Denton Community College hosts student president inauguration

This morning, Denton Community College hosted a ceremony to welcome in a new student president, while hosting some special guests.

Denton Community College was adorned with balloons, banners and breakfast to welcome guests and family members of students to a special inaugural event. Three candidates from the school had been narrowed down to be sworn in as the new student president during the mornings proceedings.

For most students, Denton Community College will be the first time they will have had the opportunity to take on big responsibilities, and there is no responsibility as esteemed or as reputable as gaining the role of student presidency.

This was mirrored by the morning, as a high level of prestige was shown to guests who heard speeches from staff and the prospective new student presidents, and were shown dancing spectacles by some of Denton Community College’s top talents.

Speaking about the event, acting headteacher Donald Cummings was keen to highlight the level of pride that the staff have in the students at the school.

“Today’s student presidential inauguration is something new and exciting for Denton Community College,” said Mr Cummings. “We are all incredibly proud of the three candidates and it was a pleasure to be able to celebrate this with their families, our special guests and our E1 Star students. 

"Today’s event was a celebration of the confidence, talent and creativity of our students, and their determination to succeed. It is another demonstration of the positive culture we are developing through our work as part of the Northern Education Trust family.”

The Northern Education Trust is a multi-academy trust that covers 22 academies in the North of England ,and has been helping to improve Denton Community College since joining with them. The Trust holds presidential events of a similar nature to this one across its academies in the North.

The main event soon came around and the three main candidates gave their final speeches to the onlooking audience. Afterwards, assistant headteacher Candice Wilson was on hand to announce who would become the school's first student president. The candidates for presidency were Lydia Peel – Community and Charity Committee; Isabelle Boardman – Teaching and Learning Committee; and Peculiar Olasekun – Cultural Enrichment Committee.

The title and honour of student president ultimately went to student Peculiar Olasekun, who was overjoyed to accept the win and the esteemed title and honour. Speaking to us after the ceremony, Peculiar said: “I feel so delighted and grateful as I did not expect this! Thank you to those that have helped me and supported me and I just want to say that I hope I can fulfil what I said I would do so that the people that come next year can see the work that I have done!”

The presidential role will elevate Peculiar from being the chair of the Cultural Enrichment Committee to a higher position – and will see her overseeing all of the committees at the school, as well as being involved with senior leadership team meetings.

Reflecting upon the candidates' work in the run up to the event and the winner Peculiar, Mr Cummings told us: “I have been blown away by the confidence, determination and drive they have all shown throughout this process. They have been articulate, eloquent, and impressive at all times.

"Student leadership in schools is often reserved for the older year groups, but this process has shown that there should be no limit to the opportunity for anyone with leadership potential to be given the opportunity to make a difference. Our student president, along with the other student voice committee chairs, will be meeting with me regularly in the coming months to do just that.”

The school will now have yearly presidential elections. To keep up to date with the school, head to @Denton_College on X.