Hard Graft, Enthusiasm And Resilience Pave The Way

Amid Headmaster Mr John Watson's Half Term message to parents and pupils, congratulating former pupil Holly Payne on selection for the Team GB Hockey team, was advocacy of the benefits of hard graft, enthusiasm and resilience. He wrote:

'We were thrilled to receive news of a former pupil’s selection for Team GB in ladies’ hockey! Holly Payne left us in 2009: previously selected for England U16, U18 and U21, she has also completed a degree in Biology and a Master's in Toxicology. She will gain her first GB cap in Valencia later this month. She has said of her early hockey apprenticeship: 'Bablake gave me the passion for the game and taught me how to be hardworking and resilient. I cannot thank the school and the PE staff enough for the opportunities they gave me.'

Such an accolade does not come without hours of hard graft, endless supplies of enthusiasm and resilience, and plenty of set-backs along the way. The important thing for Holly and others like her is that she cherished her passion and chased her dream, with the support and encouragement of those who believed in her. And that’s a lesson for us all, whether or not our dreams are ultimately fulfilled.

In our learning and our various endeavours, unless we commit ourselves wholeheartedly, especially when the going is tough and challenging, then we shall never reap the rewards of our efforts. Likewise, unless we dare to move beyond our comfort-zone, we shall never achieve great things. Unless we are prepared to risk failure, then we shall never truly relish the taste of success. And unless we do fail at times, we shall never learn from such situations and thereby emerge as stronger, as well as humbler human beings.

Part of our job as teachers and as parents is to encourage a spirit of adventure, to celebrate children’s success, but also to help them understand disappointment or failure and to grow through it. As the old adage goes: Nothing ventured, nothing gained!'

The thoughts of our Headmaster on education, the Bablake community and society are posted every Friday during term time online and by email to current parents.