On Monday, we held an assembly that focused on the recipients of academic and sporting significance. It was a privilege to acknowledge three St Mary’s girls who have achieved international success in rowing, and the many many St Mary’s girls who achieved in the English Olympiad and as a group, set new standards of achievement for schools.

Such assemblies are a joy to lead but they also challenge me - on the one hand I want to applaud and celebrate the excellence of the recipients of awards, and on the other hand, I want to reassure the girls who are not being recognised but who have participated and contributed to enhance our school ethos. What does emerge from such occasions and what I did emphasise at the assembly, is the value of ‘lift’ that exists in such a performing environment.

What I failed to mention to the girls was that I had read a column by Jo Ellison, columnist, in the FT Weekend, where she praised sore losers. She was reflecting on Aryna Sabalenka’s rage after losing the US Open to Coco Gauff. What was a private outburst for Sabalenka, was captured on camera and then went viral. Ellison writes, “Recognising our limitations may not be the most fashionable of sentiments in this era of Nike-esque exhortations to live the dream … less popularly communicated is how much work, hardship and disappointment fulfilling that dream might actually entail.” She ends by saying that failure or things not going your way can be used to advantage and, “can be a strangely motivating tool.”

I failed to explore such sentiment in the assembly – I am hoping that the girls will read this message.

To end this week, we hosted our chapel gathering and assembly with a focus on Heritage Day, where we acknowledged and celebrated the value of learning in a diverse community.

DEANNE KING
HEADMISTRESS