Fostering Leadership and Personal Development in the Sixth Form

Author: Phil Pedro

At Epsom, the Sixth Form is dedicated to fostering meaningful leadership. Our Prefect System is central to this aim, enabling students to lead in areas they’re passionate about—whether that’s academics, wellbeing, social initiatives, international understanding, or service. Recently, our leadership programme in the Sixth Form was praised in our COBIS inspection, a testament to the strength of our approach.

The Sixth Form Prefect System offers students opportunities to step into roles that match their interests and talents, allowing them to make a real impact. For example, an Academic Prefect might support peer tutoring, run study sessions, or assist Year 12 students as they begin their A-Level journey, while a Wellbeing Prefect might lead mental health initiatives within the student body. This approach lets students focus on specific areas where they can contribute in ways that are purposeful and impactful for our school community.

Beyond the Prefect System, students can explore new interests by joining or creating societies. Whether it’s debate, international relations, robotics, or environmental action, societies enable students to broaden their horizons and build skills that go beyond the classroom. For those who start a new society, it’s a chance to create something from the ground up, gaining valuable experience in leadership and teamwork.

A key feature of our leadership programme is the involvement of Sixth Form students with younger year groups. This not only strengthens our school community but also fosters empathy and responsibility, as senior students guide and mentor others. Engaging across age groups fosters a sense of unity and belonging that genuinely reflects COBIS values.

Our approach to leadership at Epsom aligns fully with COBIS standards, and our recent inspection highlighted this as a particular strength in the Sixth Form. Through the Prefect System, society involvement, and community-building, we’re equipping our students with skills that reach beyond academics, preparing them to lead with integrity and compassion.

Mr Phil Pedro
Head of Key Stage 5, Senior School Head of Business, Economics, Director of Accreditation