Epsom College leading from the front

  • 11 years ago
  • News
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Having just returned to the College from study leave after completing their AS level exams, L6th form students from all Epsom College 12 Houses took part in Leadership Training Days last week to prepare them for life in the U6th next year.

This training is seen as important for the development of individual students and their ability to work together within their own peer group and be effective role models in the House and school.

Following an in-house workshop run by Insights, Wilson House L6th girls undertook a variety of tasks and challenges last Thursday and Friday, including a hands-on exercise to help them identify and understand their own strengths, needs and expectations.

On Friday afternoon, the Wilson girls then faced a challenge that proved harder than they initially thought!

With the Work the Room event that evening in mind, two groups were tasked with purchasing an entire outfit for a professional business drinks evening in only 90 minutes.

The catch was that the teams did not have the same amount to spend, with one having double the amount of the other.

Each team had to choose the candidate for the opposing team who would model the outfit at Wilson roll call that evening for the rest of the House to judge the winner.

A frenetic shopping expedition took place, observed by Housemistress, Kirsty Tod, and Wilson Tutor and Bursar, Sarah Teasdale, where the girls had to compromise and negotiate to find the right outfit.

The final ensembles came in at £79.96 for Team 1 and £38.00 for Team 2, who proved to be the eventual winners.

By scouring sale rails and charity shops, the winning team proved that you can buy an entire outfit of dress, jacket, Epsom Collegeshoes, belt and jewellery for under £40.

Meanwhile, L6th girls in Rosebery devised tea stands on Friday, sourcing materials in the morning and coming up with their business plans. After a Pizza Express lunch, the girls split up to purchase food and decorations for the afternoon.

One group organised a Tiki Bar, serving juice and tropical sweets, whilst another, aptly named Beach Bods, offered treats that were designed to add weight.

A third group, made up of, Lydia Shiels, Lauren O'Donnell, and Jodie Koep, organised a Waffle Bar that earned the most money (£31) and delighted the junior pupil customers. Overall, the girls made a profit of £75, which will be going towards the College's nominated charities.

In Crawfurd House, the L6th form girls took part in Ice breaker – a Winter Survival Exercise.

Working in two teams, the girls had to decide which items they would salvage after being stranded following a plane crash in Canada in mid-January, showing distinctive leadership qualities and debating skills in the process.

The girls then took part in assertiveness training and a "personal effectiveness" workshop with Business Coach Kirsty Lewis from the company BluTortoise.

They completed an on-line profile about their personalities and learned to flex their behaviour depending on who they are dealing with.

Elsewhere, L6th form boys in Robinson went on a treasure hunt to London, where they searched for clues in Fleet Street and the Inns of Court in groups of five. They finished the day with a dinner at Pizza Express in Epsom.

Also travelling to London, the Holman L6th, accompanied by Housemaster Ian Holiday and resident tutor David Wilkinson, completed a treasure hunt in the Covent Garden area.

The route had to be worked out by solving a succession of cryptic clues, and en route the groups had to solve 10 photo challenge clues and 20 observation questions.

Amongst the other Houses, boys in Carr, Propert, Fayrer, Forest and Granville all enjoyed a visit to Arena Pursuits, a team-building and outdoor pursuit centre in Flimwell, East Sussex. 

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