Leadership Likes: Mrs Webb

So much more than a Fashion Show!

The Croydon High Sixth Form Charity Fashion Show is a staple of the school calendar and has been for many, many years. In fact, a recent visitor to the school, who was touring the Junior School but came for a whistle-stop visit to the Seniors, noticed the catwalk was up in the Hall and coyly remarked that, as a former pupil at Croydon High herself, she had met her husband to be at the Sixth Form Fashion Show!

Managed and masterminded by our inspiring Head Girl Team (Yasmin, Eleanor, Varjitha and Amelia), the Fashion Show is an outstanding example of the energy and enthusiasm our pupils bring to everything they do. The originality and creativity of each catwalk, each dance routine and every musical contribution is testament to their determination to deliver a highly entertaining and enterprising event to our community.

It is also a glorious opportunity for us to celebrate the diversity of culture within our school community. Highlights of the event are always the breathtakingly beautiful Bollywood and Afghan dances, the culture catwalk and, this year especially, Aaravi and Gaji’s Indian classical fusion dance. It is so uplifting to see pupils representing some of our different cultures, leading and teaching their peers about the complexities and the significance of these traditional dances. The Whitgift boys deserve a special mention for their involvement here; they looked magnificent!

And at the forefront of all this is our pupils’ understanding of the opportunity they have to affect positive change. Eloise and Jess, our Charity Prefects, spoke eloquently about the outstanding work of Great Ormond Street Hospital and SmartWorks, the charities which will benefit from our Fashion Show this year. GOSH is an organisation that provides such wonderful support and one that has a personal connection with a family in the school, which always makes the fundraising feel so much more personal. SmartWorks, a local charity which offers practical support to women entering the workplace, was introduced to our school at last year’s National Council for Young Women’s Conference, created and delivered by our Conference and Womens’ prefects, Amy and Sofia, which clearly captured the hearts of our pupils. Having spoken to our sixth formers, their understanding of these charities’ impact and their desire to support them drives their determination to make the event the outstanding success it has always been.  

It also leaves a legacy for our younger pupils. Hearing various corridor conversations this week from pupils in Years 10 and 11 about “when we run the fashion show, our theme could be….” and “wouldn’t it be brilliant to have a teacher’s catwalk” demonstrates how inspiring our sixth form pupils are to the lower years, something they often forget as they make the journey upstairs to the Sixth Form common room. 

Our sixth formers were quick to share with me their reflections on the event this week, and are maturely analysing the outcomes. From running large scale rehearsals with their peers, organising and managing the boundless energy of the boys from Whitgift, running the backstage area, designing and operating lighting and sound and liaising with a host of teachers in support of the event, these are all unique opportunities to gain valuable management experience and to hone the essential skills they are developing throughout their time in Sixth Form.

And as always, our staff come out in force in support of the efforts of our pupils. Mrs Beck (and Mr Beck!) running front-of-house, Mr Mooney advising on technical issues, the site team building the stage and all those supervising backstage, co-ordinated by Mrs Gower, remind us of how our community always comes together at these times. 

Many of our sixth formers commented on how the stress experienced in the lead up to the event, was overshadowed by the thrill of the outcome! As someone who loves “the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd” myself, I can relate!  When each night the performers had in excess of 200 audience members cheering, whooping and clapping them from the opening bars of music to the closing party dance of the finale, it certainly makes it all worthwhile!

Mrs Webb

Assistant Head (co-curricular)