Student leadership and citizenship

Cultivating leadership and citizenship along with academic, cultural and sporting success gives schools (and their students) a chance to develop an identity. What’s more, leadership opportunities draw on and develop a range of abilities and foster students’ all-round growth. But just how (or whether) leadership, citizenship and values are cultivated is closely related to the school’s overall ethos and values base.

Student Representative Councils (SRCs), forums and school meetings all give students the opportunity to experience citizenship and democratic decision-making with their peers and the school’s administration. Participating students can take on projects in the school or the wider community.

Leadership has traditionally been seen more as the prerogative of senior students. To a large extent, this tradition lives on, with older students able to take on roles such as school captain. Secondary schools may also give senior students responsibility for school events and activities, and even the welfare of younger students through buddy programs. Schools that end at Year 10 or separate students in the middle and senior years allow younger students to exercise leadership skills that they can carry into senior school.