Head of Sixth Form Summer 9

Our students are post millennial - they are Generation Z and they hold different values and exhibit different behaviours to those in the previous generation. Sophie and David spent their Sunday at the Claires Court Summer Fete raising funds to help the children of Brufut in The Gambia enjoy better quality educational books and stationary, craft materials and sports equipment. Sophie inspired friends and teachers to support the Will Houghton Foundation, raising money to enable disadvantaged children to participate in various sports activities. You see, Generation Z prefer hanging out together, love listening to music, appreciate quality family time and prioritise good grades. They do spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms, although Facebook is very passe now! But they are more savvy about their online image and manage themselves more conservatively than their predecessors.

Generation Z care about their world, they are globally connected, politically aware and actively concerned about climate change and plastic in the sea. These are the very students I have the privilege of working with every day and it is refreshing to discuss the merits and demerits of Brexit with them, the impact of social media on mental health as well as the remarkable explosion of interest in women's football due to the success of the England Lionesses in France. Your sons and daughters are quite remarkable individuals with ambitions to improve society - you can be proud! I certainly am, and I salute those that this very week have made a genuine difference to not just our immediate and local community but also to the global community of which we are each a part. Superheroes, each one!