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From the Head
SENIOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PERFORM THE BLOOD ON THE BANNISTERS, A NEW STUDENT WRITTEN PLAY BY ELIF CEKTIR (YEAR 12)
We live in turbulent times. Climate change, global pandemic, war in Europe, an energy crisis and a cost of living crunch have shaken established political and social economic orders. The world can seem a scary and uncertain place.
But a difficult and challenging backdrop sharpens the focus on what really matters. As the world grapples with its many problems, the critical importance of providing future generations with an excellent education shines through.
An excellent education is about far more than the acquisition of knowledge as set out in exam board syllabi, it is about the development of intra-personal and inter-personal skills such as perseverance, character, resilience, creativity, team working, leadership and emotional intelligence. An excellent education is also about values and giving people a moral compass to find their way through life’s challenges so that they both help themselves and others. Values are more important than skills and knowledge, as it is values that determine how skills and knowledge are used. Today’s Perse pupils know the School values:
Endeavour Intellectual curiosity and scholarship Breadth and balance and Valuing one another and our environment
The last value in the list is the most important. Humans are fallible. They make mistakes and get things wrong. But if we can work on our relationships, and truly value one another then we are on the path to a better future. The darker the times, the greater the need for the light and warmth of kindness and care. As poverty increases so does the need for generosity. Schools exist to make the future better, and the children of today make me optimistic about tomorrow. They are acquiring the knowledge, skills and values needed to solve our current problems and build a better future. I’m pleased that The Perse continues to play its part in human progress.
With best wishes,
