When the school was emerging from #lockdown, it was very evident that everyone’s ‘engines’ needed a metaphorical service, to check that all the moving parts were suitably free-running, that the ‘satnav’ switched on and the future direction of travel calibrated. At most of the following assemblies I ran at Senior Boys, and on the other sites as appropriate, I included the  hashtag “MakingHistoryEveryDay” and used the current achievements (of anyone, it must be said) to illustrate the point. And it worked. Creating aspiration is one of the key strengths headteachers need, yet often that staircase of hope does need some easy risers to get going. It’s also true that not every aspiration will be met, as my childhod ambition to play open-side flanker for England testifies!

During last week and this week, we’ve seen rainbows over the schools, a metaphor for the evidence in front of our eyes that, despite the rain, the sun will shine once more. We know though that the physical elements will continue to forge and shape our future, as will the changes in humanity itself affect the ongoing direction of our enterprises. School is a small microcosm of this; over the past 20 years, we’ve worked hard to provide for all sites access to all-weather pitches (to combat the rain) and progress the various pathways (academic, art, choral, drama, music, sports) to support the separate growth of these talents towards the best they can be. The long arc of history of our school includes developing a reputation for the quality of our fencing and judo; sadly, however noble and athletic those Olympic disciplines are, times moved on, and student interest refocused on so many other sports, activities, and interests.

The recruitment of Sixth Former Lily Gater by Iowa University into their ‘Hawks’ boat club went viral over Instagram this week, pleased as punch that the University would be in capturing a world-class sculler for their squad and as an international academic student for their faculty. Yes, that’s another example of a student making history, yet worth highlighting that Lily joined us in the Sixth Form for the known reputation we have for the strength we have in the sport of rowing and also because of the strength and breadth of our Sixth Form teaching programme. My banner headline does try to highlight just how proud we are of Lily and her achievements, which are to have both the academic and sporting achievements to win this pick by the ‘Hawks’.

For Christians, it was Jesus Christ who highlighted just how difficult it is for a person to be a prophet in their own land. This proverbial saying inevitably impacts not just a human, but also schools and colleges. Whilst I do spend most of my time on my feet in school, both last week and this I’ve had the opportunity to attend major gatherings during which heads and those in the wider business of education have come together to focus on the future for schools and their purpose, last at the Institute of Directors venturing further into where AI is taking teaching and learning, this with Mr Richards at the ISA Autumn Study conference, where our art work won deserved praise, and the school highly commended for the Innovation we bring to our curriculum and purpose.

As I write, it seems our 2025 School Inspection report remains unpublished, a simple issue of delay by the final piece of editing. Without the accolades within, it’s difficult to ensure that our future audience of prospective parents appreciate just how successful our school is at achieving its aims and live to our core values. As current parents can see from the school’s App and Instagram blog, the achievements, accolades and actions of our athletes carry on in all areas. Our U14 netball girls beat Wellington College on their way to becoming Berkshire Champions, and the boys’ rugby teams carry on scoring tries and tackling hard, and of course Hockey is striking the right notes too.

At Claires Court Juniors, today the staff held a quiet commemorative birthday lunch for our former colleague, Bridie Gravett, who passed away this July. Her husband, Dan, is now back at work, in school, and I know just how thankful he is to be back at work and supported by the school as a whole. Some history is not about success at all, but to note the event, understand its importance and take the opportunity to include, remember and reflect. That combined well with the broader reach of the week for Remembrance, with assemblies and silences across the sites to remember those who gave their lives in battles so we could enjoy the peace we now experience.

5 weeks of school at Claires Court lie ahead for us all. My efforts will continue as both headteacher and Academic Principal to (where possible) make more history and encourage my colleagues, children and young people to do so too. These weeks include many opportunities for our community to come together in many ways, and I’ll welcome all conversations that add elements to the hopes we have for our children ahead. We are always told that life is too complex, but the answer is ‘to never to give in, focus on the important and what needs to be done’, and #simples, you too could be Making History Every Day.