In the course of an education, many testing moments will occur; indeed, several can happen within the space of a single day. Perhaps we are faced with a challenge that will reveal something about ourselves or a decision to be made which requires careful thought, or courage, or elements of both. Inevitably, to navigate and manage these moments requires a sense of curiosity, a level of resilience and often, even if implicitly, a dash of self-confidence, qualities which we, as staff at The Abbey, witness in our students with repeated delight and pride.
Moments of truth and, by extension, the notion of truth itself have been at the forefronts of minds here over the past couple of weeks in particular. Our Upper V students have approached their mock examinations with maturity and the recognition that, whatever the truths revealed, there is time for further study and revision; with the wealth of support available here at school, there will indeed be time for continued progress and increased confidence. Some in our community have wrestled intellectually with the concept of truth and how we might define it, exploring its relationship to subjectivity, its interconnection with justice and its kaleidoscope manifestations. Moreover, students in the Sixth Form writing their Theory of Knowledge essays have considered the nature of knowledge, grappling with issues including the relative fragility of what we most value and hold to be true.
In a similar vein, a particularly enjoyable event was last week’s inaugural Academic Scholars’ High Tea, a wonderfully sparky and collaborative occasion during which Scholars from Upper III to Upper VI worked together to solve problems and discover truths, while enjoying some delicious treats. Surprising themselves with what remains unseen when the eye is fixed on something specific and working together to solve a range of practical and word-based, visual puzzles, the students rose to the challenge of being the reflective, open-minded thinkers and inquirers we encourage them to be.
Having opportunities to think critically and creatively is, of course, the domain of every student at The Abbey: the scholarly nature of our school is alive in every classroom, studio, practice room and beyond on a daily basis. Our students are surrounded by ideas and role models which motivate and guide them to shape opinions and principles; these, in turn, will steer them towards futures of thought and action which engender positive change and the creation of new truths. It was inspiring to hear in Monday’s assembly, led by members of our Eco Council, of a man in India who planted tens of thousands of trees over almost 40 years, transforming a barren sandbar into a 1,390-acre forest. We learnt that doing something positive, no matter how small, every day, can, cumulatively, make a significant, valuable impact. Such actions require a belief in what is right, a dedication to a truth which is bigger than oneself. In being members of our School, our students are reminded to live by the values of courage, honesty and kindness, each of which, arguably, is required to face a moment of truth and remain true to oneself even, perhaps, when principles are tested. Our students will recognise the phrase, ‘Be an upstander, not a bystander’ and this is brought into the sharpest focus when we are challenged and find our values brought into question. Perhaps the advice of father to son, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, can help us to approach these tests in order to lead with confidence, learn with purpose and live with joy: ‘This above all: to thine own self be true’.
Dawn Bellamy, Deputy Head
