Leadership development is not something that just happens of its own accord. At Thames there are a number of a programmes in place to develop our potential leaders. In Year 10 we run a Leadership Training programme after school from which the future student leaders are chosen.
Our Year 11 pupils have opportunities to participate in the leadership seminars hosted at Thames and run by an international training organisation. This learning experience challenges our students to come out of their comfort zone, and think through and debate their ideas with adults. Additionally, Year 11 pupils may be chosen to represent the school at the Association of Christian Schools International Student Leadership Conference in Budapest, Hungary, each September.
Senior pupils have the opportunity to be professionally trained as mentors, using sport, craft, dance/drama and even cookery as a means of mentoring needy young children at nearby Falconbrook Primary School. Staff say their work makes a big difference to the behaviour of the children they work with.
Nathanael's Story
Nathanael's leadership potential was developed by the leadership programme in Year 10 and he became our Head Boy in Year 11; he also co-led the dance/drama workshops as part of the Mentoring Project in Falconbrook Primary School. Outside school Nathanael is a youth leader at Deeper Life Bible Church in Dulwich where he helps with the teaching, gives advice and acts as a role model. Nathanael was one of the pupils chosen to represent Thames at the ACSI Student Leadership Conference.
Challenging our young people about the world they want to live in is an important aspect of education. After all, they are the leaders of tomorrow.
