Student Leadership at Bishops

In 2008 Bishops moved from a prefect system of student leadership to one which involves all the grade 12 boys in the College operating within portfolios.

The College still has a Head Boy and each House has a Head  of House. The latter is encouraged to act as captain of their team of matric leaders within the House and College. The Head Boy and Heads of Houses thus guide their teams of Matrics and playing a key role in the development of the broader school culture. The Heads of Houses are each assisted and supported by a Deputy Head of House.

The Head Boy, or Head of School, has two Deputy Head Boys with whom he works closely. Generally, one is a boarder (Deputy Head of Boarders) and one is a day boy (Deputy Head of Day Boys), although this is not always the case and are also Heads of their own Houses. We try to have representation from both dayboys and boarders in our leadership team.   The three Heads of School, as well as the Chairman of the SRF, are the School’s Student Executive and meet regularly with the Principal and Deputy Head (Pastoral), as do all the Heads of Houses.

There are 8 houses at Bishops (3 Boarding and 5 Day boys). In effect, Bishops’ Senior Matric Leadership team thus consists of 17 boys – all Heads and Deputy Heads of Houses and the Head Boy.

The Bishops leadership philosophy is centred around the belief that every Matric, and ultimately every boy, at Bishops, is capable of leading in various capacities. Every Matric boy is responsible for a certain portfolio within his house, as well as mentoring a Grade 8 boy. Our approach is grounded in the idea that leadership is not a one-size-fits-all concept but rather something that can be nurtured in diverse forms.

What we believe about leaders and leadership:

1. All individuals have some leadership potential.
2. Certain personality traits predispose some individuals to assuming leadership positions. Not all people are  equally gifted.
3. Specific knowledge, experience and expertise allow some individuals to emerge as leaders in specific situations; equally, in different situations different individuals may come to the fore as leaders.
4. Leadership skills can be learnt and developed and therefore all individuals can demonstrate more effective leadership with training, experience, coaching and personal reflection.
5. Leadership involves both inspiring followers (influencing others) and achieving a task (accomplishing a goal).
6. Leadership involves mentoring and being mentored.
7. Leadership involves service.
8. Leadership should be exercised in a way which is consistent with the values which Bishops holds dear. Indeed leaders are custodians of these values.
9. Leaders should uphold the values and ethos of the school and strive to support the school management structures both within the school itself and the House system.

Twice a year the Matric boys go through an appraisal process which is used both to consider how they are doing and encourage and guide them. After the second of these the House staff decide upon leadership awards against certain criteria.

The new system has had a profound effect on the tone of the College as a result of a more united and caring matric group each year. Over the last few years over 90% of the boys have achieved the criteria to receive an award for leadership (with about 30% at distinction level) which points to a pleasing degree of participation by most boys.

Student Leadership Team for 2025