Many people assume there is a “hierarchy” within the student leadership team, and that the leaders of this team have the ability to decide and control everything. However, what we have learnt as Heads of College has shown us the exact opposite. Maintaining a coordinated and efficient prefect team requires clear communication, careful planning and precise execution.
Coming into this role at the end of Year 12, we had some prefects who were particularly close to us. One of the most difficult challenges was maintaining the fine line between friendship and prefectship: treating each prefect in the team equally and making decisions without bias. Some questioned our distribution of work and avoided duties at first. In response, we implemented the value of “prefects’ work, whole team’s work” and maintained it throughout the year.
Working collectively as a whole team through socials, school events and even daily duties significantly enhanced our efficiency, and the prefects were able to bond with one another quickly. The most notable difference was the change in work ethic: the team developed a sense of understanding for one another and soon began covering duties for others when schedules overlapped.
With a team full of proactive prefects, disagreements inevitably arise when ideas clash. We learnt that, as different sides bring their own perspectives, it is important to understand their intentions and take different approaches when resolving disagreements. Compromise became a huge part of the operation of the prefect team, not just between proposals, but also with time and effort as we juggled prefect responsibilities with our A-Level. As Heads of College, we learnt to be more considerate of our prefects when making decisions, lead by example during events and stay adaptable when things did not go according to plan.
Over the past year, we have experienced immense growth in our time management, organisation and public speaking abilities. However, the skill that connected all of them was communication, not just within the prefect team, but also with staff, peers and younger students, as we learnt to recognise their suggestions and address them. We hope to carry these valuable lessons forward and pass these skills on to the new prefect team, so that they can continue to strengthen Epsom.
Chao L. and Han X.
Heads of College