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Global Leadership

Global Leadership for 14-17 year olds

Exploring how vision, strategy and influence shape our world

This two-week programme is crafted to give students the knowledge and confidence to analyse international systems and leadership decisions, enabling them to engage with global issues from a well-informed, strategic viewpoint. The course also guides students on how to communicate their ideas and influence others through leadership, diplomacy and creative collaboration.

This programme is perfect for curious, motivated young people who take initiative, think broadly and also thrive when working with others in dynamic, multicultural teams.

Our learning

Topics include:

Global Frameworks: Step into the role of a delegate at a simulated international summit. Students identify global challenges, debate solutions, and draft a “Charter for Tomorrow” — a set of principles addressing real-world issues such as climate, peace, and cooperation.

Leadership in Action: Learn how diplomacy and negotiation shape decisions between nations. Through role-play and strategy exercises, students practise balancing competing interests, building consensus, and presenting clear, persuasive solutions.

Fieldwork Research: Teams carry out informal surveys and discussions with peers, gathering perspectives on sustainability, equality, and collaboration to inform their policy proposals.

SPECIAL FEATURE
A staged summit showcase where students present their final Charter for Tomorrow, taking the stage as delegates in a group assembly.

Our activities

In addition to the academic enrichment events on all courses, Earlscliffe offers a balance of sports, cultural events, arts and crafts, fun games, walks and competitions, so there is something for everyone on the programme. Our staff organise and supervise all these activities after the day’s lessons have finished.

Students play volleyball, basketball, badminton, billiards and table tennis on-site. Our supervised afternoon and evening activities include karaoke nights; football; softball; ‘Earlscliffe’s Got Talent’; swimming; house competitions; themed disco nights; ‘Minute To Win It”; tennis; ‘Scavenger Hunt’; rounders; ‘Jeux sans Frontières’; ‘Bake Off’; and quiz nights, to name just a few.

Regular daytime and evening beach trips are a popular part of the week’s activities.

We are fortunate to be close to Folkestone’s town centre and its shops, the artistic Creative Quarter and the beach, all of which offer our students moments of discovery and relaxation.

We use the excellent facilities provided at the Three Hills and Folkestone sports centres, not to mention the new multi-storey skate park!

Cultural visits

Students at Earlscliffe can look forward to a varied excursion schedule, with full-day trips every Tuesday and Friday and evening outings that might include bowling, laser tag, or the cinema.

Our programme brings new experiences each week — from exploring Canterbury and its famous cathedral to enjoying a river cruise, ice skating, a day at Bluewater shopping centre, or visits to Margate and Dreamland.

Students have the chance to take the high-speed train to London alongside our staff. Past excursions have included visits to major landmarks such as the London Eye, Tower of London, British Museum, London Dungeons, and Natural History Museum.

Trip destinations are reviewed annually to keep the programme fresh and enriching. During excursions, students enjoy some supervised free time in small groups to explore independently.

Rooms and meals

Most rooms are spacious single or twin rooms – all rooms are en-suite with WC, basin and shower. We also have a small number of triple rooms available. All rooms are Wi-Fi connected. The high standard of accommodation is attractive to today’s students, and all the more so given the beautiful Victorian façade of the buildings in which it sits.

Earlscliffe is an ‘in-town’ campus of buildings meaning that students can easily walk between classes, meals, accommodation and activities. (always supervised)

Meals are taken in the college dining room and prepared by our own chef and team. Meals are varied and often international, such as Chinese, Mexican or Indian, but not forgetting the occasional British fish and chips!

Any student’s special dietary needs can be catered for at special request, i.e. vegetarian, gluten-free etc. Students are given packed meals on day trips.

Optional extras

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Learn the basic skills needed to be competent at balancing, paddling, turning and stopping as well as touring the Folkestone Harbour area and Sunny Sands bay.

Paintball

Have fun in the forest dodging your opponents and trying to plant the flag for your team (all safety equipment is provided and must be worn at all times).

Musical Trip – Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ in London’s West End

Most children will have seen the movie and be familiar with Elton John’s music which makes the experience all the more fulfilling and easy to understand.

Warner Bros Harry Potter Tour

For Harry Potter fans, why not enjoy a day out at this popular attraction to Warner Bros Studios. You will be able to see many of the sets, props and costumes from the most successful film series of all the time: the Great Hall; Dumbledore’s office; the shops in Diagon Alley; see Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle; the Gryffindor common room, Hagrid’s hut and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic. Have a refreshing Butterbeer in the studio café to finish your magical afternoon!