There is a lot more to running a school than just turning up for class, as Heathfield School’s Year 12 students are finding out this year. On Thursday 1st July, as part of the School’s annual Leadership Challenge Week, Year 12 assumes complete responsibility for running the school, for one day only…
Year 12’s ‘One Special Day’, with its own logo designed by the girls, has been planned and organised over many months by a ‘leadership team’ of 9 students, who have had leadership and business training, coaching and mentoring throughout the year by local leadership and marketing experts Sharon Pink and Peter Oliver from the School Dynamics division of Screen Idol Ltd.
This year the girls have chosen a theme of ‘Female Role Models’ to underpin their One Special Day project and are dividing the school into teams to research and assess the contribution and achievements of 12 historical and present-day role models. The One Special Day team has been arranging tombolas and other events to raise funds for Kids Company and have already presented a special Assembly to promote and celebrate the work of the charity.
Nick Hurd, MP for Pinner, Ruislip & Northwood, said: “This is a great initiative. I hope it is a day that everyone will remember for all the right reasons! As Minister for Charities I would like to congratulate the girls for all their fund-raising for Kids Company – a charity that does extraordinary things to help transform lives.”
Leading the One Special Day leadership team is Fojan, who explains that they were offered a completely free hand to propose the structure and timetable for the day – as long as they kept within legal and regulatory boundaries. As Fojan says, “We have already learned a lot to enhance our leadership skills as well as discovering how enjoyable it is to work alongside our peers to create a unique experience that we hope the whole school will remember for the rest of their lives!”
As well as the Role Models programme running through the Day, the timetable includes a blend of fun, educational and team-building activities, with a special themed menu for lunch and a few surprises along the way…..before culminating in a special Assembly at the end of the day where the leadership team will formally hand the school back to the Head, Miss Christine Juett.
The weekly planning sessions led by Sharon Pink and Peter Oliver have been key to helping the One Special Day volunteers work as a team to understand the importance of planning and organisation, budgeting, delegation, compliance issues, communication with staff and the rest of their year – and that leadership can be stressful but enjoyable as well as a major learning experience!
As team member Melisa says, “Being part of the One Special Day team planning to run the school presents a fantastic opportunity to develop leadership skills whilst contributing to a unique event as we work together towards our vision. We have been building upon our communication, time-management and organisation skills. I am looking forward to the challenge and am gaining invaluable lessons for the future.”
Contact details
Heathfield School, Beaulieu Drive, Pinner, Middx HA5 1NB
Bernadette Ryder, Marketing & Communications Manager Tel: 020 8868 2346
Email b.ryder@hea.gdst.net