those who are interested in musicals and creates a community for use which is very fun for all of us. Due to my love of dance I picked dance GCSE to balance out my options and have something fun to do which really helped me in being able to balance and focus on my history and sociology GCSE’s.
As a Deputy Head student I would provide a safe place for the HOH community for extra support regarding changes or wants inquired for.