YORK High School has celebrated a landmark event choosing its first ever head boy and head girl.

From the start of the new summer term the school has created a Junior Leadership Team (JLT) comprised of head boy, Liam Cates, head girl, Sasha Green and their five deputies who will each support a year group in the school.

The deputies are Erin Morgan, Ellen Jennings, Megan Steel, Dan Fryer and Amie Buck. The new JLT will also be supported by 25 prefects.

Head teacher, David Ellis, said: “This is a very special occasion for our school and an important stepping stone on the journey we are making.

"We believe that the next stage in the development of our school is to recognise the important role that young people can play in contributing to the day to day organisation of the school and to listen to what our students have to say.

"The new JLT and their prefects will play a key leadership role amongst the students as a whole and we hope that these roles will be ones young people will aspire to in future years.”

Sasha said: “ I feel very proud to have been selected by the staff and governors to be the first ever head girl of York High but I also know the responsibility I have to be a role model for other pupils in the school.”

Liam said: “We were chosen following a written application and interview with senior staff and governors so I have already learned a lot about what you have to do to be selected for important positions. I hope that with the other students who have been chosen to take on these roles we can help York High to become an even better school”

The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Julie Gunnell, installed the new head boy and head girl at a special ceremony at the school in Acomb and while there, toured the site, met pupils, staff and parents.

The JLT were all presented with special ties, in recognition of their new roles in the school, at the ceremony which was attended by the Civic Party, their parents and other pupils.

York High will be holding a non-uniform day to raise funds for the Lord Mayors Charities which support families who are experiencing domestic violence and who support young people who need a helping hand to get their lives back on track.

Mr Ellis said: “York High is a school that is committed to working alongside our community and we are delighted to be able to support the Lord Mayor in the fundraising she is doing this year. It is our way of saying thank you for being part of a very special day."