BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

The final week of this half term has always carried with it a curious energy, a blend of exhaustion and elation, of ticking lists and this one was no exception. Yet amidst the chaos of lost jumpers and end-of-term sugar highs, our focus was resolutely on giving.

Our annual Harvest Assemblies were, quite frankly, a tonic for the soul. Each year, I’m struck by the sheer generosity of our community. The tables were laden with offerings; tinned, boxed, and beautifully presented and as the choir’s harmonies floated through Chapel, I found myself thinking that if gratitude could be bottled, we’d be able to solve most of life’s ills. My heartfelt thanks to every family who contributed; your kindness will reach well beyond our gates. The Birmingham City Mission will use our gifts to support countless families across the region, a reminder that small acts, when multiplied, can have mighty effects.

No sooner had we basked in the glow of our Harvest efforts than we turned our attention to Project Mawali. What an inspiring assembly it was, the product of the tireless creativity of Mrs Newman, Mrs Buncher, and Mrs Somerville. The pupils presented with confidence, empathy, and that wonderful sparkle of curiosity that defines our School. The subsequent stalls and cake sale went down, as they say, “a storm”, not least because some of the cakes looked as if they’d been designed by a Parisian pâtissier rather than a Prep parent on a Thursday night.

The funds raised will support Playdor School and their neighbouring state school, Mlomba Primary School, in Malawi, helping to provide clean water and essential resources. More than that, though, it has opened a window for our pupils onto a wider world. A world in which education, opportunity, and daily comfort cannot be taken for granted. Global citizenship isn’t merely a curriculum add-on; it’s an awakening. I look forward to watching the relationship between our schools blossom, a partnership that promises to be as enriching as it is humbling.

Meanwhile, within our own walls, Year 1, 2, 3 and 5 brought a burst of colour and rhythm to proceedings with their Bollywood dance workshops. I confess, I’m not sure my knees could have coped with some of the more energetic moves, but pupils’ certainly could, their enthusiasm was infectious. There’s something deeply uplifting about seeing our pupils throw themselves into unfamiliar territory, grinning as they do so.

Year 6, by contrast, is dancing to a rather different tune, that of exam season. With the Grammar School results now out (and shared with much justified pride), it has been wonderful to celebrate the achievements of our hard-working pupils. Their success is testament not only to their own effort and determination but to the guidance of our dedicated staff and the steady encouragement of parents.

To cap it all off, Year 6 also managed to step back, quite dramatically, into Ancient Greece. I encountered a small phalanx of togas en route to the Dining Hall and was relieved to find no actual spears in sight. The day’s activities were a triumph, bringing history vividly to life. As one pupil explained to me, “It’s much easier to remember the gods when you’ve been one for the morning.” Quite!

As the half term draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the quiet power of giving, of time, talent, thought, and care. Whether through a food donation, a dance step, or a helping hand, our community continues to model the values we hold dear. To borrow from Shakespeare, “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

Here’s to a well-earned rest, to continued generosity of spirit, and to the bright partnership that awaits us in Malawi.