We very much encourage our students to reflect on their journey through life by looking back at the journey that others have trod – whether it be comparing the experiences of Years 7s and Year 13s at our Year 7 Dedication Service bringing back ex-students to talk through their university and employment experiences, or taking part in national commemorative events like Remembrance Sunday.
Looking ahead to our Focus Week after half-term, we have tutor groups leading House assemblies on the theme of Remembrance and we wanted them to communicate the experience of visiting the National Arboretum on our doorstep – just up the A38 at Alrewas – which serves as our country’s main memorial to all those who have lost their lives and given so much in conflicts down the ages.
There were representatives from tutor groups leading the assemblies, as well as House Captains, who dropped down to the National Arboretum in readiness for the commemorative week ahead:
Darwin House – Phoebe Marsh & Lily McRobinson
Garrick House – Sasha Chambers & Libbie Joyce
Johnson House – Natalia Litke & Isabella Lydall
Seward House – Matt Allen & Will Bennett
Elsewhere, the Focus Week will see tutor group activities, a House quiz competition on the theme of Remembrance, poppies being sold and displayed, and a commemoration exhibition in the gallery beside the theatre.
Lottie Hearn, Deputy Headteacher, said: “Amidst reports from the employer organisations that the COVID pandemic has hit millennials confidence in speaking out in public, we have launched a re-invigorated push on standards in our student-led assemblies and have students also assessing the qualities of their teacher’s assemblies too. Of course, a strong presentation also relies on the substance of the topic so taking students to the National Arboretum added weight to the assembly messages and helps flag up to students that the nation looks to our locale at Remembrance time. We can be proud that we are the centre of the nation’s attentions and can play our part in remembering those who served our country before us.”
For more details on the National Arboretum so that you can plan a family visit click here.