Pupil Leadership Team
Academic Year 2025-2026
School Captain
Emerson Elder
Remit
To be confirmed
Emerson's Story
Hi, I'm Emerson Elder an S6 pupil at Mearns Academy and I am School captain for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Within school, I enjoy playing netball in the senior team and playing against other schools. I also love to use my skills and knowledge on netball to teach the junior netball team in school. Outside of school, I am a snare drum teacher in Howe O’ the Mearns pipe band, and I have been a part of the band for 9 years. During my time in school, I have had the opportunity to be a prefect since S3, I was a Johnston vice house captain in S5, I am a peer mentor, and I have been awarded with my full active citizenship colours and half sport colours. As a leader, I hope to promote inclusiveness between all pupils in school, and I also aspire to be a role model and set a positive example to younger students who want to apply for leadership roles later on in their school lives. Finally, I really hope to leave a legacy behind with the improvement plan, especially classroom help.
School Captain
Thea Burgoyne
Remit
To be confirmed
Thea's Story
I’ve been in leadership roles before like house captain as well as a prefect, also helping to organise the Sportathon. I enjoy dancing and I coach 3 teams, varying from ages 8 to 16. I’ve competed at 2 different world championships in the US, Florida and placed 4th for dancing. I can play guitar, I enjoy the arts, I love to ski (hopefully become an instructor some day), I’m on the senior netball team and I can wake and kneeboard. My favourite subjects and departments are Art, PE and D&M. As school captain, I want to achieve the sports award again with our new sports committee.
Vice Captain
Freddie Russon
Remit
To be confirmed
Freddie's Story
My name is Freddie and I am a Vice Captain for this school year. I enjoy playing football and tennis and I am also a member at Edzell Golf Club. My favourite subjects at school are Maths and Physics, I have had these subjects since S1 and I am still partaking in them at Advanced Higher level in S6. I will be heavily involved in the Sports and House committees throughout the year, organising and planning whole school Interhouse events as well as promoting sports clubs and extracurricular activities.
Vice Captain
Issy Young
Remit
To be confirmed
Issy's Story
My name is Issy and this year I am one of the vice school captains. I am a friendly and creative person who enjoys spending time with my family and friends. I have been on the school netball team for the past 5 years, I am a peer mentor at the school and have my full colours in active citizenship. As part of my role as vice captain I am prefect leader and aim to improve our prefect system, as well as working on bringing leadership opportunities to younger pupils and improving inclusion and barriers to learning throughout the year.
Vice Captain
Eilidh Dunn
Remit
To be confirmed
Eilidh's Story
Hi I’m Eilidh and I’m one of the vice captains this year. I have been in various leadership roles throughout my time at Mearns Academy, like Head House Captain, Prefect and being a Peer Mentor. I am in the school’s netball team and enjoy taking part in the school shows. I have my full colours in Academic Achievement and Active Citizenship, and part of my Vice Captain role this year is leading the pupil council. My job in this role is to include all pupils and make sure every voice is heard. I enjoy many subjects at school but my favourites are Art and English and I am continuing these at Advanced Higher level this year. In my free time I enjoy doing art, reading and going camping with my family, along with being a Young Leader at Laurencekirk’s local guiding unit. I have thouroughly enjoyed my time at Mearns Academy, and I want to give something back to the school and its pupils this year.
Prefects
Across the senior phase (S4-S6) we have a group of prefects who carry out various functions within the school such as monitoring/supporting pupils in the canteen area during break and lunchtime.
Each prefect is involved in one working group in relation to the whole school agenda. These working groups are
Sustainability
Events and Outdoor Management
School Environment and Ethos
House Captains
Each house group has it's own House Captain and Vice Captains who have a role in supporting pupils within each house group, leading house assemblies, supporting pupils at Sports Day, encouraging pupils to sign up / participate in inter-house activities.
Pupil Councils
We have a junior and senior pupil council who meet every couple of months and provide feedback to our Senior Leadership Team on their time at Mearns Academy. Each tutor group has a representative nominated by their peers in tutor time who attends these meeting on their behalf.
Junior Pupil Council - S1-S3 pupils
Senior Pupil Council - S4-S6 pupils