Brains in our Heads, Feet in our Shoes

Routh Address
2 September 2024

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
in any direction you choose.
Although you're not on your own, you know what you know.
And you are the one who'll decide where to go.

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange things as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So ... get on your way


Good morning and it is lovely to be here together again; I hope everyone had a really enjoyable summer and welcome to the new school year at Bromsgrove. Whether you are new to the UK – and we are delighted to have with us many new boarders from the UK and all across the world – new to Bromsgrove School, new to the Senior School, or simply ready for another new year in the Senior School, I hope you have a really successful year in a whole host of areas, inside the classroom and out, academically and socially…and I hope you have a very happy year. It goes without saying, that those who are new – and are perhaps feeling a little unsure on the first day of term – will need the support and friendliness of those who know Bromsgrove a little better. Please can we all go out of our way to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and supported as term gets going. That is in all our interests.

When I talk about supporting those who are new, that applies to both pupils and staff and we welcome a number of new teachers to the Senior School: Mrs Hadley joins the English department and Mr Jones is a new teacher of Computer Science. Miss Perry and Mr Weddell join the Physics department and Mr Yao and Mr Wood join the Chemistry department. Mr Syner is the new Head of Modern Languages, Mr Noble the new Head of Spanish and Miss Ellis will be acting Head of Religious Studies this term. We hope they are all very happy here and we look forward to working with them.

Following on the from the reading that we heard a few moments ago, I hope all of us are looking forward to the year ahead with optimism, even if it is tinged with a little nervousness. This is a fresh start, an opportunity to build on what we have achieved already but also to explore new subjects and ideas, to involve ourselves in new ways, to take on new challenges and to mix with new people. Most of us doubt ourselves from time to time, that’s perfectly normal, but everyone here together this morning deserves to be here and has the potential to achieve great things over the coming three terms.

But the direction we take ourselves in, depends to a large extent on us. The timetable has the same number of lessons on it for everyone, every lesson is the same length, we all have 24 hours in every day and so on, but how we use the time and the opportunities available, is down to us. As the poem that Ella shared a moment ago tells us, We have brains in our heads, feet in our shoes; we can steer ourselves in any direction we choose.

Today marks the start of the journey that we are all taking through the 2024/25 school year with all its opportunities and occasional challenges; where that journey takes us and how successful it is, to a large extent depends on our approach and the choices we make along the way. Do we choose to get involved, to work hard, to do the extra and to ask for help when we need it, or do we put things off until later; allow ourselves to drift, follow the crowd and miss opportunities.

Although you're not on your own, you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where to go. That point about not being on your own is really important – the folk who achieve the most over the coming three terms are often those who ask for help the most. Never feel afraid to do so; remember that we all want to see you thrive. Indeed, as the poem tells us, the majority of you are going to achieve great things, perhaps in an area that you haven’t yet discovered, but by being open minded we give ourselves the best chance to shine. You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way
For everyone sat here, the coming year will be busy; there will be challenges along the way but if we work hard, work together and remain positive, we can achieve more than we perhaps believe possible. You have brains in your head, You have feet in your shoes, You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. So, as we begin the new school year, be determined, be open and be quick to seek help…and make good choices, because if we do all that, we have the best chance of becoming the very best version of oursleves. Have a great year.