The Headmaster’s Update THE ORA

The Headmaster’s Words

“We will champion a culture of wellbeing, courage and resilience. We will seek to foster a community that collaborates for the common good and enables enhanced social mobility through education. This will, essentially, be through a team-first approach which emphasises respect.”

Looking forward, we seek to be a flourishing organisation that builds good people and champions excellence, including academic excellence. We seek to enable the advancement of knowledge and working with others in partnership to develop the character of our people, strengthening our community. According to the Sutton Trust, grammar schools nationally do not educate enough Black students or students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are committed to reversing this through our Future Stories programme.

The success of Liverpool F.C might enlighten us. Last year they replaced images of what they had won previously with what they aimed to win for the season - a constant reminder to the players what they were aiming for. It seems to have worked. If we can turn values into action, with a focus on behaviours that emphasise respect for ourselves, our environment and our community vision can turn into reality. If we are to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, and if we are able to respond to the challenges of terrorism and extremism as seen by tragic events in Forbury Gardens, then we need to safeguard our people and prepare them for the challenges of the modern world. This can only be achieved if we work in partnership and focus on both shortterm operational challenges and longer-term perspectives. We can go beyond crisis and flourish, but there is a long way to go.

What is clear is that we are committed to being a school for tomorrow that builds on our historic strengths. This cannot be done if we do not have a vibrant contemporary Reading School family or community that not only seeks to pay back but also to pay forward. We need to be strong and resilient, bouncing back from the contemporary existential challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. Moving forward, we should have high expectations of all members of the Reading School family. Now is the time to be effective stewards of the organisation: mindful of the 900-year past and cognisant of the need to respond to current challenges to secure future sustainability. We must look to the future with passion and purpose. Strategic thinking will be critical, but everyday behaviours from all members of the school community will be just as necessary. Everyday behaviours, with respect at the forefront, will shape a positive culture of commitment.

We will champion a culture of wellbeing, courage and resilience. We will seek to foster a community that collaborates for the common good and enables enhanced social mobility through education. This will, essentially, be through a team-first approach which emphasises respect: respect for yourself, respect for others, respect for Reading School, and respect for property.

I have worked at Reading School since September 2005 and been the Headmaster since 2012, and I have never been prouder of the School community than now. The response to the Coronavirus from governors, staff, alumni, parents and most of all, students, has been inspirational.

Our work with the Royal Berkshire Hospital Trust has been a model of partnership, and it has had a positive impact. The generosity regarding the setting up of the Future Stories Support fund has also been exceptional. We can build on our recent accolades and successes. We can acknowledge the importance of working together to overcome adversity. We can bounce forward so that we flourish as a school for tomorrow, mindful of our past. If we are resilient, overcome present setbacks and make the most of opportunities, if we have compassion, hope and empathy for self and others, if we think flexibly to adapt and respond to current and future challenges, then we can flourish as individuals and as a community. If our people flourish, then the future of our organisation is assured. By looking back and looking forward, we can be in a strong position to prosper.