By Lucy Carswell, Head of Upper School
Leadership is about more than just taking charge; it’s about understanding people, making informed decisions, and being willing to serve others. The STEPS to Leadership programme equips students with the tools and experiences necessary to grow into compassionate, thoughtful leaders, ensuring they are ready to face the challenges of the future with confidence and empathy. Through hands-on experiences, reflective learning, and meaningful service, students are guided toward becoming the leaders of tomorrow, capable of inspiring and leading others with integrity and purpose.
The STEPS to Leadership programme is an exciting initiative implemented at Sherborne House School to nurture leadership skills in students from Year 4 to Year 6. This comprehensive programme empowers young learners to spend their own time developing essential leadership qualities through a series of activities that encourage independence, teamwork, and responsibility. The programme’s structure, designed around five core strands: Skills, Team-Building, Experiences, Partnerships, and Service.
The STEPS to Leadership strands:
Skills
The skills strand is all about practical knowledge that equips students with abilities they can apply in daily life. Some of the activities include:
– First Aid Training: students learn basic first aid, enabling them to help others in case of emergencies, instilling a sense of responsibility and care for others.
– Research on World Currencies: by exploring global currencies, students gain an understanding of the world’s financial systems, helping them appreciate economic diversity.
– Learning Coded Communication: this task introduces students to Morse code, semaphore, phonetic alphabets, and other communication forms, highlighting how people can connect beyond spoken language.
– Meal Planning: students take responsibility for their families by planning meals for a week, managing both nutrition and a budget.
Each task in this strand encourages children to develop independence, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, which are crucial for any aspiring leader. For example, learning to cook a two-course meal challenges them to manage time, resources, and creativity.
Team-Building
The team-building strand is integral to the STEPS to Leadership programme, as it focuses on collaboration, cooperation, and leadership within a group setting. Activities in this strand are designed to teach students how to work effectively with others, lead by example, and share responsibility. Key tasks include:
– Leading Playground Games: students lead younger children in playground games, learning how to organise and manage a group and highlighting the importance of clear communication when leading a team.
– Captaining a Sports Team: by taking on the role of captain in a school or local sports team, students practise leadership in a competitive and collaborative environment, learning how to motivate others and strategize for success.
– Organising Lunchtime Clubs: students work with peers to organise and run lunchtime clubs for at least half a term fostering cooperation.
– Participating in Debates: leadership often involves persuasive communication, and this task allows students to debate different perspectives, building their skills in articulation, argumentation, and active listening.
Experiences
The experiences strand encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and engage in new activities that promote personal growth. These tasks provide students with unique learning opportunities in various real-world situations. Key activities include:
– Exploring Local Areas: students take the lead in exploring a new walk or bike route in their local area, creating a map or information leaflet, enhancing their sense of direction, geography, and creativity.
– Adventurous Activity Days: students participate in non-residential adventurous activities, such as obstacle courses or team-building events. These experiences teach resilience, problem-solving, and working outside the familiar school environment.
– Learning Camping Skills: students learn how to light and safely extinguish a campfire, pitch tents, and spend time in nature, fostering independence and self-sufficiency.
Other notable tasks include trying a new sport, building shelters using natural resources, and even organising a family day out using public transport. These activities help students develop planning and decision-making skills, as well as a sense of adventure.
Partnerships
The partnerships strand focuses on fostering connections both locally and globally. Students engage in tasks that allow them to understand their role in a larger community. Some of the activities include:
– Researching Local History: students delve into the past by learning about famous buildings or people from their local area, helping them appreciate the contributions of others.
– Discovering Town Twinning: investigating town twinning offers students a perspective on global connections, highlighting how communities can bond across borders.
– Raising Awareness for a Local Charity: leadership often involves advocacy, and by raising awareness about a local charity or cause, students learn the importance of using their voice for the benefit of others.
Partnership activities also foster the idea of global citizenship by encouraging students to explore international causes, environmental issues, and even religious diversity. These activities instil values of tolerance, understanding, and civic responsibility – key traits in effective leadership.
Service
The Service strand is about giving back to the community through volunteer work and service projects. It focuses on leadership through action—teaching students that part of being a leader is helping others and contributing to the greater good.
Key tasks in this strand include:
– Leading School Tours: students lead visitors on tours of their school, enhancing their public speaking and communication skills while acting as ambassadors for their school.
– Environmental Service: students take part in litter picking activities, helping to clean up their local area.
– Helping with Household Tasks: students help with household tasks such as DIY, ironing, or cleaning, learning the value of contributing to family life and the importance of hard work.
Other service-oriented tasks include designing a garden that grows food, making bird feeders, and preparing posters on topics such as online safety. These activities encourage students to consider how they can positively impact others, both in their home lives and the wider community.
Reward System: Fostering Growth through Recognition
The STEPS to Leadership programme is designed to motivate continuous improvement through a tiered reward system. Students document their achievements in a digital journal, which is reviewed and approved by their form tutor. This system not only encourages students to take ownership of their progress, but also creates a sense of accomplishment as they work toward different levels of recognition:
– Bronze Badge: Awarded for completing five elements from each strand.
– Silver Badge: Awarded for completing nine elements from each strand.
– Gold Badge: Awarded for completing twelve elements from each strand.
The STEPS to Leadership programme represents an innovative approach to leadership education for young students. By focusing on essential life skills, community involvement, and global awareness, the programme nurtures well-rounded, responsible individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on their world.
