The importance of leadership opportunities
By Alex Axon, Assistant Director of The Other Half
“Those who possess a wide and balanced repertoire of complementary competencies, skills, and behaviours—and the wisdom to know which one to use in a given situation—are likely to be most effective at leading their people, teams, and organisations,” so say Robert Kaiser, Ryne Sherman, and Robert Hogan in It Takes Versatility to Lead in a Volatile World. Yet, experts agree that there is a growing deficit in the number of individuals entering the workforce with the ‘soft skills’ required for success. This, in turn, places greater emphasis on schools to help bridge the gap. The development of leadership skills is something Alex Axon, Assistant Director of the Other Half at Abingdon, focuses much of his work around.
“It isn’t teaching the requisite skills” he says, “it is about giving our students opportunities, or putting them into situations, in which they can practice those skills and, with support and training, become proficient in them. At Abingdon, we ensure that our pupils are given the opportunity to upskill – no matter what their age.
“At Sixth Form, there are four main leadership opportunities at Abingdon. Each role is filled following a rigorous application and selection process – akin to applying for a job – a valuable exercise in itself through which students receive constructive feedback to help them improve. All roles involve training, monitoring of progress and feedback sessions and ultimately, they involve those who hold the post taking on responsibility and being accountable for supporting younger peers. We are particularly conscious that our first co-ed cohort to the First Year in 2026 will need positive older role models of both sexes in these crucial leadership roles.
“Leadership opportunities across younger year groups exist within our extensive Partnerships programme, the Combined Cadet Force and our wide ranging sports programme (of which there are over 31 sports on offer, so plenty to choose from!).
“Additional opportunities exist through our co-curricular programme – The Other Half. Primarily providing a balance to the academic side of school life, the 150 strong activities, clubs and societies remain pivotal to instilling and honing skills for life and ensures that every one of our students can develop resilience, confidence, problem solving, oration, listening, team building, leadership skills and a sense of citizenship – all of which will help make them ‘real world’ ready by the time they leave school. We like to keep our Other Half relevant and interesting and getting buy-in from students is central to maintaining this. Students will find they can suggest, and then run, a club of their choice – the most successful recent examples include our Investment and Trading Club and our Go Club.
“Anyone reading this may be forgiven for wondering how Abingdon students juggle all these commitments, but the answer is quite simple: they are supported to do so. By having a daily session with their Tutor who knows and understands where their passions and priorities lie, staff liaise to ensure that whatever is a priority for that individual student on that day, it is realised. Tutors are also able to lend some perspective if ever things become a little too overwhelming.
“This value was recently summed up by one of our current students who said: ‘There are a litany of things I could say that I’ve learnt – the importance of planning (especially vis a vis lessons), having good relations with teachers, clear and succinct communication; but the most valuable thing I’ve learnt is the importance of kindness. It’s what gets people through the door for the club, gets them to stay, keeps the club interesting and light-hearted. Inevitably, when I or somebody else makes a mistake, there is no fear of ridicule. That’s what allows me, and everybody else who participates, to learn and grow.’
“I think that, in itself, speaks volumes.”
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