Today, a group of our Year 9 students took part in the first session of the Set For Success Youth Leadership Programme, an exciting new opportunity funded by the Wimbledon Foundation, delivered in partnership with Barclays and the Youth Sport Trust.
Using the power of sport, Set For Success aims to help young people improve their engagement at school, develop leadership and life skills, and build confidence, aspirations, and self-esteem.
Over the course of the programme, participants will also plan and deliver a social action project designed to make a positive difference within their school or local community.
The morning began with a classroom-based session where students were introduced to the aims of the Set For Success programme, met their Athlete Mentor, Charlotte Hartley, and began exploring their workbooks.
Charlotte, a former international hockey player, will be supporting and inspiring our students throughout the programme.
During this first session, Charlotte shared her personal journey in sport, speaking candidly about the challenges she faced growing up. She described feeling ‘different’, experiencing bullying, and coping with stress-induced alopecia in primary school.
Her openness and resilience had a powerful impact on our students, who listened with great empathy and engaged thoughtfully in the discussion.
Afterwards, they moved into the sports hall for a series of energetic team-building activities, focusing on communication, collaboration, and trust. One highlight was a lively mini game of “Traitors”, which sparked some brilliant teamwork and thought-provoking conversations.
Throughout the morning, our students demonstrated enthusiasm, maturity, and a real sense of responsibility. Many commented on how much they enjoyed the activities and how inspired they felt after hearing Charlotte’s story.
As the year progresses, the group will continue to develop their leadership and professional skills, with the opportunity to achieve both the Access to Professional Skills Award and the Level 1 Professional Skills Qualification.
The programme will culminate in an Empowerment Event later in the academic year, a special celebration where young people from across the region will come together in an inspiring venue to mark their achievements and connect with local employers.
Both students and staff at The Radclyffe School are looking forward to seeing how the Set For Success journey unfolds and to watching our young leaders grow in confidence and ambition over the months ahead.
