Head of Sixth Form Autumn 9

This week, the same as every week, we have been reminded of the importance of community, kindness and contentment. As a Sixth Form community we worked together as a team on Tuesday at our Open Evening, showing current Year 11 pupils interested in joining Year 12 next year what a cohesive, mutually respectful and aspirational group of young people we (or they!) are. The students are our finest ambassadors and their enthusiasm for and knowledge of their subjects was outstanding; they were described by the families who visited as confident, competent and welcoming. I am immensely proud of each of them for their engagement at the event and for the obvious pride they have in the Sixth Form community we share.

With World Kindness Day on Wednesday it was timely to remind students of the simple choice they can make - if you can be anything, be kind! There is significant power in choosing to be kind. Kindness is a quality no-one can take from you, it stands out, even when done quietly, it has the power to transform lives and change the world. Kindness is a language all people recognise, there are no cultural or language barriers - it is a universal language. It should not matter whether we get anything in return, in fact, often we do not see the results of it.

Kindness is about being friendly, generous and considerate, which I am delighted to say our students are the majority of the time. Already, a large number have brought boxes, tubs and bars (nut free, please) of all sorts of tempting chocolate which is now awaiting collection by the Salvation Army for distribution to the elderly and needy local families in the run up to Christmas. I am asking students and staff to join me at our annual hamper packing for The Lions Club on Sunday 8th December at Senior Boys from 9am-11am. It is a festive and fun morning which enriches all of those that help and brings kindness and a sense of being valued to our local community which is so greatly appreciated.

Our Gambia Adventurers took assembly today and reminded us all about not just how precious being part of a community is whether in Brufut or our Sixth Form, but also the kindness they witnessed between the children they worked with. Furthermore, they noted the contentment of all the villagers who were happy with what they had, not yearning for more or impatient for the next update for their phones, but content with their lot in life. An invaluable reminder to all of us listening to keep things in perspective and place value on the right things.

So, my thought for the day is: kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help back - so, kindness, no matter what!