Surrey Homes | SH109 | February 2024 | Education Supplement inside

The Priceless Education Supplement
Planning Ahead
We hear about how Parkside School
empowers the next generation of leaders
If one was to ask a Parkside pupil about Leadership,
they could give you an abundance of situational
evidence and skills that are used on a daily basis
within the fantastically authentic oak panelled walls of
the 18th century Manor classrooms. Their inquisitive
nature and forward-thinking mindset showcase a new
generation of leaders, movers, and shakers.
Central to this ethos are pupil committees, each one
a testament to the democratic process that appoints
members who actively participate in the decision-making,
outcomes and implementation of changes in the school.
The School Council oversees general recommendations
made by pupils from Reception up to Year 8 and runs
alongside the more specific committee groups. The title
and participation of a ‘Committee Member’ is a dynamic
and important life skill, the value of which is cemented
at Parkside at a young age. Committee discussions are
recorded in the meeting minutes (taken by a Year 8
pupil) and are reported directly to the Senior Leadership
Team and Governors on a regular basis. Actions are
monitored and reviewed before sharing the results with
pupils via whole school communications such as the
School Newsletter and School Assemblies. Leadership at
Parkside School comes into its own particularly in Years 7
& 8, through roles such as Sports Captains, Prefects and
the Head Boy – who leads his team, promoting Parkside
School’s values: Courage, Confidence and Character.
Parkside takes pride both in listening to the
pupils’ voices, and in bringing new ideas to life in a
comfortable and nurturing environment where they are
respected, listened to, and valued. Making mistakes and
understanding that not all ideas will be the best are good
life lessons that pupils at Parkside School learn before
going out into the world. Mistakes are celebrated and
used as future lessons for success. A challenge-, curiosityand
enquiry-led approach to learning is interwoven
throughout the curriculum and opportunities abound
for ‘facing their fears’. Competitive spirit is important at
Parkside and will continue to feature in the boys’ every
day activities and lessons, as this will be experienced
through life. This said, we recognise that participating
with integrity and respect is a given.
Leadership at our school is a planned commitment to
empowering the next generation of leaders, thinkers and
change-makers. By seeking and embracing the pupils’
voices, capturing their lightbulb moments, and creating
opportunities to ignite that spark, Parkside sets itself
apart as a beacon of educational excellence.
To find out more join Parkside for their Open Day on
Friday 9 March at 9am, or visit parkside-school.co.uk
Young Voices
At Hilden Oaks, giving pupils an opportunity to speak and be
heard is considered key in growing leadership skills
It has long been a tradition at Hilden
Oaks Prep to give pupils a ‘voice’
and for them to be heard. Pupils’
voices help to shape their learning,
leisure and experience of school life. As
they progress through the school we
provide opportunities to take on roles of
responsibility and leadership, preparing
them for secondary school and beyond.
When the children reach Year 6, a
Pupil Leadership Team is elected through
a democratic system involving the whole
school. This includes electing a head boy,
head girl, deputies, and house captains.
Each pupil who puts themselves forward
for one of these roles has the opportunity
to give a presentation to the rest of the
school during the Hustings.
The Pupil Leadership Team acts as
role models for the younger children and
are actively involved in school life. It is all
great experience which helps them grow
their confidence, leadership skills, and
empathy and kindness towards others.
Children lower down the school are also
given the opportunity to represent the
views of their peers. The School Council
is made up of the head boy and head girl
with elected pupils from Form 1 to Form
6. They meet once a week to discuss
ideas for improvements and this is then
fed back to the Headmistress.
When it boils down to levels of
“It’s good that there is a trusted
adult to talk to in private if we
need to.” - Georgia Y6
“It’s not just the teachers who make
decisions, the class views are also
taken into account” – George Y4
confidence to speak out, we are all
different and some children find it hard
to find their voice in a crowd. We listen
to everyone – especially those who need
help – and have a dedicated member of
staff whose responsibility it is to provide
both pastoral and emotional literacy
(ELSA) support for children. This trusted
adult is trained to listen to a child’s
problems or concerns, help them develop
their emotional understanding of the
situation, and find appropriate coping
skills for many of life’s challenges.
Book a tour with the Headmistress or
attend an open day by emailing
registrar@hildenoaks.co.uk, call
01732 353941 or visit hildenoaks.co.uk
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