 | It has been suggested thatStudent leader andClass officers bemerged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2025. |
| It has been suggested thatStudent government president bemerged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2025. |
| Class President ofStudent Council / Class Committee | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Student Council | |
| Type | Student leadership /Youth leadership |
| Status | Active |
| Member of | Class Committee orStudent Council |
| Reports to | School Administration/ Student Council President |
| Nominator | Class peers orStudent Council |
| Appointer | Elected by classmates |
| Term length | 1 academic year May be re-elected |
| Unofficial names | Class Rep |
| Deputy | Student Vice President |
Class president, also known as aclass representative, is astudent leadership,student voice, and or ayouth leadership, role commonly found inprimary,secondary, andpost-secondary institutions. The position typically involves representing the interests of a specificgrade level orclassroom, facilitating communication between students and school administration, and helping coordinate student-led events within astudent council.[1][2][3]
The practice of electing a class president is common in many countries worldwide.
Class presidents are usually elected by theirpeers within a single grade level. They often serve alongside a class cabinet—such asvice president,secretary, andtreasurer—and may work in cooperation with a broaderstudent council orstudent government organization. Their responsibilities vary by institution but often include promotingstudent activities & student engagement, addressing class concerns, and organizing events such asdances,fundraisers, orgraduation activities.[4][5][6]
Astudent council is a representative body composed of students elected by their peers to address school-related matters and promote student interests. While structures vary by country and institution, student councils often include roles such as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. In many systems, the class president serves as a member or delegate within the broader council structure. Thehouse system is a traditional feature of schools in the United Kingdom.
Two related but distinct bodies often exist: the student council, led by a student council president, and class committees, led by class presidents.[7][8]
The student council/government/ASB, represents the entire student body and manages school-wide activities and policies. The student council president is supported by other student leaders. Class committees represent individual classes or grades, handling class-specific activities and concerns while cooperating with the student council.[9]
| Role | Description | Typical Holder |
|---|---|---|
| Advisor | Oversees the committee and coordinates with administration | Teacher orAssistant Principal |
| President | Leads the student committee, representing the whole school or single grade/class | Student |
| Vice President | Assists the president and acts as deputy | Student |
| Secretary | Records meetings and handles documentation | Student |
| Treasurer | Manages finances and budgeting | Student |
| Committee Members | Organize specific events or tasks, such as fundraisers or dances | Student |
Typical duties of a class president include:[10][11]
Some schools also assign class presidents roles in managing class funds, overseeing student service initiatives, or contributing to school governance. Theterm of office for a class president is one year in most schools. The student holding the office usually has the option of running again for the coming year.[15][16][17]
Unlike a class president, astudent body president (also calledschool president orstudent government president or associated student body (A.S.B) president) represents the entire student population across all grade levels. They are typically responsible for larger policy initiatives and school-wide leadership efforts. Working in thestudent lounge orstudent activity center[18][19][20]
The senior class president specifically represents students in their final year ofhigh school orcollege. They typically carry heightened responsibilities, including:[21][22]
Aschool captain is a student appointed or elected to lead the student body of a school, usually in their final year. The role is similar to astudent body president in the United States and represents students in interactions with faculty and the wider community.[23][24] School captains are mainly found inBritish Empire legacy school systems:Australia,Canada,New Zealand,South Africa,India, etc. In some schools, the captain may also hold the position ofhead prefect.
The role is less common in theUnited Kingdom, where Head Boy and Head Girl positions are more typical.[25][26] Captains are often recognized by a badge or other symbol of office. They are usually responsible for representing the school at events, and will make public speeches.[27] They also serve as arole model for students, and may share pupils' ideas with the school's leadership. They may also be expected to lead fellow prefects in their duties. In most cases, a deputy head boy and girl will be appointed to assist and deputise the head boy and girl. They may have to do charity events, speak in assemblies, help out in parents evenings, and open days.
The class system was introduced inEmpire of Japan in 1885 (Meiji 18). It began to be implemented in large schools in the early 1880s.[28][29][30]
After the 1989United NationsConvention on the Rights of the Child, discussions on student participation and opinion rights increased, involving lawyers, educators, and forming tripartite councils among schools, guardians, and students. Student councils' roles expanded, although some declined.[31]宮下 与兵衛 (2016).高校生の参加と共同による主権者教育. かもがわ出版.ISBN 978-4-7803-0834-1.
In China, the head of a class is commonly known as the “class representative” (班代表) or “class leader” (班長).[32] Additionally, there are often designated student officers for each academic subject.[33]
Schools in other parts ofEurope such as inGermany andAustria, secondary schools use the term "student speaker" ("Schülersprecher" in Germany, "Schulsprecher" in Austria) for schoolwide student representatives and "class representative" ("Klassensprecher") for classroom representatives.[34] Similarly, theNetherlands high schools are using the term "class representative" ("klassenvertegenwoordiger")[35][36][37]
InItaly, therappresentante d’istituto (institution representative) is an elected student who serves on the school's Consiglio d’Istituto (Institute Council), the main governing body of a secondary school.[38] This role was introduced by the 1974 delegated education laws.[39]
These representatives attend council meetings, voice student concerns, and may organize assemblies or activities. They also coordinate theComitato studentesco,(student committee), made up of class representatives.[40][41]
Elections are held annually, typically in October or November. Students vote using theD'Hondt method, and three or four representatives are elected, depending on school size.[42] Terms last one year.[43][44]
In thePhilippines, class presidents are part of a larger structure of student government recognized by theDepartment of Education. Elections are held annually, and class officers often coordinate activities, projects, and represent students at school-level assemblies.[45]
Many UK secondary schools operate aStudent Council or similar body, typically composed of elected representatives from eachform group and supported by members of the senior leadership team.
In some schools, students inYear 12 may apply or be nominated for senior student leadership roles. These may include aHead Boy andHead Girl, along with their deputies, collectively referred to as the Heads of School.[46] Other schools may appoint aSchool Captain and Vice-Captain, either as alternative or additional titles[47]. The specific structure and responsibilities of these roles vary by institution.[48]
Selected students in the final year may also serve asprefects.[49] Prefect systems differ across schools but often include roles such as Senior Prefect, Welfare Captain, and various specialist positions covering areas likesport,co-curricular involvement,public relations, orcommunity service.[50]
Some schools maintain aStudent Representative Council (SRC) made up of elected students. Peer support schemes are also common, where older students—often fromYear 10—are assigned to help younger students, particularly those new to the school in Year 7.[51][52]
InCalifornia, public schools that receive state or federal funding are required to establish a School Site Council (SSC), composed ofparents,teachers,students,school administrators, and other staff. The SSC develops and monitors a school site plan, aligns thebudget with categorical funds, and recommends theSingle Plan for Student Achievement to theschool board.[53]
The SSC president, who may be a student, is elected by council members and can serve alongside a class president or student body president. Similar councils exist in other states, includingTexas (Site-Based Decision-Making Committees),Kentucky (School-Based Decision Making Councils), andIllinois (Local School Councils), among others.[54][55][56]
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Thestereotype of the class president has been featured prominently in books films, and television[57][58] Common portrayals include the class president as a high-achieving, rule-following student—often either the socially popular figure or the academicunderdog who unexpectedly claims the title. Since the early 20th century, the class presidency has also been used metaphorically inpoliticalallegory, including analogies for figures such as thepresident of the United States to roles forAfrican-American women in theU.S. Congress.[59][60]
Inanime ,manga ,light novels, and video games set in school environments, student councils; and by extension, class presidents are frequently depicted, often wielding exaggerated levels of authority.[61] These portrayals commonly reflect hierarchical structures or political satire within youth-centered storytelling.[62][63][64]
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Notable fictional characters who have held the title of class president include:
Notable individuals who served as class president. Some students have held leadership positions such as class president, head boy/girl, or school captain. See List of individuals who served as student leaders in schools for the full roster.
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