“Focus on the journey not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson
One of the more interesting educational hot topics at the moment is the idea of the super curriculum. That’s the idea that if you want to flourish academically you should look for opportunities to engage with subjects outside of the regular curriculum. Going above and beyond, simply for the enjoyment that this brings. I’m all for stretch and challenge but I do wonder if, as a consequence of this phrase gaining traction, the super curriculum will simply become part of the normal curriculum, it will be something else that has to be done because it has to be seen to be done. For me, the only reason to engage with this extension work is because you really want to do it. Love of subject, the joy of discovering more about the area of interest is what really shows me that a student is trying their best and wants to fulfil their potential. We have plenty of pupils who are quietly working away on essays and other competition entries which are well beyond the confines of the normal curriculum, mainly because they like their subject.
This week we celebrated success in the British Physics Olympiad (see p9). Some of our most talented scientists chose to engage with a series of fiendishly tricky questions about their subject and they performed with distinction. Well done to Seb on gaining a top gold but also hearty congratulations to everyone who was willing to study when they could have been doing something else. In Senior School assembly we also celebrated the achievements of students who had put themselves forward for LAMDA exams (see p11). To succeed in these exams students have to learn lines, consider context and be ready to be examined by external examiners who judge their performance. This isn’t like performing as part of a cast, it requires individual motivation to find the right text, rehearse, and to perform, not for applause but to an audience of an examiner only. Usually, we perform for the reward of applause, this is performance to challenge self, to improve and learn more about something that is enjoyed. We also saluted the achievements of our public speakers who had gained accolades at various levels including medal status for their ability to hold an audience with nothing more than the power of their words. Congratulations Seraphim. No mean feat when you are not working in your native language.
My final example of a pupil going over and above comes from the Junior School. Yesterday I was in a meeting when there was a knock at the door. Artemii was at the door, he’d come to tell us about the dragon he had made and explain the differences that exist between Chinese dragons and others. He’d done his presentation once, so hats off that having done it once he was ready to do it again, to a new audience when he didn’t really have to.
At the BSP we want our young people to develop a joy in their learning. To find the subject that really engages their attention and captivates their thinking. One of the greatest gifts of education is the development of this willingness to study, just for fun. We won’t always win medals but the idea of taking learning out of the classroom and into our leisure time is always rewarding. Once instilled it will never go away and for once the taking part is just as important as the winning.
Nicholas Hammond
Headmaster
