A Week of Joy, Reflection, and Conversation
It’s been so lovely to be back. So many of you have taken time to ask after me – I have just been so touched and wanted to thank you all so much. But also it’s been lovely to have seen the pupils again, beaming with enthusiasm and energy. A couple of days ago I saw one of the senior boys bouncing up the street, punching the air. “What are you thinking about?” I asked. “I’m chuffed Sir!” he responded “Completely chuffed!” “Why?” I asked. Because it’s the start of a school day!” Certainly that made me feel chuffed too. Somehow I resisted the impulse to punch the air, thinking that it might be slightly undignified for a headmaster to be quite so visibly elated!
We had a treat in the Cathedral this morning when The Revd Charlie Kerr preached to us. The Revd Kerr has had a long association with the school being the father of a former pupil, Archie, who was a Worcester Chorister. He has preached often over the course of the years. Today he spoke to us about the importance of giving thanks. He talked movingly about his former headmaster who had convinced him to study Theology for A Level when he had not originally wished to do so. Not only did he go on to study it at University, but he went on, as we know, to become a priest. Also in that class was his future wife. So that headmaster’s encouragement led to so many things. He said that he had recently found his old headmaster and thanked him for all those gifts which came from that one piece of encouragement and advice. We should all be alert to the gifts that we have been given and try to thank those who have been responsible. You never know, some of you may even be thanked this weekend by your sons for the many gifts you have given them!
On Thursday I spoke to the Prep School about the peace agreement in Gaza. I was impressed by the number of boys who had something to say on the matter. There was a great deal of knowledge and thoughtfulness on display and with the help of a number of excellent contributors, I was able to sketch out the background to this important occurrence. I think it is important for even the younger members of our school to have some awareness of current affairs, so I would encourage you to take some time to expose your children to the news and not to be afraid of discussing it with them.
We are immensely fortunate in having so many parents who work in the AI sector or whose work involves AI. I have had a number of conversations this week with some of you about this interesting topic. Undoubtedly it will revolutionise education, just as it will life. Despite the dangers and concerns, there will clearly be great benefits and we must ensure that we make as much use of these as is possible. I relish the opportunities which it brings and look forward to thinking through these. Equally, I suspect that the advent of AI means that schools will increasingly focus upon what it is to be human and what it is to be a person living in society – as AI will do many of the mental tasks now done by humans before very long, what it means to be a human will become ever more important. Let us see!
In the Cathedral today, I was delighted to announce the following pupil leadership positions:
- Head Boy - Hugo
- Deputy Head Boy - Patrick
- Head of Music - Leo
- Head of Sport - Harshadeep and Milan
- Head of Carroll - Eaton
- Head of Sayers - Matthew
- Head of Wolsey - William
May I congratulate these boys and pay tribute to the whole of Form 8. I know that those boys who are not mentioned above will be immensely supportive of their friends.
