23 Jun 2025
Developing tomorrow’s leaders
At Churchie, leadership isn’t restricted to those in formally recognised positions. Rather, it is seen as a skill set that can be learned by all students and practised and refined over time. Dean of Studies Years 7 to 9 and Student Leadership Dr Alex Krzensk provides an overview of a new leadership skills programme that has been introduced to challenge boys to engage with, reflect on and consider the qualities of leadership.
The making of men represents the cornerstone of a Churchie education, emphasising the importance of character development through the School’s diverse offerings. To enhance this experience, all Year 7 to Year 12 students have been invited to participate in the Leadership Skills Programme in 2025.
With a tiered approach designed to align with the complexities of adolescence, the programme aims to develop students’ understanding of leadership skills, which can also positively impact their daily lives.
Student Leadership Framework
Churchie’s Student Leadership Framework focuses on developing students in Goal Orientation, Communication, Ethics and Morals, Adaptability and Ownership, and Empathy and Inclusion.
- Goal Orientation: The capacity to develop and focus on clear goals.
- Communication: The capacity to be aware of and effective in all aspects of communication.
- Ethics and Morals: The capacity to demonstrate integrity, behave ethically and fundamentally do what is right, without necessarily achieving personal gain.
- Empathy and Inclusion: The capacity to recognise and support all voices, understand differing positions, and foster a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Adaptability and Ownership: The capacity to respond to all circumstances productively, take on board feedback and adapt to improve outcomes, regardless of context or challenges.
These areas are cultivated through various experiential learning opportunities, mentorship programmes, specific leadership training, reflection opportunities and leadership theory lessons.
Leadership activities span the entire Churchie experience, including the classroom, house system, and the cocurricular and service programmes.
Leadership development at Churchie is continuous, beginning in Year 7 and continuing through to Year 12. Skills are taught, retaught and built upon cyclically, emphasising that the making of men is truly a journey.
Dr Alex Krzensk
While there are various leadership styles, the underlying focus of the programme is servant leadership, which is particularly important for young men as they learn to navigate the world in a meaningful and impactful manner.
Programme subsets
Across the programme, there are three distinct subsets based on age and developmental appropriateness.
Years 7 to 8: Leading Self
As students transition into early adolescence, the Leading Self programme represents a critical skillset toward maturity. As they navigate peer affirmation, social conflict, organisation, time management, resilience and decision-making, the programme provides students with an opportunity to explore a multitude of underpinning skills.
It helps them consider multiple viewpoints and strategies and, most importantly, the consequences of ‘immature’ responses.
Years 9 to 10: Leading Others
As students transition to mid-adolescence, the Leading Others programme focuses on a combination of empathy and accountability skills.
At what is traditionally the age of apathy, competitiveness and yearning for independence, the programme aims to develop skills that allow students to support and challenge their peer groups. Core to the programme are the skills of courage, compassion, initiative, discipline and responsibility.
In this programme, we have seen the largest amount of student interest, as they intuitively understand they are at a key juncture of growth.
Years 10 to 11: Leading Communities
In the senior programme of Leading Communities, the focus is on developing students’ understanding of their broad influence across the School and the impact of their collective leadership.
Whether they are leaders in a cocurricular activity or a house, or simply flag-bearing seniors, they must know that their actions are influential. Key skills in this programme include finishing well, helping others, dealing with stress and maintaining integrity.
Finally, it is important to note that leadership cannot be taught in a single afternoon, nor is every student ready for every opportunity at the same time. Therefore, a whole school approach is in place, leveraging all facets of school life.
Students will be encouraged to engage at appropriate junctures and will always have opportunities to develop their skills further when the time is right. Accordingly, programme elements are cyclically revisited, ensuring appropriate accessibility and reinforcement.
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