(This is an article written by me and put out by the Association of Christian Teachers, ACT, as part of their Campaign emails to members.)

This was the question put to me early on in my first Headship. It seemed to be coming from, in my opinion, someone with an unrealistically egalitarian view of schools and how they should be managed. I listened, though, as it was a parent who made the remark – and parental influence beyond the school gates was growing!

As someone who has worked in schools with hierarchical and, sometimes, powerful Prefect bodies I was keen as a Head to challenge perceptions of pupil leaders – and not least those which might be regarded as old fashioned and outmoded. (I am, no doubt, also influenced by my own boarding school upbringing at a time when Prefects still had ‘fags’ and could impose substantial punishments.)

Appointing or electing pupil leaders?

As I took up my first Headship I can remember challenging the very notion of staff appointing a select band of senior pupils to wield authority over their younger peers. It became readily apparent that not only did pupils expect some of their number to be recognised as leaders but that they also presumed they would have a part in their selection. (It was often staff who questioned this notion of ‘the select few’ and, naturally, parents who made their feelings known if their child was not one of these.) And so it was that out of this experience (as well as a fresh appreciation for the life-lesson value of pupil leaders) I came to look for ways to streamline the selection of pupil leaders and, thereafter, to provide appropriate training.

Every school will have their own ways of selecting pupil leaders (whatever name they go by). In my last two schools, pupils had to apply in writing, be interviewed and then come through a secret ballot of their peer group. Senior Management would have the final ‘say’ but would rarely, if ever, go beyond the ‘vote’. Having made the selection – and allowed for others to join the group as they matured – we would move to training in-school and also, wherever possible, out of school. We can all learn so much  about our leadership style and approach when in the challenging company of other like-minded people from outside our immediate environment. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17.  TISCA (The Independent Schools Christian Alliance) has sought to assist schools over the past 15 years and more in doing this for pupil leaders – in what we call ‘Prefect Training’.

Training days

Each year TISCA run two separate training days: one is for junior leaders (drawn from Years 6-8); the other is for senior leaders in Years 11, 12 and 13.

TISCA do not expect any faith commitment from those attending, but do explore Jesus’ remarks about ‘servant-leadership’ and consider situations likely to be encountered in the school context.

TISCA originally had only independent school pupils attending but in recent years academy students have begun to join these training sessions. There is a charge of around £40 per pupil to attend. This helps cover the cost of lunch and refreshments.

If COVID-19 restrictions persist then TISCA will offer an online course. Otherwise the student will join at a single location. Full details of the training (Thursday, 17^th September for Juniors and Thursday, 24^th September for Seniors) can be found by following this link:

https://tisca.org.uk/2020/06/18/prefect-training-days-twenty-twenty/

And so, ‘why bother training Prefects?’ Invite your students to join the course and find out – they will be very welcome! If you are not in a position to get students involved, then please pray for these two days which we hope will help to train leaders for the future.