News

Ms Boyes' reflections on the week ending 10 January 2025
Rooted in Aristotle’s timeless philosophy, eudaimonia—or flourishing—remains as relevant today as ever. Ms Boyes spoke in assembly at the Senior School about the concept explored by Corey Keyes, a leading sociologist and psychologist, in his book Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down. Keyes emphasizes the importance of belonging and being challenged as keys to thriving, alongside identifying 14 signs of flourishing. Ms Boyes encouraged students and staff alike to embrace this fresh perspective for the new year, with five actionable "vitamins" to help our community thrive and flourish.Â
Head's Blog: Year 6
This week I have met all 31 of our Prep School Year 6s who gave me a thorough and wide-ranging education in what makes sparky ten and eleven-year-olds tick. They gave their presentations to me as part of their transfer process to the senior school, which their external counterparts will do in January. Beginning a talk with the line, ‘My mother is a cereal killer’ was particularly memorable (it was about healthy eating) but every student impressed me in their own way.

Head's Blog: Wittgenstein and Remembrance
Paul Wittgenstein was a renowned Austrian-American concert pianist known for introducing new piano concertos by Ravel, Richard Strauss, Britten and Korngold. What is unusual about these works is that they are written for the left hand alone. Wittgenstein was an amputee, having lost his right arm after being shot in the elbow at the battle of Galicia. Despite his injury and subsequent persecution by the Nazi regime, Wittgenstein’s dedication allowed him to bring new art to the world in the years following World War One, which we commemorated with a special assembly and display on Monday. This was led by students who had recently visited the scene and the cemeteries of the battlefields of Ypres and the Somme...

Head's Blog: Celebrating our International Community
As many of you will know, I have recently returned from Hong Kong where I was privileged to meet prospective students as well receiving a warm welcome from alumnae and current parents. The trip was truly instructive in allowing me to gain something of an understanding of the experiences of these students.

Head's Blog: Enthusiasm for STEM at RHB
This week our Sixth Form IB students were challenged to develop their scientific skills even further through the Collaborative Science Project, an inter-disciplinary activity focusing on the implications of science through practice-based learning, teamwork and cooperation. The teams are drawn from all Group 4 subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, DT, PE and Computer Science) and developed their own research titles around the theme of ‘Sustainability of the Olympics.’

Head's Blog: Montaigne, Essays and Academic Enrichment
Why do we ask students to write essays? At least part of the answer to that question is found in 16th century France.
Head's Blog: Hadrian's Wall (and the power of sisterhood and the great outdoors)
In 122 C.E. the Emperor Hadrian, with whom I share both a name and a birthday, commanded that a wall be constructed across the stretch of Northern England where it is at its narrowest. It was still a remarkable 73 miles long, marked with regular milecastles and forts and garrison towns...

Head's Blog: MFL Karaoke
Languages are of great importance at RHB and bring transferrable skills, confidence and enjoyment to our curriculum. All the languages taught at RHB will be represented in song at next week's MFL karaoke, and I know these will be presented with the style, panache and good humour that we have come to expect from our language learners and their teachers.Â

Head's Blog: The key to a strong community ...
The key to a strong community could be staring you in the face