Stroud Times has been speaking to Year 12 students from the Student Leadership Team (SLT) at Marling Sixth Form.
Student leaders take on additional responsibilities above and beyond their studies, to positively impact their school or the Stroud community by organising events and representing student voices.
We’ve been finding out about the amazing contribution the student leaders are making to their school, and how they’re influencing change in their community.
Name: Jenny
Studying: Music, Drama and Chemistry
Role: Charity
When asked why Jenny wanted to study at Marling Sixth Form, she said: “I love the school’s values and inclusive nature, where individuality is celebrated, and the teachers want what’s best for each and every child.”
Jenny felt inspired by the current Y13 student leaders to put her name forward for the charity role: “They’re a really strong collective and I admire how they’ve made such a huge impact on the lower school”.
Jenny brings a wealth of experience, passion and commitment to her Charities role at Marling. Outside of school Jenny is a serial fundraiser, collecting around £5,000 for charity. She’s even shaved her head, twice: “I received mixed reactions from family and friends. People thought I was brave for shaving all my hair off, but there are children and adults that are having to do this and not through their own choice. It’s only hair!”
Jenny has also baked cakes for Ukraine; ran 172 km for mental health charities and took part in a sleep-out to raise awareness of homelessness.
In school, Jenny is bringing her flair for fundraising and helping with upcoming events: “Charity is something that affects everyone in the world. You never know who might need charity. The student leaders are hoping to raise awareness of the lesser-known charities at school, and in the general community. Charities like The Door Youth Project, which I really like, and they also work with our school. I’m also keen to raise awareness of the Stroud charity Marah, and the work they do around homelessness”.

Name: Lewis
Home: Tetbury
Studying: Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and an extended projected qualification on the side
Role: Wellbeing and Mental Health
Lewis has been at Marling since Year 7 and was very keen to continue his studies there: “I’ve enjoyed my time at Marling. I have friends and I know the teachers really well, and they’re all great. Life is fantastic here and I get a good amount of free periods to study. There’s lots of clubs and it feels like a very Inclusive environment, with the upper and lower years all getting on. I want to continue bringing all the students together, in my new position as Wellbeing and Mental Health Ambassador.”
Lewis would like to pursue a career in medicine. As well as his studies, he understands the importance of getting hands-on experience. During February half-term this year, Lewis is going to be volunteering at a residential home, specialising in dementia care: “I’m going to be socialising and talking to the residents, and helping doing the rounds. I’m a little nervous, but excited about the work. I like putting myself out there for things I haven’t done before. I want to be sure this is what I want to do in the future.”
Speaking about his role on the Student Leadership Team, he said: “I know this opportunity will stretch and improve me. I find it easy to talk to people, and I know this will help me interact with children of all ages, up and down the school. I have empathy. In the past, I’ve had to use the school’s student services, so I now know how I can help younger years and give something back.”

Name: Aliyah
Home: Gloucester
Studying: English Literature, History and Psychology
Role: Culture and Inclusion
“Everyone is really welcoming at Marling, students and staff. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a school so friendly”.
Aliyah came to Marling from a private girls’ school in Gloucester: “Sometimes, you can feel out-of-place if you’re a person of colour. I want to bring something so people don’t feel like that. My role in Culture and Inclusion is also helping the lower school feel comfortable about who they are.”
Aliyah would like to build on the success of Marling’s ‘Sport and Culture Week’, encouraging students to experience and talk about different cultures within the school… and the highlight – a cultural cake bake.
Outside of school, Aliyah cooks for her local Muslim community: “Every year we cook for a different cause. Last year, we adopted an orphan in Syria. It makes me feel very proud. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life.
“Me and my friends are really into politics and when you read about everything in the news, it can make you feel really bad. We want to help, but we’re obviously not there, so we can’t do anything. Wherever the need is, we will step up to the challenge”.

Name: Josh
Home: Stroud
Studies: Biology, Chemistry and History, with an extended projected qualification on the side
Role: Wellbeing and Mental Health
When Josh was in Year 9 at Marling School, he had to spend time in hospital, which kept him away from school: “Coming back into a school environment after a long period away can sometimes feel quite challenging. Thankfully, I returned to a good network of friends and the school was very good to me. That positive mental health made my recovery so much easier, and so I want to give back something to my school”.
In Josh’s Wellbeing role, he’s passionate about maintaining and increasing good mental health within the school: “I put myself forward for the position in wellbeing, because mental health is a very important issue, especially with younger people. Sometimes it’s a bit harder for boys to open up about sensitive issues. It’s important to create safe spaces for students, like hub rooms, where students can play games and in turn, improve mental health”.
Caring for his fellow students and people in his community is at the forefront of everything Josh does. He’s just completed a mental health first aid course, and a lifeguarding course – useful skills Josh hopes to use one day in a career in Medicine.
“After Marling, I’d like to apply for medical school and I think it’s very, very important within a medical environment that mental health is good, as it will help with recovery and improve outcomes”.
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