Empowering Young Leaders 

Sponsored by Sports Directory

Awarded for empowering young people to take on leadership roles. It recognises projects that have provided opportunities for students, at any age or stage, but especially those from underrepresented groups, to develop confidence, responsibility and essential life skills by co-designing, leading, organising or delivering sports and physical activities for their peers, their school or in their community. 

Finalists

WINNER

Abbey School, Rotherham 

Abbey School supports 220 pupils with moderate learning difficulties, as well as social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other complex needs. The school ensures leadership is open to all pupils, including those with the most complex needs, to give every pupil the chance to develop confidence, independence and life skills. 

Leadership starts in the classroom, where every pupil aged 6 to 19 takes on a Lion-Leader role. These roles include helping to organise breakfast, checking equipment, and leading physical education (PE) or sensory circuit activities. Pupils then move on to “Steam Street”, Abbey’s school jobs programme. At a jobs fair, pupils apply and interview for roles, manage responsibilities, and earn house points as payment. Pupils also experience real consequences, such as being “sacked”, which helps them build resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence. 

Abbey School also runs inclusive sports events where pupils organise and lead activities. Adults are only involved in safety, allowing pupils to learn through experience and teamwork. Rather than adults stepping in to help pupils avoid failure, they are encouraged to make those mistakes and learn from what doesn’t work. Leadership opportunities grow further through mentoring younger pupils, collaborating with other schools. This also includes co-delivering the Trust’s sports day with peers from other schools, as well as attending and leading preparation sessions to build confidence 

The programme has expanded to include community leadership roles including Shooting Star Leaders and Girls Happiness Leaders. This includes planning and delivering a fully inclusive active Winter Wonderland event attended by over 400 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and families from the wider community.   

Nationally, the highest employment rate for adults who attended similar schools is just 7%. Abbey’s leadership programme aims to change this, and thanks to these opportunities, all Abbey School leavers move on to further education, training, or employment, showing how leadership skills can create real-life pathways and brighter futures. 

Through their work with the Youth Sport Trust on this leadership programme, it has allowed their Young Leaders with a stage to be heard, seen and valued. They have inspired other children, as well as school staff and families of children with additional needs, to believe they too can lead and make a difference.  

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Little Common School, East Sussex 

Little Common School is a large primary school in Bexhill, East Sussex, and part of the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust. Katie Chapman, the school’s Executive Physical Education (PE) Lead and a Lead PE Catalyst for the Youth Sport Trust, led an innovative project to empower pupils as leaders in physical activity. 

Through a test-and-learn initiative with Youth Sport Trust, the school used the Youth Voice Toolkit to involve pupils in co-designing activities for those who were less active. Although 87% of pupils were engaged in extra-curricular provision, tracking identified a group of inactive children. Pupils worked as co-designers, planning and testing their own lunchtime clubs, and inviting peers to join. This child-led approach sparked wider interest, with 30 additional pupils designing new clubs. By Term 3, ten pupil-led clubs ran weekly, and 40% of these pupils joined extra-curricular activities beyond lunchtime. 

The programme transformed lunchtimes into vibrant, inclusive spaces, and pupils were more motivated to participate. The co-designers also progressed to organising mini festivals and activity challenges. Staff received continual professional development (CPD), and templates and resources were developed to ensure the initiative continues annually. 

By term 6, 200 additional pupils were active, whole-school activity reached 96%, and Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in all areas. The co-designers also progressed to organising mini festivals and activity challenges. Behaviour improved at lunchtimes, with fewer incidents and more positive play observed. Moving forward, the school also hopes to use this programme to support pupils where school attendance is a barrier, helping them feel confident and connected within school. This ensures the model continues to address emerging needs. 

Little Common School has created a scalable, sustainable model that empowers young leaders, improves wellbeing, and strengthens inclusion. This work has been shared across the academy trust and even wider nationally, demonstrating the importance of prioritising Youth Voice and co-design in improving engagement and school culture. 

Full list of shortlisted entries:

  • Fit for Girls Young Volunteer Tutor team, Scotland 
  • Little Common School, East Sussex 
  • Haberdashers' Crayford Academy, Dartford 
  • Abbey School, Rotherham 
  • Manchester Communication Academy, Manchester 
  • Kingsbury High School, Brent 
  • Buckinghamshire Virtual School, Buckinghamshire 
  • The Grange School, Dorset