On Friday 4th October, The Sixth Form Bolton officially launched its 2024 Student Leadership Programmes, which consist of two unique enrichment opportunities for our learners, Women into Leadership Programme and the Prosper Programme. The programmes aim to develop students' leadership skills, confidence, and networking abilities.
This year’s launch was led by Sandra McMannus, the founder of the leadership programmes and former Deputy Principal of The Sixth Form. The Women into Leadership Programme kicked off with a workshop on leadership fundamentals, where Sandra guided students through different leadership styles. Participants had the opportunity to work in teams, expand their networks, and build confidence—core aspects of the programme.
Farjana Bareek, a second-year student who took part in the launch said:
"The Women into Leadership Launch Event provided valuable insights into the origins and purpose of this enrichment. It was engaging to learn about the motivations behind its creation and the goals it aims to achieve in supporting female leaders. The event offered a clear understanding of how the programme came to be and the impact it hopes to make."
Annabel Jackson, coordinator for the Women into Leadership Programme, was excited by the students’ enthusiastic engagement:
“The girls embraced the session wholeheartedly. It was amazing to see their confidence grow from the beginning to the end of the workshop. Sandra’s session was a fantastic start to the programme, and I’m excited for what lies ahead this year!”
The Prosper Programme, designed for male learners, launched next. Students explored the question, "What makes a good leader?" and engaged in challenges with a twist—six girls were introduced to observe or take over the activities, testing the boys’ allyship skills. This exercise aimed to address an area employers have highlighted as a challenge for young men: working as allies in diverse teams.
Nick Fisher, coordinator of the Prosper Programme, highlighted the initiative’s mission:
“It was fantastic to see our young men start their journey with us. The Prosper Programme is about creating a space where they feel comfortable being open, learning from each other and our speakers. We want to help our young men develop leadership, empathy, listening skills, and respect for others. We’re also committed to equipping them with the confidence and resilience to overcome challenges, preparing them to be capable, career-ready individuals who can tackle obstacles with determination. Through this programme, our young men gain essential skills for personal growth, leadership, and future career success.”
Over the next year, students in both programmes will participate in workshops featuring guest speakers from a wide range of industries, including Sky Sports, Pepsi, the BBC, Cambridge University, and Booking.com. The leadership programmes aim to equip students with essential life skills, from public speaking and networking to personal finance management and maintaining health and wellbeing. Ultimately, these initiatives seek to empower students to pursue leadership roles and develop the confidence to succeed in their future careers.
Learn more about the leadership programmes
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