I feel that I cannot let this week pass without pausing to reflect on recent events in the UK. Alongside COVID-19 related news, the tragic murder of Sarah Everard has prompted much national reflection and soul searching about ways in which unacceptable behaviour towards women has been tolerated or normalised all too frequently. In the wake of this event, national attention has been drawn to the website “Everyone’s Invited” which features schools and the conduct of some of their pupils. The testimonials published on the website make for challenging reading as they point to the existence of a culture where inappropriate and unwanted behaviour towards young women has been possible and has gone unchallenged. Of course, these matters are of serious concern to us at Badminton both as a school and as a community.
We know that, as well as keeping our young people as safe as we can and ensuring they enjoy their childhood, we must educate them around these issues. There is no straight forward answer or single strategy but there are lots of things we can do: we have to have those important conversations about self-esteem, self-awareness and self-respect, as well as about boundaries, mutual respect and the practicalities of keeping safe.
Whilst we already have a PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Economic Education) programme and many other opportunities and talks in place, over the coming weeks we will be refreshing these in light of this refocus and also particularly putting in place activities for the Sixth Form leavers as part of their out-duction. We will also continue to find ways to develop our ‘Pupil Voice’, as we realise the importance of encouraging debate and discussion around some difficult topics. We hope to also find debates and topics we can open to our wider community of parents and friends as we know this is a matter that we have to manage together as a community.
On a lighter note, you will be pleased to know that in School many joyful and celebratory things have been underway in amongst the beautiful blossom (thanks to @BadmintonArt for tweeting amazing blue sky and pink blossom images of the tree outside the Creative Art Centre that resonated with Damien Hirst’s wonderful cheery blossom paintings!) and glorious spring flowers.
It is not just the plants that are springing back to life as the season progresses, but our activities too now that many are back on campus; I was so excited to know that the ‘Choir Bubbles’ are back rehearsing in person and cannot wait to hear strains of music drifting across the campus again! Also we feel the season strongly with Year 11 F&N pupils refreshing their breadmaking skills via the medium of Hot Cross Buns – from the images I saw they certainly seem to have perfected those skills!
I was also delighted to see the Juniors writing Easter postcards to some of our older alumnae; the handwriting and Easter drawings were beautiful and so I am sure they will be thrilled to receive them.
We are looking forward to our final days of Term, particularly the celebratory moments of House activities to bond us before we all take a well-deserved break!
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