BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

Week 2 of the Trinity Term came and went in the blink of an eye. Honestly, I blinked on Tuesday morning and it was Friday afternoon. I’m beginning to wonder whether someone’s fiddled with the clocks in my study.

Tuesday morning brought with it a splendid Upper School recital – one of those uplifting moments when you realise just how much talent is packed into our BCS Music Department. The pupils played with poise, passion and no small measure of panache. As I listened, I thought of that old line by Sir Thomas Beecham: “The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes.” Well, I can tell you, BCS parents and staff do like music and the noise this lot made was rather magnificent. My thanks to the music staff and to our young performers. I’m already looking forward to the upcoming Scholars and Prelude Concert later in the term.

Meanwhile, our senior footballers packed their boots and headed for hallowed turf. Not Wembley, alas, but the next best thing: St George’s Park, Derbyshire – the training ground for England’s finest. There, they competed in the national finals with grit and grace, only narrowly missing out on the later stages. Under the guidance of Mr Melia and Mr Protherough, the boys played their hearts out and made us proud. Two years running at that level is no small feat. One spectator told me, “Your boys play like pros, but better behaved.” I shall take that!

Back at School, we were delighted to welcome back Old Scholar and former Head Boy Hasan Ahmed. Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking the triple crown of BCS, Eton and St Catherine’s, Oxford might give someone a lofty air. Not a bit of it. Hasan delivered an inspiring and down-to-earth Geography lecture to our pupils. His passion for tectonic plates and urbanisation was contagious – not something you can say about many sixth formers! The pupils left energised, and some, I daresay, ready to trade their iPads for an atlas.

But if you’re looking for a moment that truly captured the BCS spirit this week, it came courtesy of three of our pupils: Tabitha, Savaiya and Ishani. The trio took it upon themselves to visit 1B and teach sign language, inspired by their House Shout-winning rendition of ‘Fight Song’. The little ones were enchanted – and now I can’t seem to walk down a corridor without being earnestly signed at by enthusiastic six-year-olds. Heart-warming and slightly confusing.

And as if all that weren’t enough, our debating team spent Friday polishing their arguments and sharpening their wits ahead of taking on the county’s finest. As I write, we await the verdict. But whatever the outcome, the team, led brilliantly by Miss Firman, have displayed superb commitment and composure. I suspect if you challenged them to debate whether a Jaffa Cake is a biscuit or a cake, they’d have the panel in a spin.

Looking ahead, I do hope many of you will join us this weekend for the Aquathlon – a sure sign that the House Charity season is officially underway. It promises a cracking day out, with water, running, stalls and enough cake to power a small village. Bring your trainers, your small change and your loudest cheer.

Wishing you all a restful weekend – or at least one with dry socks.