Who wants to be a school leader? Leadership opportunities for students

Authors

Anthony Hockey, Sacred Heart Primary School (Preston Vic)

Abstract

At Sacred Heart Primary School in Preston, Melbourne, the staff were concerned that many Year 6 students arrived in their final year of primary school education seemingly lacking direction, so the school decided to take a preventive approach as a means to give them both direction and leadership opportunities. The strategy was multifaceted but was centred around creating opportunities for all Year 6 students to be leaders and to make that leadership valued and worthwhile. The students were all made captain of something: sports, school captains, door-locking monitors, sports equipment captains, competition captains, assembly and recycling captains, water captains and many more. The students have thrived on their leadership roles. The author, deputy principal at the school, explains the benefits, but also points out some of the minor difficulties with the program. [Author abstract, ed]

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