School leaders make a difference within and beyond the school. They impact not only the learning of students, but their character and aspirations, their vision for who they want to be in the world. New models of leadership are about empowering staff and students to become the leaders of the future, it is a model that moves students from leader: follower when they join the school, to leader:leader when they graduate.
The best school leaders ensure that young people get the support they need to enable them to reach their full potential and make a positive contribution to society. School leaders need to support, develop and inspire the next generation of leaders.
We have taken a great interest in how to develop leadership and character in school students for many years as we believe that one of our key roles as teachers is to teach students how they can create a positive impact in society and generate good.
Most students are in education for 13 years and we believe that to be able to flourish beyond school in wider society, students need to be empowered with the skills and character traits that will enable them to make real and meaningful change. When students make a positive impact through taking action, they achieve a sense of self-efficacy and purpose, which are crucial for wellbeing.
We have been lucky enough to have the chance to try out various ways of developing character and enabling young people to serve. Early in our teaching career, we worked on the National Citizen Service with an incredible organisation called ‘Future Foundations’ and were convinced by the power of asking young people to work together on a social action project that they care about to make a positive impact in their community.
Global Social Leaders
We did, however, feel that this programme could be made even better through adding an international element. When a school from Singapore asked Jon Harper, the CEO of Future Foundations, and me whether we’d set up a leadership course for them with our friends at ‘Future Foundations’, we asked them whether it would be even more effective if we could invite pupils from other countries, too. They said yes and this is when Global Social Leaders (www.globalsocialleaders.com) was born.