Play, Lead, Inspire: Exploring Student Leadership at DUCKS

At Dulwich College Beijing, student leadership is an integral part of the student journey across the College and comes in many forms and shapes. It allows students to be engaged in the school community by raising their voices and positively contributing to matters they consider meaningful for their school.

At DUCKS, we recognise that safe risk-taking connects the different parts of the brain that promote social, emotional, and academic achievement. As a result of safe risk-taking, children gain self-confidence and problem-solving skills. Children can then apply these skills to new situations, such as sharing their thoughts and ideas with others, even if they are unsure, reaching out to new friendship groups or putting themselves forward for leadership positions. This offers our students opportunities to develop student agency, even from a young age.

The DUCKS School Council

The DUCKS School Council is responsible for conveying the voice of their peers and ensuring that their school strives to be better for them, their community, and the environment. The Student Council comprises one representative per class from Years 1 and 2. Representatives of the DUCKS Student Council echo the voice of their respective classmates. They communicate potential issues, problems, and ideas to the council and vice versa. Consequently, representatives and School Council both give and receive feedback from the class on School Council initiatives. They may also be responsible for driving an investigation, an interview, or a survey to undertake within their class. All students are welcome to apply for the role of class representative. Each candidate has to prepare a speech and deliver it to their class on voting day. Their classmates will then elect their representative, sometimes resulting in a tie. Eleven representatives are currently sitting at the DUCKS School Council.

Playground Pals

Playground Pals take on a special leadership role during playtimes. They help lead games, support others in using equipment safely, and make sure everyone feels included and has someone to play with.

Students in Year 1 and Year 2 are invited to apply by submitting a short video explaining why they would make a great Playground Pal and how they think the Dulwich Values can help make playtimes positive for everyone.

This role is a wonderful opportunity for students to show responsibility, teamwork, and independence, while helping to create a fun, safe, and welcoming playground environment for all.

House Captains

The House system allows students to demonstrate responsibility by taking ownership of their behaviour and attitude by earning House Points. Each academic year sees the appointment of two Year 2 House captains per House, totalling a team of ten House captains who would potentially continue to grow as Senior School Heads of House.

House captains play a vital role in supporting the smooth operation of the House system at DUCKS. Their key responsibilities include counting and recording House Points across the school, helping to ensure fairness while building their skills in organisation and attention to detail. They also act as liaisons between staff and students—sharing important messages, explaining upcoming events, and gathering feedback—strengthening communication and fostering a sense of community.

In addition, House captains are positive role models who lead by example, demonstrating respectful behaviour, enthusiasm, and teamwork. They often assist in planning and running House events such as competitions and treat days, helping to create meaningful experiences for their peers. These responsibilities not only contribute to the school environment but also help captains grow in confidence, leadership, and responsibility.

DUCKS Sustainability Squad

The DUCKS Sustainability Squad is an inspiring team of Year 1 and 2 students who commit to making DCB DUCKS more eco-friendly through simple and impactful actions. Together, they champion a greener future for both their school and the wider community.

As part of their mission, students develop empathy for nature and the planet, cultivating a sense of responsibility towards the environment. Some of their roles and responsibilities include:

• Monitoring and Minimising Power Usage by tracking energy consumption and promoting habits that reduce power usage across the school.
• Overseeing Waste Sorting and Recycling by managing waste, ensuring proper sorting and recycling of materials, including food waste, to minimise environmental impact.
• Supporting their peers by guiding and mentors peer students, helping them understand eco-friendly practices and encouraging their participation in sustainability efforts.
• Voice in Sustainability Projects: Members contribute their ideas and insights on future sustainability projects at DUCKS and throughout the College.
• Celebrating Sustainable Classes: The squad leads initiatives to recognise and celebrate classes that demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainability during assemblies.

By working together, the DUCKS Sustainability Squad inspires their peers and the community to embrace environmentally friendly practices, fostering a culture of sustainability at DCB DUCKS!

Tech Champions

Our Tech Champions in Years 1 and 2 are paving the way for young learners to become confident digital leaders. These enthusiastic students are pioneers of technology in their year group, meeting during their play time to develop essential STEM skills. These lessons help in supporting their peers during tech-integrated lessons. From learning to navigate new apps to demonstrating tools for their classmates, our Tech Champions are building confidence and leadership. Recently, they’ve been exploring 3D modeling, using creativity and problem-solving to design charming rabbits and chicks. Through play and purpose, they are growing into capable creators ready to shape their digital futures.

At DUCKS, student leadership is not just a role—it's a journey. Whether they’re championing sustainability, guiding their peers during playtime, embracing digital innovation, or representing their classmates, our young learners are given the space, support, and encouragement to grow into confident, compassionate, and capable leaders. Through opportunities big and small, our students learn that their voices matter, their actions have impact, and leadership can start at any age. At Dulwich College Beijing, we are proud to inspire the leaders of tomorrow—one courageous step, thoughtful idea, and playful moment at a time.

This article was first published in 2023 and was updated on 22 April, 2025.