Schoolboys Today, Leaders Tomorrow

The most talented athletes rarely make good coaches, nor do the most gifted flautists necessarily make the best conductors.  Nelson Mandela and Barrack Obama both possess the leadership qualities of courage, decisive vision and integrity, as did our own Winston Churchill.   At Davenies, we believe strongly that boys can be taught the qualities essential for leadership, and that this potential can develop, given the right setting. We pride ourselves on providing such an environment for 11-13 year old boys within our Year 7 and 8 programme.

On a weekly basis during the Autumn Term, every senior boy is taught leadership skills through a scheme of carefully chosen and directed activities.  These sessions build confidence and communication skills, and encourage teamwork and perseverance.  The boys then go on to hold positions of responsibility throughout the school.  Leadership is also part of the ‘Senior Activity Programme’, which offers pupils the opportunity to gain useful ‘qualifications’ for the future in pursuits such as power boating, SCUBA diving, cookery and First Aid.

Responsibility is promoted alongside leadership.  The boys’ behaviour, manners and initiative are monitored closely.  They carry a Leadership Card, which records the positive contributions they make both academically, and towards the welfare and behaviour of younger boys.

New ties, blazers and rewards help the boys in Years 7 and 8 to look and feel different, whilst they develop the skills needed to become responsible and mature leaders – skills that will carry them right through their adolescent lives and perhaps beyond.