Headmaster’s Speech

SCHOOL NOTES

Headmaster’s Speech at Year 8 Prizegiving

Ladies and gentlemen, Year 8, good morning and welcome to the final day, not only of this school year, but of your time with us at Beaudesert.

This morning is an opportunity to celebrate all your achievements and to thank every one of you for the many things you have brought to Beaudesert Park School.

Every one of you of has brought something special to Beaudesert during your time here, whether that has been for nine years, or during the last two years. You all leave memories which will remain as a positive mark on the lives of others.

Let your abiding memories be of the stories you have told and those yet to be written, which will be all the richer for everything you have learnt, especially about yourselves, while at Beaudesert.

I could take this opportunity to list your endless achievements during this past year, or the many years before, but they are far too many and one risks missing so many wonderful moments, whether in the classroom, on the stage, playing sport with your friends, or in the surf of Cornwall. It is far better to leave you to enjoy your memories together, sharing them with joy for years to come, especially as the stories become richer and more elaborate, the truth stretched in all the right ways, and the warmth of the memories nurtured with each retelling. As you look back on the rich tapestry of your experiences at Beaudesert, cherish every recollection, let them live within you, and allow them to continue to guide who you are and who you become.

Instead of looking back today, I would like to pause for a moment and look forward. You may be feeling desperately sad to be leaving Beaudesert; you may be itching to go and spread your wings further. Either is okay, and both are completely as things should be. Your years here have been to prepare you, and now is the time to go forward with confidence.

The last time I spoke to many of you, it was at about 7.30pm on Wednesday night, just before England’s semi-final, and you were eager for me to stop talking as quickly as possible. Hopefully you will be a little more patient with me today. On Wednesday, the first thing I did was to thank Year 8 for their wonderful play. Year 8, the more I reflect in the days since, the more I realise what an incredible achievement it was.

I also uttered the words: ‘I think it’s coming home…’ And then an hour later, 30 minutes into the game, head in my hands, I couldn’t help feel I had tempted fate. Was it going to be another year of hurt? Well, not yet. But who knows.

That line from the Three Lions song: ‘30 years of hurt, never stopped me dreaming’ is one that is belted out with unbridled passion whenever the song is sung. It represents the simple truth that, no amount of challenge, no amount of failure should ever temper our dreams. It is now 55 years. And still we dream.

Children, you will not have to wait for 55 years for most of your dreams to come true. The most important thing is that you have dreams. Let them run wild. Don’t let anyone tell you not to dream.

Eleanor Roosevelt said: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” and let Walt Disney’s belief that “if you can dream it, you can do it” guide you in the years to come.

The other words that make the song resonate so strongly is ‘home’. The sense of something collective. Together. Bigger than the self. The idea of home and place and belonging brings people together, in this case all for the silly pleasure, or otherwise, of watching a ball being kicked around. For you all, children and parents, Beaudesert has been a home in so many ways. It has been a rock of support, a blanket of comfort, and quite simply a part of your family. As we grow, it is natural that we move away from one home and make new homes afresh, but like all homes, Beaudesert will always remain here for you.

You may have the faintest memory of an assembly in which Mrs Searson and I first spoke about acorns, then planted them, and then later shared them as they started to grow. They continue to grow still. For so many of you, when you came here, your growth was only just beginning; you are leaving us with your roots firmly set, reaching ever upwards and starting to branch out. Never stop growing. Don’t let yourself become proud or satisfied, because you can be a better, stronger version of yourself every day. And just like leaves on the trees, always turn to the sun. Seek the light. Look for warmth. If your path is directed towards people and things that bring light and warmth, you will grow healthy and strong.

And pebbles. What do I mean by that? Again, somewhere in the midst of all the knowledge you have acquired about global location, the Battle of Agincourt, and Latin conjugations, you may remember me talking about ripples. The smallest pebble dropping into a mirror-glass lake will create ripples that grow and spread wide across the water’s still surface. So will you create ripples by your words and your deeds. Whatever you do, the ripples will be felt far and wide. Please make sure that they are positive ripples, touching others with goodness.

You may have heard of the Butterfly Effect, the metaphorical theory that a butterfly flapping its wings can create a chain that grows and eventually becomes a tornado. The idea is that every action has consequences that grow from small beginnings. Flap your wings with kindness, in the sure knowledge that this kindness will grow.

A piece of advice to take with you… Always check inside your tub of ice cream. What do I mean by this? When we first tried a particular ice cream flavour (my favourite), we had our salted caramel and chocolate cake ready, but made the classic error of not taking it out of the freezer until we were about to have it, and it was rock solid.

Having removed the lid, bent the spoon and sat patiently (or otherwise) for ten minutes until it was edible, we spotted the following words on the underside of the lid: ‘To enjoy this product at its best, leave to stand at room temperature for ten minutes before serving.’ I proceeded to grumble that it was a ridiculous place to put the advice, because by the time you took the lid off and read it, it was a lifetime too late.

And then I thought, as is tragically the way when you are a Headmaster: I wonder if there is a way I can shoe-horn this into an assembly somewhere. So, here I am, shoehorning!

Children, people can be like ice cream tubs. Some are hard and take time to soften. Some are soft and welcoming. Some are easy to read, with clear instructions on the outside. While others have secrets within.

So my advice to you, as you enter your new schools and get to meet so many new people, look beneath the surface and take time to get to know people. Sometimes, when people are harder, they just need a gentle hand to warm them up.

So now, as you look to what lies ahead, I suspect you have mixed feelings: hope and wonder, and sadness: excitement and nerves. Stepping into the unknown is one of the greatest gifts that we can have, for in the unknown and in the uncertain lies endless opportunity.

As you move on from Beaudesert and face new choices be sure to: Leap boldly. Take risks. Try new things. Challenge yourselves.

But above all, in everything you do from now on, take this one truth that you have learned from your time at Beaudesert. Try to bring goodness and kindness to all those you meet along your journey.

If there is one way in which you measure yourselves, let it be in the light you share with others.

Children, parents, throughout your time at Beaudesert, you have been guided, helped and supported by the most incredible and dedicated team of staff, some of whom you have spent time with on a daily basis, while others are making the magic happen quietly in the background. Whatever their role, however much they are in the spotlight or otherwise, the Beaudesert team is quite extraordinary; they are the spirit, the energy and the pulse that gives Beaudesert its magic. Please may you all join me in showing our enormous gratitude to all the staff at Beaudesert.

And to you, our parents, thank you so much for all of your generosity of spirit, warmth and support.

Ordinarily at this time, I would say a few words about all of our leaving staff. Most

Gap Students and Graduate Assistants

From top left: James Taylor-Kimmins, Toby Baxter, Kelsey Tucker, Phillippa Hall, Gemma Price

are unable to be with us today as they normally would be. I would, however, like to pause and mention two rather special ladies.

Children, many of you will have been lucky enough to have been taught by Mrs Poll. If you have, you have been blessed by receiving the care of a quite exceptional English teacher. Mrs Poll has the deepest passion for the art of teaching and in particular for the teaching of English. She pores over the very best texts to stretch, challenge, excite and inspire children in her care. But more than this, and I would say more importantly than this, Mrs Poll has the deepest passion for the children in her care. Seeing each and every child as the individual that they are, seeking to get to know the very fabric of what makes them who they are and what makes them tick. And then meticulously, chameleonlike, bending herself to the needs of each and every one. Mrs Poll, Maria, we thank you so much for all that you have brought to Beaudesert, as a brilliant teacher, an exceptionally supportive colleague and, to so many, the most wonderful friend. And then, to Tree. “Let me just say this…”

How many times have we heard those words from Tree? They mean two things:

1) Tree is about to solve all our problems in an instant with her wisdom and incredible quick-thinking.

And…

2) With the gentlest of touches, but with absolute unwavering clarity, Tree is about to put us firmly back in our box and let us know exactly how things really are.

Marvellous, magical, wonderful, extraordinary Tree. There really are not words to describe Tree. She is one-in-amillion. No… More! One in a billion, trillion, squillion!

When thinking about Tree, I found myself thinking that, in truth, I am not the best person to be sharing these words. We saw from the unbridled joy as children and staff alike sang ‘Dazzling Tree’ yesterday, what she means to everyone here. “And breathe…”

Tree’s other favourite words. Her closing soother before putting down the telephone or finishing a conversation, which lets us know that she has made everything okay. And she always does.

Tree, thank you. You have been the heartbeat of Beaudesert for so many years and things simply will never be quite the same without you. We wish you every happiness in the world. Ladies and Gentlemen, children, Tree!

To you, our Year 8 leavers, we thank you for being part of Beaudesert and for embracing all the experiences you have had along the way. May you spread your wings and fly high, discovering exciting pastures new.

And always remember that kindness should be at the heart of everything you do.

C D Searson