When it comes to building leadership capacity in students, Northern Beaches State High School has proved itself a solid training ground. 

Northern Beaches State High School has come a long way in eight years. The school’s student population has bloomed from 420 students to 870, and the school has established a reputation for excellence.

“I believe the best leaders are those who lead by example.”- David Hedlam, 2019 School Captain

“We call ourselves ‘the hidden gem of education’ out here,” says the school’s Principal, Robin Sprott. And that seems a fitting description. By way of academic achievement – which Robin emphasises is not the only marker of a school’s success but is certainly an important one – last year, Northern Beaches State High School celebrated three students achieving OP 1, the highest academic score a student can receive. On the community front, students have been heavily involved in initiatives like Hit the Hill (Northern Beaches State High School was an original sponsor), World’s Greatest Shave and the annual Northern Beaches Anti-Bully Festival.

“We have a great school and great community,” continues Robin. “As a school leadership team, we’ve been very deliberate in our actions in working with the community and our P&C to raise the school’s profile and raise our academic results.”

When it comes to leadership and teaching students the skills to lead today and into the future, Robin acknowledges the leadership team is a key influence for her students. “Part of teaching leadership skills is modelling,” explains Robin. “It’s doing our job really well and letting the students observe us doing our jobs well. It’s talking to students about what leadership is, what the role involves. It’s setting high standards for behaviour and expectations. It’s giving students opportunities to demonstrate leadership both in the school and in the community. Leadership isn’t just for the School Captains either, it’s at every level, in every field, throughout the school.” 

“To me, leadership is about giving your best and living out your values in all you do.” –  Claudia Slater, 2019 School Captain

At Northern Beaches SHS, there are many formal leadership roles for students – Year 12 School Captains, Student Council, Year 9 Junior Captains, and each grade has Year Level Captains. There are senior Academic Captains (aligned with the school’s esteemed iXL program and of course there are House Captains who work with the Sports Master to coordinate sports carnivals and extra activities during lunchbreaks. The reality is that the more opportunities provided to students to display leadership, the more their leadership skills will flourish. 

Northern Beaches State High School
principal@northernbeachesshs.eq.edu.au
p. 07 4751 7111
northernbeachesshs.eq.edu.au

2019 Student Leaders
(Left to right)
Sophie Hemming, Secretary School Council
Finlay Butler, Treasurer Student Council
Claudia Slater, School Captain
Makalah Jeffery, Vice President Student Council
David Hedlam, School Captain
Byron Ah-Wong, Year 9 Leader
Angus Heatlie, Year 9 Leader
Elena Reynolds, President Student Council