This week started poignantly in school with a minute’s silence after which a playing of the last post resounded around the school to mark Remembrance Day. Such moments are important and our students have had the opportunity to reflect upon the significance of remembrance and why we choose to mark it in this way.  The sacrifice of those who have given their lives for the freedoms which we enjoy is not lost upon our students and they reflected upon it in a mature, dignified way.

For me it has been a delight this week to celebrate the achievements of so many of our students in House assemblies as I have announced the Stars Awards for term 1. I have emphasised that these awards are fundamentally about the type of person which you are; they are about commitment and participation, hard work and always doing your best. It is fantastic to be able to highlight students all the way from Year 7 to Year 13 and in particular the way in which the older students are fantastic role models for the younger students.

Well done to all who have received certificates and badges from their tutors following the assemblies this week – there were too many for them all to be presented in the assemblies. Inevitably, there are students who did not receive awards this week. I have said to them that their time will come during this year and to keep working hard and being committed and the recognition will come.

There is a grace and a dignity inherent in celebrating the achievements of others. It doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes sit there thinking it should be us getting the award – that is natural and it means that we want to be recognised as part of our school community, to be celebrated and part of something. As Headteacher, I need to ensure that everyone eventually gets the badge and the certificate because I know that every student deserves to be celebrated and recognised for both their effort and their achievements – even if one or two of them do become rather self-conscious when their names are read out in assembly!