Student leadership programmes launched at Sixth Form Bolton

The programmes, comprising the Women into Leadership and Prosper schemes, aim to enhance students' leadership skills, confidence, and networking abilities.

Sandra McMannus, founder of the leadership programmes and former deputy principal of The Sixth Form, led this year's launch.

Participants worked in teams and boosted their confidence (Image: NQ)

The Women into Leadership programme commenced with a workshop on leadership fundamentals, where students explored different leadership styles.

Participants were given the chance to work in teams, broaden their networks, and boost their confidence.

Farjana Bareek, a second-year student who participated 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, said: "The girls embraced the session wholeheartedly.

"It was amazing to see their confidence grow from the beginning to the end of the workshop.

Over the next year, students in both programmes will participate in workshops featuring guest speakers (Image: NQ)

"Sandra’s session was a fantastic start to the programme, and I’m excited for what lies ahead this year."

The Prosper programme, which is targeted at male learners, followed suit.

Students were encouraged to consider what makes a good leader and participated in various challenges.

In an innovative twist, six female students were introduced to observe or take over activities, thereby testing the male students' allyship skills.

This exercise was designed to address employers' concerns about young men's ability to work as allies in diverse teams.

Nick Fisher, coordinator of the Prosper programme, said: "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."

The launch of the Prosper programme

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 well-being.

Ultimately, the schemes seek to empower students to pursue leadership roles and develop the confidence to succeed in their future careers.