Taking the Lead
Headmaster’s Routh Assembly Address
Monday 25th April 2022
Good morning and welcome back to the final Term of the academic year. Nine short weeks that will fly by and which, for many of you, will be the most important of your School career to date. IB2 are already on Study Leave, the rest of Upper Sixth and the Fifth Form will soon follow. After two years of cancellations, public examinations are back and with them the need for absolute academic focus. As for the Fourth Form, I encourage you to watch and learn, and to be respectful of the pressures the seniors in your House are under.
For those of you sitting exams, you know already I am not going to wish you luck. Relying on luck would be an insult to the hard graft you have put in over the past few years, not to mention the talents of your teachers. Luck is for the unprepared, and you are not unprepared. What I do wish for you is the outcome that you deserve, which in most cases is great success.
As this is one of the last times we may all be together before Study Leave and examinations commence, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all, sincerely, for your contribution to the ‘Belonging at Bromsgrove’ survey conducted at the end of last Term. A response rate of more than 85% makes the results extremely comprehensive and statistically valid. More importantly, it was obvious that you took the questions seriously and answered them thoughtfully and candidly.
There is more to be said about the findings and how we will respond to them in the future, but for now, let me say three things. Firstly, although the survey was anonymous, I know that some had concerns that you might have been recognisable because of the profile your answers created. Please be assured that I, alone, am the only person who had access to the raw data, and I had no interest in trying to work out who anyone was. What mattered to me was what you had to say, not who said it.
Secondly, although the overall results of the survey were in many ways pleasing and reassuring, it was not conducted as some sort of marketing exercise. In other circumstances I would be very happy to use the results to tell the world that most of you feel happy and included in this School. But that was not the purpose of this poll. What I wanted to know was how many of you, even if only a minority, don’t feel the same connection. And why. Now that I have those answers, we can focus upon addressing that.
The final thing I would say at this stage is this. According to the survey, there are just two amongst you who are probably in the wrong School. Just two. As I say, I have no idea who they are and perhaps they were just trying to be funny. Or perhaps they made a mistake and clicked the wrong box. But if not, there are just two people amongst you who don’t agree that all people are equal and deserve respect. And if that is what those two people really believe, then they really are in the wrong School.
The problem is, there are 120 of you who have, at some time here, been made to feel uncomfortable because of their race. 42 of you who have felt uncomfortable because of your sexual orientation. 53 people who have suffered criticism because of a disability, be it physical, a learning difficulty, or a mental health issue. Those numbers may not sound like a lot in a School of 1060 pupils, but in my book, on those particular issues, even one person feeling uncomfortable is one too many.
And here’s the thing. Either the two self-confessed bigots are making a full-time job out of racism and homophobia, or there are quite a few more people who say they don’t discriminate, but actually do. Who perhaps think that “banter” doesn’t count? Because when I got to the section that asked “If you have suffered any incident of exclusion or discrimination at Bromsgrove, who was it from?” the vast majority of answers were “Another pupil.” And in fact the majority of those answers were “Someone in my year group.”
So as much as it is my job to respond to suggestions that teachers, or House staff, or visitors, or even the School itself needs to do better (and I will respond) it would seem that much of the change to ensure that everyone feels like they belong at Bromsgrove, needs to be done by you.
Serendipitously, this first week back offers you all a first chance to do just that. If there is a cultural change needed to make it clear to everyone that discrimination and derogatory comments are not accepted in this School, leadership can’t just come from us. It has to come from you as well. We can only do so much, it is the people of influence amongst you who must do the rest.
Which is why, later this week, we are going to be seeking your input to help identify who, amongst this year’s Lower Sixth, might be considered as a School Monitor next year. And with the survey in mind, I want you to think harder than ever about the character traits those leaders need.
Upper Sixth may remember that a few years ago I shared my dream-team of Monitors, chosen from the pages of History. Examples of the sorts of people I have in mind when we make our selections. The traits and abilities we look for. Let me remind you of some of them.
There was Diana Spencer, aka Princess Diana. Killed in a car crash before you were born, but I would be surprised if you hadn’t heard of Lady Di. Hers was a life full of challenge and controversy once she married into the British Royal family. However, she undoubtedly showed leadership in her role, and its hallmark was compassion.
Most famously on one occasion in 1989, when a different virus was sweeping the world. This one was AIDS, a frightening new disease with no cure, killing people around the globe. Like the early days of COVID, people were ignorant of how it spread, many believing you could catch AIDS just from touching someone who had it. It didn’t help that the disease was prevalent amongst the gay community, who in those days were still heavily discriminated against. Sufferers were ostracised. 50% of people polled in the US believed that those with AIDS should be quarantined in special institutions.
Imagine the media frenzy then, when Princess Diana, visiting the first unit in the UK dedicated to treating people with HIV and AIDS, quite spontaneously, removed her gloves and shook the bare hand of a patient. The image went global, and her single act of compassion changed people’s perceptions of the disease forever.
Someone you may remember was Malala Yousafzai, the young girl who grew up in northwest Pakistan, where the Taliban banned girls from attending school. At a young age, your age in fact, she became a vocal supporter of female education. Which is why a Taliban gunman saw fit to silence her by shooting her three times in the head. She survived, and the attack provoked worldwide outrage. More importantly though, she refused to be silenced. Since her recovery, Malala became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, addressed the UN, met world leaders, and still fights today for women’s rights to education. Her courage and confidence to speak out has been an inspiration.
Equally inspiring was Rosa Parks, the African American woman who, in 1955, in racially segregated Alabama, refused to give up her seat in the ‘coloured section’ of a bus to a white passenger when ordered to do so by the driver. Her passive resistance saw her arrested, she lost her job and received death threats for many years. Significantly, she was not some sort of political activist before this happened. Just an ordinary working-class woman going home on a bus.
However, through her actions she became a powerful symbol of the modern civil rights movement. The United States Congress called her ‘the first lady of human rights’. Arguably, the strength of Rosa Parks’ convictions about equity and fair treatment changed America.
And in case you think that my list of leaders I admire was all woke and politically-correct, I can assure you that there were a few white males on it as well. Not because they were white, or male, but because like the three women I have just mentioned, they simply displayed qualities that I admire in any human being. They had also been in situations that resonated with me.
The Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson was one. Not as famous as Amundsen, Scott or Shackelton. But a leader of equal talent and inspiration to me. His capacity for work and perseverance when the going got tough was extraordinary.
If you ever want to read a powerful tale of human endurance, I recommend ‘The Home of the Blizzard’, in which he describes trekking to the extreme edge of the Antarctic ice shelf with two of his men and a team of six sled dogs, only to lose all of them when they plummet into a crevasse.
The solo journey home, unaided, undernourished and alone, took Mawson three months. He arrived back at his hut barely alive, only to see his ship sailing away, his crew having given him up for dead. He lived another year in that hut before a summer rescue party found him. His fortitude and mental stamina were remarkable.
Those were some of my heroes; you will have your own. All I ask, when you complete the prospective Monitors Poll later this week, is that you take some time to think about the leadership abilities you admire, then try to identify who you know in the Sixth Form that has them.
It is not a vote, we will still be making the final selection. But it is a poll of your genuine opinion and I value what you think. Especially in light of those survey results which say we that as inclusive as we are, we can still do better.
By all means, nominate people that you know well and like. But if you want this School to continue to evolve, pick people who have the strength of character to serve everyone’s needs, not just your own.
You have just heard what I will be looking for. Compassion, courage, capacity, conviction. And if that’s too much alliteration, throw in what’s most important of all to me. Humility, and a pride in the School. I know what I am looking for - what will you be seeking?
Presentations
Questions in the House
Last Term ended on a high with a number of traditional House competitions which we can acknowledge today. First was the highly entertaining House Quiz, which saw Elmshurst, Lupton, Wendron Gordon, and School House contesting the Final. It came down to two in the challenging last “Creative round”, from which School House team emerged as winners. I now invite the School House team forward to reclaim the trophy.
House Drama
That same day, Cobham Theatre was packed for the Senior House Drama competition, with the audience being treated to a display of talent of the very highest scale. An impressive range of plays delivered by almost 80 pupils, some of you appearing on stage for the very first time.
Thank you to all involved for leaving us with so many memorable highlights, including School House’s very lucid interpretation of ‘Waiting For Godot’, and the final, unforgettably haunting images of Marcus Au Yeung cradling his patient in Equus. Those two performances took out the top awards:
Best Actor: Jake Wingfield (School Waiting For Godot)
Best Play: Wendron-Gordon House (Equus)
Young Enterprise
Congratulations to Young Enterprise team WellBeFun, who have been very successful in the Company of the Year competition, winning Best Presentation and Best Company. The judges were impressed with their engaging and professional style of presentation, and the team were also commended for their product, learning, and the goals of their business. We now wish them well as they progress to the County Final on the 11th May. I invite that team forward to receive their trophies.
House Athletics
Boys Competitions
4th Form: 3rd Lyttleton 2nd Walters 1st Wendron Gordon
5th Form: 3rd Elmshurst 2nd Lupton 1st Wendron Gordon
6th Form: 3rd Wendron Gordon 2nd Lyttleton 1st Housman Hall
Girls Competitions
4th Form: 3rd Mary Windsor 2nd Ottlie Hild 1st Thomas Cookes
5th Form: 3rd Ottlie Hild 2nd Oakley 1st Thomas Cookes
6th Form: 3rd Housman Hall 2nd Thomas Cookes 1st Hazeldene
Review
The Boys 1st X1 and U15 cricket teams enjoyed a very productive mini pre-season tour with matches played against Oakham School and Bedford School.
Preview
We wish all the best to our Golf team who are playing in the ISGA national finals today and tomorrow, and to the U16 Boys' Hockey team who play Dean Close in the National Plate Final on Wednesday.
Students who would like to discuss and discover interesting mathematical concepts are encouraged to join the new student-led Maths Club. John Kim in IB1 is organising this new endeavour, and welcomes all participants; please speak with or email John to reserve a place. The first meeting is on Saturday May 7th at 11am.
A reminder that entries for this year’s Housman Verse Prize should be forwarded to Mr Dinnen no later than Monday 2nd May. The theme is ‘epiphany’. If you are keen to enter but want further advice, please speak to your English teacher or Mr Dinnen.
‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ is a drop-in session starting this week in Futures from 1pm to 2pm. Miss Leech and our Well-Being Nurse, Ms Henderson, will be available to offer advice and guidance around staying mentally healthy. The focus for this term, perhaps unsurprisingly, is exams and self-care. These Wednesday sessions will be available for you to drop-in by yourself or with friends, or you can email Ms Henderson or Miss Leech for a one-to-one appointment during the week. For resources about staying mentally healthy across a range of topics and looking at positive self-care, please see the Wellbeing area on the Tutoring page.
Marmite
There will be three Marmite seminars for IVth and Vth Form this term, beginning this week, Thursday lunchtime, 1.15pm, Webber 7. If you have great results, great ideas or great aspirations, email Dr Ruben – you will be very welcome.
In addition, all Senior School Marmite members are invited to the next Marmite Movie and Pizza Evening, Friday May 20th, 5.15pm, in Webber.
Finally, a reminder that the CCF Leavers Dinner will be held this Friday evening at 7 pm.
Have a good week and a great Term and, as connected as you may personally feel here, remember to make sure that your own words and actions make everybody else feel equally at home.
Please stand as we say the Grace together.