Sixth Form Leadership Roles

Leadership Roles Inspirational Role Models, Leading by Example

This booklet outlines the various roles, within the Head Girl’s team as well as the Senior Prefects’ team and the School Prefects’ team. In addition to these roles, the Sixth Form Scholars have responsibility roles within their Departments, as do the Sports Captains in their own sports.

Leadership Roles All roles are fulfilled by the Upper Sixth unless otherwise indicated.

Head Girl’s Team:

Head Girl Deputy Head Girl

Senior Prefects:

Hall Captains x 4 Head of Boarding Head of Charity Committee Head of Social Committee

School Prefects:

Hall Vice-Captains x 4 (Senior 5 roles) Integration Prefect (boarder) Head of Eco Squad Head of Social Media Library Prefects x 2 Junior Prefects (Lower School)

How to Apply for a Role Before the Spring Half-Term in your Lower Sixth year, the Head of Sixth Form will talk to all girls about Leadership and what it entails. It will be an opportunity to ask questions and clarify the remit of each role. You will be given a form for you to take away, think about and tick all the roles you would like to be considered for. This will need to be handed in to the Head of Sixth Form before Half-Term, so that the ballot papers may be prepared ready for voting, which takes place straight after Half-Term.

Those who wish to be considered for the Head Girl and/or Deputy Head Girl roles will need to produce an A3 poster about themselves for the school to look at for one week prior to the elections and briefly present their ideas for these roles to girls in the Senior School and the staff, who form the electorate. A democratic election takes place subsequently using the single transferrable voting system and votes are counted by the Head of Sixth Form and the Deputy Head, the latter acting as Returning Officer. We elect the Head Girl first, followed by her Deputy.

In Hall Assembly at the end of the first week after Half-Term, those girls wishing to stand for Hall Captain and Vice-Captain will present their ideas for these roles to their Hall and voting will take place at the end of assembly. The Head of Boarding and Integration Prefect (Deputy Head of Boarding) roles are voted for within Boarding the following week.

Following this, the remaining roles are allocated by the Head of Sixth Form, the Deputy Head and the Headmistress in consultation with the relevant members of staff and in accordance to the girls’ wishes. Being in one of the big teams alongside your own leadership role is positively encouraged: for example, you can be a Hall Captain and still be on the Social Committee. Girls keen to be considered for the Junior Prefect roles need to apply by letter to the Senior Head of Year and are selected following an interview.

At the end of the process, every girl who has been allocated a role takes it up at the start of the Summer Term. The ‘old team’ then undertakes a period of handover so that the ‘new team’ is fully operational by the Summer Half-Term. This is an opportunity to learn about and build on the achievements of the previous year’s Prefects and to work with the relevant members of staff.

Head Girl To liaise with:    

The Headmistress, her PA, the Head of Sixth Form, the Deputy Head, the Marketing Office, the Finance Office, the Maintenance Team All members of the Sixth Form Any girl who is experiencing friendship or academic issues Relevant teachers to help with the above issues

Roles & Responsibilities         

To help in the general running of the school To lead and be a role model for both their peers and younger girls To be able to give advice and encouragement to all Prefects To be able to work with anyone in their year group To be actively involved in other Sixth Form led groups, such as the Charity Committee To actively help with Senior 5 retention into the Sixth Form To be present and an active part of all major school events To organise events To organise tours of the school

Weekly & Termly          

To do what is required of them that week To meet with the Headmistress and Head of Sixth Form regularly To organise forthcoming tours and other events To help show visiting VIPs around the school To be a part of Tuesday assemblies To hold year group meetings and specific Prefects meetings regularly To run the School Council To hold meetings/liaise with year groups or certain members of year groups across the school To help Prefects with their events/weekly tasks if needed To host visiting guest speakers prior to and following the weekly lectures

Lower Sixth – Summer Term 

To instil enthusiasm and confidence within each new leadership role and team

  

To run an assembly to introduce themselves in their new roles to the school To organise tours and help with the running of the May Open Day To offer support in the running of Speech Day

Upper Sixth – Autumn Term       

To attend the tea party for parents and students at the start of the academic year To help new Sixth Formers settle in To help all new girls throughout the school to fit in To organise tours and help with the running of Open Day To attend Remembrance Day Service at St Mary’s Bruton and lay the wreath on behalf of the school To help at Sixth Form Information Evening To run a Sixth Form/Head Girls’ assembly

Upper Sixth – Spring Term  

To organise tours and help with the running of the March Open Day To run a Sixth Form/Head Girls’ assembly

Upper Sixth – Summer Term 

   

To organise and instruct each new Prefect, giving a proper handover to their successor, ensuring that each member of the new team feels confident and enthusiastic about her new role To plan and organise end-of-year events To help organise the Speech Day Ball To run a Sixth Form/Head Girls’ assembly To represent the school on Speech Day by giving votes of thanks to the guest speaker, the school’s governing body and the teaching staff

Deputy Head Girl  

To assist the Head Girl with all of the above duties To deputise for the Head Girl as and when required

Senior Prefects

Hall Captains

To liaise with: 

Their Head of Hall, their Vice-Captain and other teachers and tutors in their Hall

Roles & Responsibilities     

To be a role model for members of the Hall To instil enthusiasm and motivate support for the Hall and Hall activities To help to organise and lead Hall teams and assemblies To be available and to assist with the day-to-day organisation and running of Hall activities To assist with conducting tours for prospective parents/students, interview candidates and visitors

Weekly & Termly     

To meet regularly with the Head of Hall and with the Headmistress when required To visit tutors and tutor groups within their Hall To assist the Head of Hall in organising Inter-Hall activities and to take responsibility for the major events To take and lead Hall assemblies when required To manage the Hall noticeboard and to give regular updates

Lower Sixth – Summer Term  

To help the Head of Year (S1-3) with Induction Day for new students To organise and run an afternoon of activities for the whole Hall with the Vice-Captain if required  To organise teams for Sports Day and the Swimming Gala  To help with the organisation of awards at Speech Day if required  To help with the Hall on Speech Day Upper Sixth – Autumn & Spring Terms       

To attend the Tea Party for parents and students at the start of the academic year To help the Head of Year (S1-3) with the first day of the academic year for new students To play a leading role in the induction of new Sixth Form students into their Hall To help with and participate in Sixth Form Information Evening To make a contribution to the Hall report for The Gleam magazine To attend School Council meetings if required and report back to tutor groups if necessary To accompany the members of their Hall to end-of-term church services

Upper Sixth – Summer Term   

To give support at Sports Day and the Swimming Gala if examinations have finished To play a leading role in the organisation of end-of-term activities and functions including the Leavers’ Service and Upper Sixth Final Assembly

Head of Boarding This role encourages good communication skills and requires flexibility, kindness and understanding, assertiveness and an ability to delegate to other members of the house. The role allows the post holder to:   

Play an essential role in the maintenance of good order and high standards Gain experience in management, administration and leadership Learn to play a proper and responsible part in a hierarchical system

All disciplinary matters are to be referred to the boarding staff.

The Student Head of Boarding will be responsible for:              

Maintaining good communication between house staff and boarders Leading through their own good example in both academic and pastoral matters Working with the Senior Housemistress through the Boarders’ Forum to encourage a greater sense of a boarding community through activities and events Informing the Head of Boarding of any issues she should be aware of Fulfilling duties at major events – e.g. Boarders’ Christmas Dinner Offering support to peers by being approachable, listening to them and showing them how to access the right care and support in school and boarding Supporting new boarders by being friendly, approachable and showing them the house routines Helping give informative guided tours of the boarding house to prospective parents Gaining pupils’ suggestions for activities, improvements and reporting back to the Head of Boarding Regularly attending the Boarders’ Forum to put forward the views of their peers and feed back to the House the minutes of the Forum.

Helping arrange leaving gifts for pupils and staff Organising and coming up with ideas for some house get-togethers in conjunction with the Integration Prefect Encouraging recycling and energy-saving strategies among boarders, in conjunction with the Eco-Squad Ensuring that good behaviour is observed in the Dining Room

Head of Charity Committee

This role requires the post holder to form a Committee and involves bringing initiative and motivation to the whole school in the development of charitable fundraising and giving, in conjunction and consultation with the relevant members of staff. The role involves the following:      

Communicating the charitable purpose to the whole school, raising awareness of worthwhile causes Organising and running fundraising events Co-ordinating the fundraising effort with the Committee, delegating tasks appropriately Close liaison with the Head of Charity Close liaison with the Finance Office, ensuring that all monies are handed in and properly accounted for Reporting on the Committee’s charitable activities via The Gleam, The Buzz and other social media channels, via the Head of Social Media

Head of Social Committee This role requires the post holder to form a Committee and involves bringing initiative and motivation to the Sixth Form in the development of dynamic and exciting social opportunities and events, in conjunction and consultation with the Head Girls and the Head of Sixth Form.

The role involves the following:     

    

Meeting with the Committee and the Head of Sixth Form to plan and organise Sixth Form social events Publicising social events to the Sixth Form and encourage attendance Co-ordinating the sale of tickets for social events Co-ordinating a team for the setting up and clearing up of social events and taking an active role in leading these activities Close liaison with the Head of Sixth Form to source materials needed, book venues and raise works requests, liaise with guest schools and ensure timely planning and good event management Close liaison with the Finance Office with regard to ticket sales, handing in monies without delay and ensuring proper accounting, both pre- and post-events Reporting on the Sixth Form social activities via The Gleam, The Buzz and other social media channels, via the Head of Social Media

School Prefects

Hall Vice-Captains  

To assist the Hall Captains with all of their duties To deputise for the Hall Captain as and when required

Integration Prefect (boarder) The role entails the following:   

 

Initiating and assisting in the organisation of events /activities that bring the community together in fun and friendship Organising/overseeing cultural evenings, for example Chinese New Year, Spanish Night, German Christmas, etc.

Informing the Head of Boarding of any issues she should be aware of in the houses, with particular regards to any cultural background issues, and suggesting possible improvements Supporting the needs of and helping integrate all boarders Liaising with all boarders to ensure both the native and international boarders’ ideas/views are brought to the attention of the Boarders’ Forum.

Head of Social Media This role requires excellent use of written English, skilled use of social media and an interest in writing and journalism, communications, advertising and marketing. The candidate’s own expertise in new social media and their efficacy in communicating messages about the school will be eagerly sought in developing its media output. The role could become work experience which will be relevant for one’s CV. The appointed Prefect will be expected to:    

Meet and liaise regularly with the Marketing Department Assist the staff in the planning and execution of updates to the School’s social media output and website Report weekly on the Lecture Programme, particularly with photography, and on other Sixth Form events, including social events Update the Sixth Form Instagram feed regularly, ensuring good coverage of Sixth Form activity and involvement in appropriate social media activity linked with the account

Head of Eco Squad This role leads the Eco Squad throughout the school and involves the following:     

Communicating the message about green issues to the school to raise awareness Acting as a role model for the school community, leading in all Eco matters Liaising with the relevant staff about any aspect of their role Organising green initiatives to help with ongoing projects Helping to maintain the school’s Green Flag Eco Ambassador status

Library Prefects The role involves the following:    

Actively assisting the Librarian in organising and developing the Library Supporting author visits and events Supervising the Library for short periods of time every week Showing enthusiasm for reading

Junior Prefects The role involves the following:    

Assisting the Heads of Year with the induction of new joiners to the school Buddying up with new joiners to aid their social integration Playing a key part in Induction Day, helping new joiners finding their way around school and getting to know school routines Welcoming new joiners at the start-of-term Tea Party and supporting them in their first week at the school

All the Prefect Roles involve teamwork with the relevant staff. Prefects working in these areas will gain specific skills as well as enhanced teamwork, communication, planning and negotiating skills. Initiative and ideas are always welcome and should be shared as far as possible with the relevant staff member and team. You can always approach the Headmistress, the Deputy Head, the Head of Sixth Form, or indeed any relevant member of staff, with an idea you may have for a role that has yet to exist. We are always keen to hear from anyone willing to start a club or society to share an interest or passion with their peers or the younger girls.

We hope girls will enjoy building their leadership roles. If appointed candidates have been unable to commit to their role by the end of the year, the School cannot recognise their commitment in future references. However, we hope that candidates will bring their best qualities to the responsibilities of the Leadership Roles and find that they get back as much satisfaction and fulfilment as the energy and thought that they put in.