There are leadership and teamwork opportunities for pupils of all ages within the classroom and in the wider School community. We celebrate the leadership skills of our most senior girls by appointing a Head Girl, Deputy Head Girl and Senior Prefects who are expected to act as role models to their peers as well as ambassadors at specific public events throughout their time in Year 6.
As well as House, Form or Vice Captains, and the roles on the Pupil Leadership Team (PLT), there are many other ways we develop leadership in School. Our Year 6’s not only become buddies to our Reception girls to help them to settle into school life but they also take on such roles as leading on charities, helping to develop the Library and leading on digital initiatives. In addition, there are roles to assist with various curriculum areas of interest (for example, Sport, Music, Art) as well as more pastoral roles as playground buddies and class helpers.
Throughout the school, we encourage and support girls to go above and beyond our expectations. In Year 6, those that show initiative and the qualities of a role model, are invited to join the Head Girls’ Team as a Prefect. Across other year groups, the girls vote for their form and vice captains who then sit on the PLT and Eco-Committee respectively, helping to shape future developments of our school and its eco credentials.
Throughout the year, alongside our regular PSHCE curriculum, we run special events, such as ‘Take a risk’ week to encourage our girls to do something out of their comfort zone. Many leadership activities and opportunities take place during these events. In conjunction with our everyday, classroom work on building the girls’ learning habits, we also teach group-work skills and explain how different roles and individual abilities are essential to making collaboration such a powerful to tool to learning.
Our residential trips are another opportunity for girls to develop leadership skills through various activities outside the classroom.
PUPIL LEADERSHIP TEAM (PLT)
Every September, a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary are elected from Year 6. These three girls stay on the council all year along with two representatives from each class (from Year 2 upwards), who are elected termly by their class as Form and Vice Form Captains.
The PLT meet fortnightly to discuss the views of the class, concerns or suggestions. In previous years they have met with our catering company to discuss lunches, looked at our School healthy snack policy, discussed the issues of careful use of the magic playground as well as help to design the new climbing frame area.
Each term the Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary meet with the Head to discuss the issues of the School and to let her know the actions they have taken. She can then advise them to any further action that is needed.
