School looks to prepare its new student leaders

THE next generation of student leaders have been honing their skills as they prepare to help their school’s continued success.

Newly appointed head girl and boy Lindsay Christison and deputies Sophie Spink and Billy Gaines were at the heart of an inaugural conference at Richmond School and Sixth Form College designed to boost their leadership skills.

A group of 16 students were selected to work with the school’s senior management team and act as ambassadors at a host of forthcoming events.

A variety of speakers, including a US Army major, staged a number of talks and seminars on leadership, public speaking and management.

Assistant head teacher Leslie Richardson said: “The students were all really keen and will be key for us next term. They rose to the challenge with some brilliant public speaking and were interested and engaged. I think they will definitely be the leaders of the future.”

Lindsay, 17, of Richmond, said: “The array of people who came in to talk to us was amazing and being able to ask them questions was a great experience. With the new roles we are going into next term, the conference was really useful in getting us ready and helping us gel as a group.

“I desperately wanted to be head girl and enjoyed the application and interview process. People had faith in me, which was lovely, and I get on really well with the new head boy Chris Gill so we should make a good team.

“Next year is going to be really exciting and we have a lot planned – I just hope we have time to fit it all in.”