Young leaders showing the way
SIXTH form life has changed for youngsters in Todmorden making sure the experience offers more to the student, school, university and even the community.
Mike Kershaw, head of Todmorden High School's sixth form, has seen huge improvements in recent years with the introduction of a new style of leadership and a pro-active approach to learning.
"When we have visitors here they are always impressed with the sixth form and now universities are giving us feedback on our students' applications saying how impressed they are with what our students are doing here and the skills they're learning along the way," he said.
The formation of senior school leaders for a number of groups based on the interests of the students has been particularly successful with a pyramid structure used to distribute responsibility down to all levels in the school.
Groups such as Go Green, Todmorden Leos, along with mentoring, Duke of Edinburgh's awards and fund-raising have been taken on by sixth formers, who in turn work with students in the lower years of the school to create a "can do" environment and a sense of community.
Each group has a leader, who is responsible for working with others within the group, as well as staff and in many cases with people from the wider Todmorden community.
For example, Aisha Coggan is the senior school leader for Go Green, which has not only been responsible for introducing recycling into every classroom, but also works with Incedible Edible Todmorden.
Sian Heys is the senior school leader for the recently formed Leos Club, and as such has been involved with her fellow Leos in a variety of events.
These have included the national shoebox appeal and Todmorden Together's Kidsfest. The group has strong links with Todmorden Lions Club.
Dale Armstrong leads a group of over 20 mentors, who after receiving training, offer support to younger students, who may be in need of guidance.
A group set up to help students achieve success at bronze, silver and gold levels in the Duke of Edinburgh's awards scheme, is run by Rachel Senior, who has herself gained the gold award.
And Oliver Davy-Day leads a team of keen fund-raisers that selects different charities and organises events throughout the school year for all the students and staff, from a Hats for Haiti to chilly-eating competitions for Children in Need.
This term students are appealing for people to bring in old bras to be sent to developing countries to reduce the risk of women being raped and at the same time raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
And another appeal has been launched by Aisha for old clothes to be brought in that can be sent to developing countries by the ton, which will also help to raise money for the school.
Each year as preparation for these roles a group of year 12 students at the end of their lower sixth year, with current senior school leaders, and some members of staff go for a team building residential weekend in Patterdale, in the Lake District.
Once in their roles senior school leaders are encouraged to speak to year assemblies, staff briefing meetings and to discuss their successes, failures and ideas for improvements with their fellow senior schools leaders when they take over the head teacher’s office once a week.
Other senior school leader groups include the school council, study groups for younger students, and one to look after the sixth form study room, which has recently been redecorated by the students.
New groups are continuously being introduced and the pyramids, which are used to distribute the leadership to all levels, are always growing.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
