Sixty-five pupil leaders from 15 schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, alongside representatives from independent schools from across Scotland, gathered at Robert Gordon's College for a Pupil Leadership Conference

Mr Hardie, Head of Sixth Form, said: “It was inspiring to see so many young people come together to reflect on what leadership means to them and the impact they can make within their schools. Leadership is about much more than holding a position; it’s about listening, learning from others and having the confidence to turn ideas into action. We hope the conference gives attendees the opportunity to develop these skills, build connections with other young leaders and think about how their experiences today can shape them for the future.”

The conference programme featured sessions on networking and using social media as a professional tool, alongside opportunities for pupils to share ideas and experiences of pupil leadership across different schools. A panel discussion with former RGC School Captains offered further insight into the realities and rewards of leadership. 

Pupils all ages across the College shared their take on what they think makes a strong Pupil Leader. Qualities that came up the most were Creating a welcoming environment, Being Confident, Ensuring Kindness and Respect, and having Exceptional Leadership skills. Almost every pupil that shared their thoughts said Pupil Leaders should be easy to talk to and make sure everyone's voices are heard.

There was also plenty of encouragement to continue learning, with recommendations for further reading, listening and exploring leadership beyond the conference.

The day finished with an inspirational keynote and Q&A with multiple world-record holder Mark Beaumont, who shared insights from his experiences and reflected on the importance of effective leadership, including the importance of servant leadership.

Oran, RGC School Captain, said: "From my position as a student leader at RGC, our first Pupil Leadership Conference was a resounding success. In particular, the talk about networking was incredibly valuable, and when we were given opportunities to network in our breakout sessions later in the day, there was lots of exchanging of contact details and valuable insights into how pupil leadership functions in other schools. I learned a lot throughout the day from the speakers, former school captains’ panel, and other pupils. This conference will definitely stand me in good stead for the year ahead and any further leadership positions I may hold.”

Gordonian Student Leader Olivia, added: “The RGC Pupil Leadership Conference 2026 was a great event which allowed everyone in attendance to learn from one another and develop our individual leadership skills. A highlight of the day was the keynote speech from Mark Beaumont. Hearing Mark’s stories and experiences allowed everyone to understand that leadership does not always mean taking control, but instead working effectively as part of a team and having the quiet confidence to trust those around you. His experiences demonstrated the importance of adapting your leadership style to different situations and recognising that everyone has a valuable role to play within a team. The conference gave me the opportunity to reflect on my own approach to leadership and consider how I can continue to develop as a leader.”

Tammy, Vice Captain, highlighted: “I can say it was a huge honour to be a part of the first Robert Gordon’s College pupil leadership conference. The conference as a whole was a huge success, where everyone in the room felt inspired and seen, whether that be by the former school captain panel, Mark Beaumont, the teachers and, ultimately, each other. Having the chance to speak with like-minded people and discuss the similarities and differences in how pupil leadership runs in other schools was incredibly valuable. It was also heartwarming to see how, throughout the day, our networking skills that we had learnt in a talk earlier were getting put into practice, with many of us exchanging contact details and already planning the next meet up.”

Fellow Vice Captain Rory commented: “I feel proud to have been a part of Robert Gordon’s College’s first pupil leadership conference, where I got the opportunity to not just learn about networking but to put these skills into practice. I was also inspired by World Leading Cyclist Mark Beaumont, who gave us insight into the planning, commitment and leadership required to undergo such a feat. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many different and like-minded people, and look forward to similar conferences in the future.”

Most importantly, the conference provided a space for young leaders from different schools to connect, learn from one another and leave with new ideas about what they can achieve through their leadership this year and beyond.