Headmaster's Bulletin (29)

As I write this evening the future of the Union hangs in the balance!

Although you would probably not guess from hearing me speak, half of me hails from north of the border, as my father was born near Glasgow. He always enjoyed supporting not only his belovèd homeland, but also any country which England happened to be playing, in whatever sport! Healthy rivalry and competition are a good thing, as they spur us on to higher achievement and encourage loyalty to a greater cause. At Bablake, we like to win in sport, and pupils and staff are fiercely loyal to their school. We may thrive on individual challenges, but our success is often only achieved through teamwork and co-operation.

The Scottish referendum has not been without passion, but it has mostly been peaceful. The same cannot be said of bitter conflicts in various other parts of our world: we continue to see far too many lives spent in the name of independence, as long-buried rivalries rise to the surface and neighbours seem no longer able to live harmoniously alongside one another.

In our Introduction to the A level Years Evening tonight, we have stressed the importance of independent working and initiative, but have also highlighted the huge benefits of teamwork, abundantly evident in the Lower Sixth Team-building day two weeks ago. We recognise at Bablake that each of us is different, but that we only truly thrive in relationship to others, as members of a welcoming and inclusive community. We are ‘better together’.