Every child has the potential to be a leader and we believe it is never too early to start teaching leadership skills. From building self-esteem to learning to communicate clearly and listen; from working out how to negotiate to bouncing back from mistakes, the skills learned in our Line Leader to Troop Leader programme will be extremely useful throughout life.
It may surprise parents to know that we start building leadership skills right from the very beginning. Even Reception children are nominated to be line leaders for their class, and their daily job it is to get his or her class to line up well after play times. At this young age, children learn by example and Caroline Oglethorpe, Head of Pre-Prep, is always present modelling good practice and demonstrating how to get the job done in a kindly and calm way.
As children progress up through the school, the number of leadership positions increase, allowing as many children as possible to gain valuable experience as they step up to the responsibility. From Year 3, it is possible to be a patrol rep, a form captain, deputy form captain, classroom monitor, take a position on the school council and the boarders’ council. Each position gives our young leaders chances to practice nine leadership skills.
- Understanding the needs and characteristics of the task
- Knowing and using the resources of the group you are leading
- Communicating: Getting and giving information
- Planning: considering objectives
- Controlling group performance
- Evaluating
- Setting the example
- Sharing leadership (effective delegation)
- Learning to be led
As a child takes on a new position they are given support and a good understanding of what it involves. There are job descriptions which create clarity. We give them feedback where possible to reinforce the good and move away from strategies that aren’t effective.
Each term, children have specific sessions on leadership and the skills involved to help boost confidence and empower them to tackle the leadership roles.
Children in the Prep School enjoy the Westbourne Award sequence of expeditions. As well as providing an outdoor challenge, the trips also include team building and leadership training. The children are asked to work in groups that may differ from their regular class or team so that the year group returns a more cohesive unit.
At the end of year 7, there is a selection process for Troop Leader – the top position held by any boy or girl in the school. We ask over 37 different members of staff for confidential, blind feedback on the nominees. These are not just form tutors and teachers but come from all over the school such as the kitchens, matrons and front office. This means that any child can be recognised for the part they play in our community and ensures that pupils who are honest, respectful and have strong moral principles shine through.
We also run a leadership day which feeds into the decision making process. This day of corporate-style leadership activities benefits all participants and is great fun. You can read how great skills in cooperation saved one team 29 minutes and 30 seconds on a 3D geometric challenge in our blog about the day.
Leadership is an important strand of our wellbeing programme. We have a sector-leading wellbeing programme here at Westbourne House and we are always looking for ways to refine and improve it further. Our immediate development to our leadership programme is to introduce further accountability and feedback, and to introduce new positions of responsibility. We look forward to working with tomorrow’s leaders next term.
