A great display of student leadership, Liyah-Rose, Josephine, and Shayne from Year 10 represented our school today at the Greenshaw Learning Trust (GLT) School Council meeting. The meeting focused on the question, 'what does it truly mean to belong?'.

Our students were confident and fully engaged, articulating their views exceptionally well. The council agreed that belonging isn’t something you can buy, nor is it a club you simply "join." Instead, the students identified it as a feeling of happiness, active contribution, and recognition. One of the most striking debates centered on the difference between fitting in and belonging, fitting In and changing yourself to match the group (often feeling inauthentic) as opposed to belonging, being accepted for exactly who you are – your genuine, authentic self.

Miss Ongley from Orchard Park High School shared her passion for how the creative arts can serve as a bridge to identity. Whether through dance, spoken word, or short stories, creative art allows students to be seen. 

The meeting concluded with the launch of a competition, to turn these ideas into actions. The competition is for students to submit either art, a poster, music, rap, song, dance, drama, spoken word or poetry on the theme 'what does it truly means to belong?'.