Bolton school replaces ‘outdated’ Head Boy and Girl positions with gender-neutral roles

A secondary school in Bolton has changed its ‘outdated’ positions of Head Boy and Girl to gender-neutral roles.

Church of England school Bolton St Catherine’s Academy made the decision to ditch the ‘outdated notion’ of gendered student leadership titles back in September, instead calling those in the role the gender-neutral Head’s Ambassadors.

The change has come as part of the academy’s effort to become a more inclusive community, and allows for three students to be chosen for each position, rather than the traditional pair chosen for the original roles.

Bolton St Catherine’s Academy / Facebook

While twenty students applied for the new roles of Head Ambassadors, only three were successful; Ted Hodson-Fitton, Sophia Hughes and Jemima Alasoudura. The other seventeen applicants were appointed as Year 11 Ambassadors.

With their help, the newly appointed Head Ambassadors have thrown themselves into their new roles with the organisation of open evenings, meetings with Year 7 students to help them transition to secondary school, hosting tours for visitors, and hand-delivering Christmas cards across the local area.

The school is also running an LGBT+ group for students which gives them somewhere to ask questions and support their friends who identify as part of the LGBT+ community.

In a statement, headteacher Rachael Lucas commented on the new roles: “At Bolton St Catherine’s Academy we recognise and celebrate diversity and inclusion.

“We are delighted to be able to showcase our commitment to this by thinking about how we address our Lead Student Ambassadors – moving away from the outdated notion of a Head Girl and Boy.

“Small gestures can have big impacts, and with many other initiatives around school, we are signalling our resolution to be an institution that is welcoming to all.”

Bolton St Catherine’s Academy Primary school has kept on its Head Boy and Girl positions.