In association with Sports Leadership UK, St Andrews International School Bangkok launched our Sports Leaders Programme in Term 2 of this academic year. The vision? To build life skills and confidence in our youth. In just a few months, the programme has seen fantastic growth, with participating students growing in confidence and making a positive impact to their younger peers.
Launched as an ECA (Extra-curricular Activity) in Term 2 of the Academic Year 2023/24, the Sports Leaders Programme at St Andrews gives students the opportunity to step into a leadership role within our own community. The programme offers three levels of qualification, each designed to help students develop essential life skills.
Translating to personal and professional competency, Sports Leaders follows a research-based Skills Framework to help learners develop five employability skills: Teamwork; Communication; Problem-solving; Self-belief; and Self-Management.
Level 1 is for students in Years 9 and 10, requiring a total of 31 hours of volunteering and coaching. Upon completion, students receive their certification and 3 academic credits.
For students in Year 12, Level 2 involves 48 hours of volunteering and coaching with a focus on leadership skills. Successful participants receive their certification and 5 academic credits.
Intended for students in Year 13, Level 3 requires 122 hours of volunteer coaching. This results in 13 academic credits and an additional 16 UCAS points, enhancing students' college admissions profiles.
The Sports Leaders programme culminates in Year 13 students organising a school-wide event, such as Sports Day or Inter-House Competitions. This not only showcases their leadership skills but also provides practical experience in event management.
Recently, our Year 8 students received their Young Leaders Award after weeks of developing key leadership skills in areas like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Their dedication was honoured in PE class, where they received certificates (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and badges corresponding to their level of leadership. Well done, young leaders!
In the future, Sports Leaders will also work in parallel with the BTEC (Business & Technology Education Council) and DofE (Duke of Edinborough) programmes we run at St Andrews, allowing us to carve further leadership pathways for students.
The Sports Leaders Programme at St Andrews Bangkok not only shapes future leaders but also equips our students with valuable skills for their academic and professional journey. We are immensely proud of the progress our students have made and look forward to witnessing their continued growth.
On 14 January 2024, St Andrews International School Bangkok hosted our first-ever Flames Open Chess Tournament at the Primary Campus. Nearly 100 children competed from St Andrews Bangkok, other schools, and Chess Academies.
