COBIS Programme for Student Leadership

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COBIS Programme for Student Leadership
British School Muscat
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the concept

• Using the principles of the COBIS Programme for
  Middle Leaders
• To develop a COBIS Programme for Student Leaders

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rationale
Schools rightly put students into positions of
responsibility. The role of Student Voice,
Student Leadership and Student Impact have become
a common and much-valued feature of many
educational institutions, both in the UK and
internationally. However, often students are
placed into these positions with little or no
training and minimal support structures. Head
Boys and Girls can go from average GCSE student
to leading the student body, sometimes with very
little formal preparation or opportunity to
consider how they lead their peers and why.
The COBIS Programme for Student Leaders (CPSL) is
a response to this.
British School Muscat
Based on the principles of the NCSLs
International Programme for Middle Leadership in
schools, British School Muscat is developing a
Student Leadership programme which will see
students undertake a leadership role in school
which focuses on a specific and real area of
school improvement, but most importantly which
supports them to learn about leadership in the
process. Through this programme we aim to give
students real and meaningful responsibility in
order to have a genuine impact on school life, as
well as develop valuable skills for the 21st
Century.
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The CPSL Model
The project challenge
Programme Structure
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4

• The CPSL has three stages, which helps
  participants focus on learning about leading,
  developing their own leadership and leading
  others. All participants will be expected to
  participate in a Project Challenge. This is a
  project they work on in groups throughout the
  year as defined by themselves or by the school.
• Participants will do this by
• Undertaking a Project Challenge within their
  school
• reading and reflecting on key think pieces
• Engaging in discussion and activities at 5 face
  to face days
• Keeping an online blog of their leadership and
  project development
• Applying their learning to their projects in
  school
• Facilitating and passing on their projects to a
  new cohort of students

Learning about Leadership
Impact and Projects
Leading others

• Students will engage in face to face, online and
  school-base learning on
• Leading Effective Teams
• Leading Change
• Developing Creativity, Innovation Ideas
• Being a Mindful Leader
• Developing your own Leadership Potential Legacy

• Students will work on their projects as part of
  project teams, including
• Implementing their project
• Maintaining a blog about their leadership
  development
• Preparing for the Leadership Conference

• Students will
• Present at the Leadership Conference
• Review their project for the next cohort
• Consider how their experience may lead to next
  steps (UCAS, Uni, Post-16)
• Deliver part of the training/modules for the new
  cohort

Online participation with peers in school and
other COBIS schools and support from school-based
facilitators
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The CPSL Leadership Competencies
What are the benefits for students?
Leadership Competencies

• By participating in the programme students will
  develop their leadership competencies. This will
  enable participants to
• Develop a deep understanding of leadership and
  its application
• Lead key changes in the development of the school
• Engage in a deep version of Student Impact, with
  definite and meaningful outcomes
• Develop the competencies required for future
  success in learning and life.

Conceptual Thinking
Serving others
Collaboration
Relating to others
Resourcefulness
Taking Responsibility
Developing Confidence
Reflective
Developing Curiosity
Self Motivation
Community
Open Mindedness
What are the benefits for schools?
Analytical Thinking
Inspiring Others
Making a contribution
Managing Self

• By taking part in the CPSL participants will be
  able to make a contribution to the development of
  the school and the school community as follows
• Deeper and more meaningful student leadership and
  engagement
• Genuine student voice with students working on
  real project that have impact and a legacy
• Developing a range of skills in students that
  will help their learning

Secure Individuals Resourceful Learners and
Leaders Respectful Contributors
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The CPSL Modules
The project challenge
Programme content Programme content
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5
Leading Effective Teams Leading Change Developing Creativity, Ideas Innovation Being a Mindful Leader Developing your own Leadership Potential Legacy
What makes an effective team Building your team Creating a strategy and plan Setting SMART targets Coaching your peers Managing your resources Understanding organisational structure and processes Leadership strengths weaknesses audit Applied Develop understanding of how to build your project team Understanding the change processes Understanding the catalysts of change Planning for change Overcoming barriers to change Applied Develop understanding of how to implement your change What is creativity and where do ideas come from External and internal conditions that lead to creativity Trialing and refining your ideas How do you pitch an idea Applied Developing your Project Challenge Understanding others Leading with compassion The self-aware leader Wellbeing, balance and resilience Courageous conversations Developing Mindfulness Applied Leading your Project Challenge Mindfully Considering how CPSL learning can support with next steps Identifying how you will handover your project to a newcomer Planning to develop others leadership Applied Learning Presenting your Project Challenge
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The Proposed CPSL Project Challenge
Project Challenges
The Project Challenge is the main way in which
participants put their leadership into practice
in school. Students will choose to join and
potentially lead a project team from one of the
six areas below. These will be cross-year group
(and possibly cross-phase) teams of students with
a specific interest in that area. The teams will
be supported in the task of developing real, high
impact and meaningful projects to work on at
school, as agreed and confirmed with the
Leadership Team. Similar to the Leadership
Challenge in the CPSL, these projects must link
to a development priority of the school and in
turn must be fully supported by the leadership of
the school.
Digital Media for Learning
Developing Teaching Learning
Fundraising Events
Environment Community
Sports Well-Being
Beyond BSM International Links
Supported by School Leadership Team
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How the Project Challenges work
Students choose an area of interest from the
those outlined below, or may develop their own
project challenge. Through the CPSL they are
encouraged to develop ideas on how they might
lead a school project within these areas. Module
3 specifically helps them to do this. They will
be encouraged to think big. The projects will be
developed in consultation with the leadership
team and will involve running both events that
are already part of the school calendar as well
as developing significant and meaningful
additions to them.
Example Project Challenges

• Beyond BSM International Links
• Developing BSMs relationship with partner
  schools
• Creating new and meaningful links with
  organisations beyond Muscat and Oman

• Digital Media for Learning
• Developing digital support for teachers
• Running the school blog
• Running and developing further the BSM social
  media channels

• Developing Teaching Learning
• Leading the student voice in feedback on TL
• Developing a strategy on how students can improve
  TL
• Creating a

• Fundraising Events
• Leading BSMs charity events throughout the year
• Organising the annual prom and fashion show
• Developing new events for charity fund-raising

• Environment Community
• Developing school-based projects that improve the
  local environment
• Developing projects that contribute to the local
  community

• Sports Well-Being
• Running the major sports events of the year
• Developing the inter-house competition
• Developing ways in which the school may promote
  well-being

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Who is it for?
CPSL
40 places available at BSM Years 5 6 Years 10,
11, 12 13
Challenges
Everyone
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How do students complete?
Completion Criteria

• Attend all face-to-face days (currently expected
  to be 27th29th October, 21st January, 30th March
  1st April). Some of these dates take place at
  the weekend so please check in advance if you
  would be available.
• Lead a Project Challenge team
• Meet with your Project Challenge team at least
  once a week. This will likely be after school or
  at break times depending on your teams
  availability.
• Work in a team to make a plan of action.
• Maintain a learning log and reflect on both the
  success and challenges you have experienced.
• Present to pupils and staff about your project
  and what you have learnt as a leader.
• Get involved in the online learning community

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cpsl
COBIS Programme for Student Leadership
British School Muscat