Chinese whispers crossing the canyon at RAFC Cranwell

On Wednesday 22nd March, students from Priory Witham Academy visited RAFC Cranwell to complete another part of their Level 2 Leadership programme.

The students were asked to take part in an exercise to practice their communication skills whilst leading various challenging tasks. They began with a basic challenge of Chinese whispers. The students had to form a line and pass a message. The person at the end of the line had to draw what they had heard in the message. The students were only allowed to say the message once. This was then expanded into a longer line of people and a more detailed drawing. Despite some very hilarious drawings that had everyone questioning what exactly they had drawn, the students successfully completed the task.

We then developed this into a focussed leadership task. The student that was leading the task had to describe a full drawing to the rest of the group. The group could not see the drawing and the leader could not tell them what it was they were drawing. The group were allowed to ask as many questions as they liked, however the task had a very short and strict time limit. The students loved this creative task, one said “It was great fun to lead this task, it really put into practice the importance of clear and essential information when you’re communicating as a leader.”

We then developed these communication and leadership skills even further into a practical challenge with MTC kit – crossing the canyon! The leader had to get all the students safely across from one side to the other using stepping stones and poles. However, to make things more difficult, some of the group were blindfolded and they all had to cross together. It was really great to watch the skills they had learnt earlier being put into practice.

In the afternoon, the students were outside for low ropes and a session led by instructors from the Officer Training School. The students showed extremely good determination and resilience to take part and finish the task, despite the weather. Well done to them.