Here’s a question often asked in basic philosophy debates – based on Isaiah Berlin’s concepts of positive and negative liberty. How do we balance the freedom to act as we wish, with the freedom not to be affected by the actions of others? An extreme libertarian might wish to be able to drive down Oxford Street at 90mph, but also wish not to be inconveniently run over by others doing the same. Speed limits balance the two freedoms: the freedom to, the freedom from.

At the start of this academic year, we have three issues on our mind. Two are major areas of school development. At The Abbey, we stand for academic excellence, every individual valued, real-world learning, passion and opportunity, putting girls first and joy. Of these we continue to think with particular focus this year about every individual valued and putting girls first.

Both of these are questions of freedom and also questions of what the academic excellence on which we are founded is for. You may have heard The Abbey being celebrated on local radio recently, with a question that we all know remains as crucial as ever: we live in a world where girls on average do better at school and women on average get interrupted more and paid less. At The Abbey our job is to help girls do absolutely brilliantly at school and also to develop the qualities that will see us all continue to build a fairer world. The voices of Abbey students and Abbey alumnae are heard.

Every individual valued is a key part of this. The worst experiences at any school are oppressive: bullying, discouragement, exclusion. They mar the freedom of an individual to be themselves. Schools used almost to encourage this: even recently you could hear school leaders talk approvingly of environments that ‘knock off the corners’ and teach children that you get along by fitting in.

Well – as we often say at The Abbey – not here. Sure, we will always help children develop the skills they need, and these skills come more easily to some than others. Whether we are naturally extrovert or introvert, we all need to find ways to live with assurance in the world and to put our ideas across. But we do so as the people we are.

At the start of term assembly in the Senior School, our new chaplain, Kimberley Jest, spoke in the most powerful and uplifting terms about why we strive to succeed – and how to free ourselves from doing so for the approval of others. Our greatest success is to express ourselves, not to achieve external validation. And Sarah Tullis, head of Senior School this year, spoke of the community solidarity that faced down far-right riots this summer, forming rings of protection around buildings targeted by mobs. Freedom to, freedom from.

The third issue on all our minds is the introduction of new and punitive taxation on education. We’ll be sharing our response as a school very soon. The choice to attend an independent school is all about freedom. Parents work incredibly hard to afford a free choice for their children, while also, through taxation, funding the education of all children without making demands upon it. We all accept that tax is a necessary part of freedom: we share our resources for the sake of all. What we ask is that we should do so fairly. As a school we will be doing everything in our power to defend the freedom of parents to make a choice for their children, that supports those children to make a difference to the world.

We received lovely news this week, which validates the wonderful education and experience we seek to offer all students: we have been nominated as one of the top six girls’ schools in the country for the Independent Girls’ School of the Year award. We know that our task is to ensure the greatest possible value for the investment families. While, like our students, we aim to succeed as ourselves, and not for external validation – recognition like this is always lovely! It affirms all we do, and will continue to do, for our students and their futures.

Will le Fleming, Head