Student Leadership
Student Leadership
At Chobham, all students are expected to demonstrate leadership skills. We believe that a key element of our purpose as a school is to prepare young people for the world beyond Chobham. It is certain that many of our students will take careers and other roles in society which require them to lead others. We want them to do this well.
However, there are broader aspects of leadership which we also believe to be important. These include areas such as responsibility for oneself and others, politeness and good manners and resilience under pressure. These are areas which students are encouraged to work on as individuals, both through their learning in lessons and during extra-curricular activities.
We seek to develop leadership skills for all students through:
- Participation in whole Academy change through the Youth Leadership Team
- Developing independent learning skills in lessons
- Encouraging social skills through paired and group work
- Taking responsibility for completing work to a high standard and meeting deadlines
- Widening perspectives through our enrichment programme
- Representing Academy sports teams
- Organising and participating in performances and presentations
- Working with external agencies and local companies
- Organising and participating in House events
Youth Leadership Team
At Chobham Academy we feel it is of the highest importance that students are developed as leaders of the future. A key part to achieving this is the Youth Leadership Team.
The Youth Leadership Team makes up the student leadership body of the school. Led by the Head Students, a team of prefects (Years 10,11 and 12) and student representatives (Years 7,8 and 9) meet regularly to discuss student feedback on all areas of Academy life. The Youth Leadership Team act upon student feedback to improve Academy life and continue to make Chobham a place where all students feel safe, happy and able to thrive. The Youth Leadership Team regularly report back to the Senior Leadership Team and work closely with the school leaders to provide feedback and insight in to changing policies in both directions. They also play a key role in organising all House events.
Students who are part of the Youth Leadership Team can develop a wide range of skills that are crucial for success at university and beyond. They also act as role models for the entire student body and work to develop key skills in those who they lead.
Youth Leadership Training
All members of the Youth Leadership Team will take part in a bespoke leadership training programme mirroring that which is provided for staff. Students take part in a series of workshops to develop their understanding of what it means to be a leader, different ways to lead a team and how to develop leadership skills in others.
The role of a Prefect at Chobham Academy
Alongside their role in the Youth Leadership Team our prefect teams will be expected to do the following:
- Academy Prefects will be expected to act as role models for the rest of the year group and for the lower school. They will be expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times.
- Academy Prefects will be required to represent the Academy’s student body at the majority of internal and external Academy events such as Open Days, Parents’ Evenings, Celebration Evenings, primary school visits, and events such as the whole school production and art exhibition. Duties on these occasions vary but will include hosting, speeches, assisting with refreshments, welcoming, and compeering, judging or similar.
- Academy Prefects will act as a point of communication between students and staff. They will be expected to gather opinions from and represent the best interests of the student body. They will be asked to feed back to staff well thought-out and well evidenced opinions. In order to facilitate this, the Academy Prefects will be expected to make themselves available to students, possibly by putting together a regular ‘open door’ meeting rota or alternative form of communication.
- Academy Prefects will be given responsibility for creation and maintenance of displays within the school as agreed.
- Academy Prefects may be required to organise (and supervise) trips, events, innovation days or guest speakers from time-to-time, as agreed.
- Academy Prefects will act as the first point of contact for assisting and organising house events such as assemblies or tournaments, as well as charitable events.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to play an active part in promoting the ethos and values of the Academy through marketing, organising and attending events within the community.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to play an active part in the transition of Year 6 students to Year 7, arranging regular visits, taster lessons and events, as well as assisting during the Year 6 Testing Day and Year 6 Induction Day.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to volunteer to assist wherever needed and within reason.
As Academy Prefects, we offer students the opportunity to:
- Develop their leadership skills;
- Develop their ability to work in a team;
- Develop their ability to use your initiative;
- Become actively involved in the day to day running of the school;
- Extend their Curriculum Vitae (CV);
- Provide positive evidence for Sixth Form, College and job references;
- Become a more well-rounded human being.
Job description
Below you will find the main duties and responsibilities of our Academy Prefects:
- Academy Prefects will be expected to act as role models for the rest of the year group and for the lower school. They will be expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times.
- Academy Prefects will be required to represent the Academy’s student body at the majority of internal and external Academy events such as Open Days, Parents’ Evenings, Celebration Evenings, primary school visits, and events such as the whole school production and art exhibition. Duties on these occasions vary but will include hosting, speeches, assisting with refreshments, welcoming, and compeering, judging or similar.
- Academy Prefects will act as a point of communication between students and staff. They will be expected to gather opinions from and represent the best interests of the student body. They will be asked to feed back to staff well thought-out and well evidenced opinions. In order to facilitate this, the Academy Prefects will be expected to make themselves available to students, possibly by putting together a regular ‘open door’ meeting rota or alternative form of communication.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to share the responsibility of regular lunch time duties (plus other monitoring duties, where mutually agreed e.g. Library, Theatre or Sports Hall). They will be expected to monitor other students’ behaviour and uniform, and point out any issues.
- Academy Prefects will be given responsibility for creation and maintenance of displays within the school as agreed.
- Academy Prefects may be required to organise (and supervise) trips, events, innovation days or guest speakers from time-to-time, as agreed.
- Academy Prefects will act as the first point of contact for assisting and organising house events such as assemblies or tournaments, as well as charitable events.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to play an active part in promoting the ethos and values of the Academy through marketing, organising and attending events within the community.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to play an active part in the transition of Year 6 students to Year 7, arranging regular visits, taster lessons and events, as well as assisting during the Year 6 Testing Day and Year 6 Induction Day.
- Academy Prefects will be expected to volunteer to assist wherever needed and within reason.
Personal specification for the role of Academy Prefect
Below you will find a summary of the key competencies a potential Academy Prefect should have:
| Key Competencies | Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|---|
| Experience & Knowledge | Understanding of the Academy rules and codes of behaviour | Confident to enforce the rules wherever required |
| Experience of helping out during an Academy event or scheme e.g. Open Evening, Boss Day, assembly or whole school production | Confident speaker with proven experience | |
| Proven track record of following Academy rules and procedures including excellent behaviour, punctuality and attendance | ||
| Abilities & Skills | Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate sensibly and maturely with a variety of audiences | Experience with working on projects or events with different age groups |
| Ability to work flexibly, on own initiative and as part of a team | ||
| Ability to manage relationships with tact and diplomacy | ||
| Other | Enthusiastic and willing to undertake further responsibility, training and development as required |
If you have any questions regarding student leadership at Chobham Academy, the prefect system, the application process, the job description, the personal specification or the selection process, please contact Ms Haigh, P.Haigh@chobhamacademy.org.uk
