Student Leadership Team
Welcome from our Head Students
We are excited to announce our Park House School Senior Student team for the 2025/26 academic year. They are all extremely committed to doing their bit, both individually and collectively, to help the school and their fellow students to be the best that they can be and achieve the things that they want to achieve in any walk of life.
Our core values of Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility underpin our student leadership focus. Our senior student team were selected through a rigorous process of elections and interviews and are fantastic role models for our younger students to aspire to.
They shape and direct student voice and community engagement by: leading the school council, organising fundraising events, supporting Fun Fridays, speaking at open evenings and planning and delivering assemblies.
Our Team for 2025-2026:
Laila Haines - Head Student
Currently Studying
English Literature, English Language, Psychology and Core Maths.
Job Role and Goals
As Head Student, I attend weekly meetings with all student leaders and members of staff to share opinions, organise events and solve issues. Another weekly commitment I have is leading the School Council, alongside Ed, where we meet with the lower schools Form Captains. Here we have open discussions about many school topics to make Park House a safe, enjoyable environment for all students.
I want to create an environment where every student feels valued, heard, and included. I want to increase student participation in school events and activities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be involved in school life. A key part of leadership is ensuring that students’ concerns are taken seriously. I want to be a representative who listens actively to my peers and works alongside faculty to find solutions to any issues or challenges they may face. Overall, I want to encourage as many students as possible to develop their leadership skills, creating a lasting impact on the school community.
Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility
To me, working hard means leading by example—putting consistent effort into both my academic work and my responsibilities as a leader. Being kind means listening to others, offering support, working together and always being respectful towards all my peers – to build a positive and welcoming school community. Thirdly, taking responsibility means owning my actions, being dependable, and standing up for what’s right.
What makes me so proud of our school is its strong sense of community, teamwork and support. Here everyone is encouraged to take part in new activities, learn new skills, both within school and globally, and we are always given the opportunities to go above and beyond. Both in the classroom and on the netball court, my teachers constantly encourage us to reach our maximum potential.
Ed Sheldon - Head Student
Currently Studying
Business, Mathematics and Physical Education.
Job Role and Goals
As Head Student, my role is to represent the student body and ensure every voice at Park House School is heard and valued. I work closely with staff and other members of the Leadership Team to support the school through events and other projects. I try my best to bring energy and a good portion of enthusiasm to everything I do, so that I can do a better job of creating a Head Student that every single person feels like they can talk to, whether it’s something in school that concerns you, or an innovative idea you created that will shape the school to be a better place. I didn’t pick this role to boss anyone around, but I chose this role to make a difference and inspire future success.
My main goal as Head Student is to strengthen the school spirit, and to help everyone to feel part of a cohort that they can speak openly about any concerns. I also aim to get more students involved in house games, charitable events and anything else that may bring students out of their comfort zone, and I want to make sure everyone feels like their ideas matter (even the ones who want longer lunch breaks). I also want to help to create a balance between achievement and well-being, because I believe success should feel good, not stressful. Above all, I want to leave this position as Head Student at Park House in a better place than it’s ever been before!
Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility
To me, "Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility" sums up what being a Head Student – and any other student – is all about. Working hard means giving your best when times are tough, like surviving double maths on a Monday. Being Kind means remembering that everyone’s fighting their own battles, so a simple compliment can go a long way. Taking Responsibility means owning up to your actions and learning from mistakes instead of pretending they didn’t happen. Whether it’s missing a piece of homework or getting told off, what’s most important is that you take accountability and show maturity. These values keep our school running smoothly and give us all a sense of integrity.
I’m proud to be part of Park House School because it’s not just a vast number of classrooms but instead a powerful community. It’s a place where all the teachers and students care for one another, and everyone (if they try hard enough) is given the opportunity to shine in whichever way they may like. Whether it’s celebrating achievements, battling with daily challenges, or laughing through Fun Fridays, I never fail to see a sense of togetherness and that’s what makes our school unique and special. I appreciate how Park House guides us to aim high but doesn’t forget to remind us to enjoy the journey and take it all in because, at our age, “school” isn’t just a place for studying but instead a place to grow, connect and make a great deal of lifelong memories.
Kiera Susans - Deputy Head Student (Community & Fundraising)
Currently Studying
History, Psychology and Sociology.
Job Role and Goals
My roles as Deputy Head Student include supporting the head students with the running of the Student Council whilst also sitting in on and supporting Eco-Council meetings. It's also important for me to organise community events such as fundraisers, celebrations and charity events that will bring the whole school together as a community. In doing this I will also have to build links with the local community, such as with the surrounding primary schools and charities working in the Newbury area.
My goals as part of this team include trying to create a supportive environment in and around school where everyone feels comfortable raising any issues or problems they may have, whilst also creating a space for people to voice their ideas and be creative with events they'd like to see happening around school. I also want to support the school community by not only organising fundraising events for charities, but also for events that students want to see taking place, such as trips or celebrations like Prom.
Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility
The values of Work Hard, Be Kind and Take Responsibility relate to my role greatly, as I need to constantly be proactive in what I'm doing when planning events such as fundraisers. Working hard means staying committed to making a difference, whether that’s raising awareness for causes, encouraging others to get involved, or finding new ways to support the community. It’s about giving your best effort and staying motivated, even when things are challenging. Being kind is key when working with people, listening to others, showing empathy, and treating everyone with respect. It helps build strong connections within the school and beyond. Taking responsibility means being someone others can count on—following through on tasks, setting a good example, and being an approachable person. These are all the foundations of my role.
Park House makes me proud through its strong commitment to having a supportive environment and focus on personal growth. The teachers are dedicated, approachable, and genuinely care about students' success. The wide range of extracurricular activities ranging from sports to performing arts allows everyone to explore their interests and develop new skills. Our school also values community involvement, often organising fundraisers and events that everyone can get involved in. Achievements in academics, competitions, and sports are celebrated, which creates a sense of pride and motivation among students that is rewarded during the end-of-term achievement assemblies.
Beth Palmer - Deputy Head Student (Diversity and Inclusion)
Currently Studying
Music BTEC, Textiles and History
Job Role and Goals
My role is ensuring the Park House community is actively inclusive and that there is space for diversity to flourish. I work in partnership with the SEND department to support inclusion initiatives. I’m in charge of creating diversity and inclusion student surveys to hear Student Voice on areas that could be improved, and I run assemblies on topics such as Pride Month, Holocaust Memorial Day and other events/topics. I work with other student leadership team members and key staff to ensure not only my areas are being discussed, but also school-wide events such as House events and Fun Fridays.
I aim to improve the opportunities available for everyone in the Park House community and make everyone feel welcome. A key ongoing aim of mine is to promote inclusive language and behaviour within the school and to encourage people to call out offensive/non-inclusive behaviour. I also want to show younger students that they can overcome obstacles to achieve their goals, just as I’ve done. I want to be someone that students feel comfortable talking to, whether that is a topic within my role or something unrelated that they just need some advice from, as I would’ve loved the opportunity to talk to and get advice from an older student when I was younger.
Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility
The school values mean a lot in our community and within my role I want to work hard to achieve a more inclusive environment. To create a welcoming environment, everyone in the Park House community needs to be kind to others, especially those who are struggling or under-represented. Sometimes just a small act of kindness can help someone get through the day. In my role, I need to take responsibility and allocate my time effectively to achieve my goals, whilst also still doing well at my A-levels and being able to take part in other extra-curriculars such as the school production and athletics as I know that it’s important to maintain a healthy balance between school responsibilities and doing things that I love.
The sense of community within Park House is something I’m proud to be a part of. Whether it's in clubs, sports, House events or fun Fridays, the community within the school is amazing to be a part of. Raising money for charity through our House charities and food bank donations is a great way to bring year groups together for a great cause.
Maisie Hamilton Unwin - Deputy Head Student (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
Currently Studying
History, PE and Sociology
Job Role and Goals
My role is to aid in running our Peer Mentoring schemes, provide wellbeing campaigns and oversee the jobs of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Council.
I hope to raise more awareness of the importance of good mental health and wellbeing as well as create available support that every student feels comfortable using.
Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility
I hope to work hard to promote and improve supportive systems for students, strive for kindness, allowing a positive school life for everyone and take responsibility for decreasing stigma around mental health and wellbeing.
I am proud of the support available to me from friends, teachers and peers as well as the continued effort to ensure the best chances for students.
Kerensa Head - Deputy Head Student (Senior House Captain)
Currently Studying
Law, Psychology, Business Studies and Core Maths
Job Role and Goals
I am in charge of overseeing house events, making sure the house captains are staying on top of their roles, and writing part of the school newsletter to summarise house activities and events occurring within the school.
My goals are to ensure the younger years of Park House get involved and are included in all of the House events.
Work Hard, Be Kind, Take Responsibility
Being kind means supporting everyone who takes part in all Park House events. Taking responsibility means constantly checking on all the Year 12s making sure they are confident in their role. Working hard means taking the initiative to think up new activities, both sport and creative, for all years to take part in.
The way that Park House has changed since I was in Year 7 makes me proud of what the school has achieved.