Leadership resources

Teachers - have you ever found yourself yelling "everyone get in a circle!" and spending 15 minutes ushering your students out of a misshapen oblong shape so that everyone can see you and hear your instructions? In today's Leadership Toolkit video we're sharing a simple hack to get a large group into a circle and listening quickly and effectively. It's called "Velcro Elbows". Intrigued?

Michael Walter breaks down public speaking into four key stages: Preparation, Practice, Presentation, and Performance. Drawing from personal stories, including an awkward camp chant and a strategic pre-conference haircut, he offers practical advice on how to craft your content, build confidence, manage nerves, and connect with your audience. Whether you’re a student leader, teacher, or facilitator, these tips will help you feel more emotionally ready to speak in public.

A blog post detailing physical team-building games to energise students and foster teamwork. Games are followed by debriefs to connect with teamwork in projects.

This guide offers strategies for student leaders to foster multicultural inclusion within schools.

This blog offers a practical and thoughtful response to a big question in Australian education right now: how can we develop student leadership in a system increasingly shaped by explicit instruction? Drawing on Yellow Arrow’s own leadership programs, the article outlines five ways to blend hands-on, student-led learning with structured teaching. From modelling leadership in real time to scaffolding reflective practice and gradually building student independence, it’s packed with examples you can apply in your own school. A great resource for educators wanting to strike the right balance between clarity and creativity in their leadership initiatives.

Stepping into a student leadership role is exciting, but it can also be a little daunting. In this blog post, Felicity Neeson shares advice gathered from past student leaders, weaving in powerful reflections about authenticity, teamwork, kindness, and resilience. The message is clear: you don’t need to have all the answers, and you don’t even need a badge to lead. Whether you're just starting out or supporting student leaders in your school, this blog is full of wisdom to guide the journey.

Michael Walter explores Daniel Goleman’s six leadership styles, visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding, and how they apply in the context of student leadership. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all model, the article encourages educators to help students understand when and how to adapt each style. From building positive team culture to navigating urgent situations, this blog offers practical guidance for supporting student leaders to lead with purpose, flexibility, and empathy. A valuable resource for any teacher or school aiming to grow well-rounded, capable leaders.

This quick quiz helps students reflect on their leadership strengths and areas for growth, drawing on research-backed frameworks like the Big Five Personality Traits, Emotional Intelligence, and Transformational Leadership. It's a great tool for self-awareness and discussion, perfect for classrooms or student leadership programs. No data is stored, and it's designed purely for personal development.

A collection of free resources from ESU promoting speech and debate in schools. Covers reasoning with evidence, listening and responding, expressive delivery, and organising ideas.

Playmeo is a powerful online platform packed with hundreds of group games, icebreakers, and team-building activities that are perfect for developing student leadership. Its resources are designed to help young people build trust, strengthen communication, and step into leadership roles through experiential learning. Whether you're running a workshop or embedding leadership skills into regular class time, Playmeo makes it easy to create engaging, inclusive experiences that foster initiative, collaboration, and confidence in your student leaders.