By Manahil Zubairi and Finlay Wilkes, English and Media Prefects (Year 13)
Student leadership is a cornerstone of our school’s vibrant and inclusive community. This year, we introduced new Prefect Teams focused on diverse aspects of student life, from academics and innovation to culture and wellbeing. Each team, comprising around 10-12 students from across every phase of the school, has been thoughtfully assembled to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and growth. Senior Prefects and Lead Teachers carefully selected each prefect to ensure a well-rounded team prepared to make a difference.
The application process kicked off in early September, beginning with an open invitation for interested students to complete a Google Form. Applicants could express their preferred team choices and share why they were well-suited for the role by answering questions about their values, ideas, and previous leadership experiences.
Following the initial application form, all applicants were invited to submit a video to showcase their enthusiasm and qualifications further. Senior Prefects carefully reviewed these submissions, shortlisting the most promising candidates for a group task where they could observe collaboration and leadership skills in action. This step allowed us to make final selections based on each student’s ability to work with others and adapt to challenges.
The newly appointed Prefects attended a comprehensive Training Event led by Head Students and Senior Prefects. This full-day session aimed to build their confidence, communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills through various hands-on activities. Highlights included:
‘Overcoming Obstacles,’ in which Prefect Teams guide one of their blindfolded members through an obstacle course, teaching themselves how to collaborate and communicate clearly to solve inevitable challenges.
‘Teamwork and Communication’ takes a similar approach, making teams untangle human knots and describe images to blindfolded members to reinforce essential communication skills for their meetings and initiatives.
In ‘Challenging Conversations’, these communication skills were further developed by taking the WOOP approach (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) to simulate tough discussions that may take place during obstacles and potential conflicts within the Prefect Team.
The last activity was ‘Presence in Presenting’, where Prefect Teams must work together to create a sales pitch - with many added difficulties, including specific colours and actions - for an everyday item and compete against each other for the best presentation! This is key for leading assemblies and introducing initiatives during the academic year.
After these activities, the Prefect Teams regrouped with their Senior Prefects for a final project: planning an event. Each team navigated real-world challenges, such as budgeting, advertising, and logistics, alongside additional challenges from our Head Students. They then presented their proposals to fellow prefects and the Senior Leadership Team for feedback.
This rigorous selection and training process has ensured that our Prefect Teams are well-prepared to lead with confidence and support the school community throughout the year. Out of more than 230 applicants, 122 were chosen to take on this role, and the 2024-2025 Prefects have already begun developing strategies and planning initiatives for the academic year ahead. Stay tuned to our school Instagram over the coming weeks as we introduce each team and keep you updated on their exciting endeavours!
