Well, I thought the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 was just amazing! What a tour de force – a visual and musical retelling of British history from before the industrial revolution to today, reminding us all of Britain’s contribution to world history, while avoiding jingoism and one-up-manship. The staging was magnificent, the inclusion (of patients, …
July 2012 archive
Jul 25
An Olympian responsibility: Taking the opportunity to celebrate female shapes
An article in Monday’s Daily Mail reported the latest in a series of research studies on body image and body confidence in young people, and the results were unsurprising. This particular study, of 31,354 boys and girls aged 10-15, conducted by the Schools Health Education Unit, added to the increasingly loud alarm bells ringing about …
Jul 22
The eighth habit
Stephen Covey’s death last week has sparked – quite rightly – a flurry of accolades for a man who has been described as a pioneer in the genre of self-help literature which aims to enable people to lead their best lives. His 1989 bestseller, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, subtitled ‘Powerful Lessons in …
Jul 19
Picnic at Hanging Rock: why it is important for educators to keep reading
I recently read Picnic at Hanging Rock for the first time; I did so because it was the subject of a fabulous production at my new school, Ascham, in Sydney Australia. Although I could only admire the production from afar, the pictures and reviews were fantastic, and I congratulate the girls on what was clearly …
Jul 16
What success really means for our young people – and us
Although term ended over a week ago, and it was a week before that that we celebrated our great Founders’ Day at school, I find myself still reflecting deeply on the day. Partly this is because it was my tenth and last at St Mary’s Calne, and so was very special indeed, but more importantly, it …
Jul 13
Biography, change and two inspiring women
Founders’ Day at school was a great affair, and this was in no small part down to the two guest speakers we had: the Very Reverend June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury, in the morning, in our annual church service, and Miss Amy Williams MBE, GB Gold Medal winner at the 2010 Winter Olympics, in the …
Jul 10
A lesson in Chinese culture and history – and a lesson in life
Well, my visit to China – to Shanghai and to Beijing as part of the annual symposium and conference of the World Leading Schools Association – was excellent. I met many outstanding educators and was able to share with them, and learn from them, in a way that only ever happens when people come together …