Future Leader Awards for Westbury students

PUPILS from Matravers School, Westbury, joined pupils from Beechen Cliff School, Bath, as they graduated on the Future Leader Award (FLA), a programme to develop young people’s leadership skills, on Friday 4th May.

Graduands received their award from Stuart Hooper, performance and player development director at Bath Rugby, at a ceremony attended by 150 pupils, parents, staff and guests from both schools. The evening was a celebration of the pupils’ learning after 8 months on the programme, which is built on the premise that leaders are made, not born.

Andrew Davies, headmaster at Beechen Cliff said, “The FLA is an exceptional programme for developing the leadership character and leadership behaviours of our boys, helping them become more aware of themselves and others and their ability to shape the world.”

The Beechen Cliff boys were very pleased to be joined on the programme by fellow Year 10 students from Matravers in Westbury. Headteacher, Dr Simon Riding who attended the graduation said, “Matravers School is delighted to have been part of this project, alongside Beechen Cliff.  Our collaboration has enabled students to work alongside their peers and gain huge insights into themselves as leaders.  We look forward to further opportunities for our students to work together.”

The FLA has been developed by Beechen Cliff to prepare pupils for future leadership roles in school and society, and places emphasis on the behaviours and skills defining leadership, rather appearances and circumstance.

Participants learn through taught sessions about leadership theory, complete a team-based project and reflect of their growth as an individual. They also receive mentoring from a leadership expert and the opportunity to make a difference to their school community.

The programme was designed in conjunction with leadership experts from military, business, sporting and educational backgrounds and promotes diversity in leadership.

The FLA programme leader, James Oldham, is due to speak at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition conference in Gold Coast, Australia, later this year about the FLA, one of only two UK schools to be represented at the event.