Blake Walker, Brodie Taylor, Amy Fry and Daniel Brooks on leadership at Gloucester High School

LEADERSHIP is not simply about standing in front of an assembly or wearing a captain’s badge.

For Gloucester High School’s outgoing captains, Blake Walker and Brodie Taylor, the past year has taught them that much of leadership comes down to something less visible: listening.

As they prepare to hand the role to incoming captains Amy Fry and Daniel Brooks, the four share similar ideas about good leadership.

For Blake, being captain has meant “reflecting the student voice and being a bridge between staff and students”, as well as representing the school in the wider community.

“It’s not just about being a leader; it’s about encouraging and hearing what others have to say,” he said.

“It’s not about what a certain individual thinks; it’s about what the whole school vision is.”

Brodie reached a similar conclusion.

“Communication is not just speaking; it’s listening,” he said.

“It’s understanding what the people in the school have going on, what they want to know, what they think is going on, and bridging those gaps.”

Both said they were particularly proud of their work with younger students.

Brodie said building connections with younger students helped them feel more comfortable approaching school leaders and staff.

Blake has spent the past six months tutoring younger students in mathematics.

Amy hopes to build on that by introducing a student-based tutoring program connecting senior and younger students.

“It’s hard for younger students to ask teachers for one-on-one help, so setting them up with another student makes it a bit more relatable and a bit more accessible,” she said.

For Amy, empathy will be central to her captaincy.

“There’s no point leading someone if you’re disconnected from what they need,” she said.

She nominated empathy, communication and approachability as three of the most important qualities of a leader.

Daniel also wants students to see their captains as approachable.

“Good leadership means genuinely caring about people and seeking to understand them better,” he said.

He hopes to introduce a captain’s award recognising students who demonstrate Gloucester High’s CARE values – care, achievement, respect, effort and responsibility.

As they hand over the role, the outgoing captains also have some advice.

Blake encouraged Amy and Daniel to treat the captaincy as a journey.

“Learn every day and listen to students and staff,” he advised.

Brodie’s message was even more succinct.

“Listen far more than you talk,” he said.

Brodie reminded the incoming captains that their responsibility extends beyond school.

“The badge is not just worn during school hours,” he said.

“It’s something you wear every single day – at school, online and in the community.”

Amy said she hopes students will remember the positive contribution she and Daniel make, while Daniel hopes theirs will be remembered as a year of “confidence, positive attitudes and inclusivity”.

For Gloucester High’s outgoing and incoming captains, the leadership lesson is already clear: the badge may identify the leader, but listening, empathy and action give it meaning.

By Sonja DUNCAN