Beachborough Newsletter: Friday 28th February 2025
Head’s Blog
“Every young person has a balloon of self-belief within them, and our role is to help inflate it.” James Shone
On Thursday, we had the privilege of welcoming James Shone to speak to the children in Forms V to VIII and later in the evening to Parents. His talk, about inflating balloons of self-belief, was both moving and inspiring, offering profound insights into how we can nurture confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset in our young people.
James’ own story is one of remarkable courage. Having been appointed as the Headmaster of Monkton Prep School in 2012, a routine medical examination revealed a brain tumour that led to significant sight loss and the relinquishing of his dream job. But rather than allowing adversity to define him, James used this challenge as a springboard to inspire others. His charity, I Can & I Am, is dedicated to helping young people develop strong self-belief, ensuring they recognise their own abilities and potential.
James’ inspirational talk led me to think about why are so many young people struggling? The answer is complex and would take much longer than this blog allows to answer but a contributory factor is no doubt the role of social media which often presents an unrealistic and curated version of success, leaving many young people finding themselves feeling inadequate, overwhelmed, and disconnected.
At the heart of James’ belief is this crucial truth: our children need to believe in themselves. They need to focus on what they can do rather than dwelling on what they can’t, for when young people develop a strong sense of self-worth, they are more likely to embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and navigate life with confidence.
In James’ talk to parents, he explained that every young person carries within them a metaphorical balloon of self-belief and that as parents and educators our role is to help inflate that balloon, ensuring that it remains buoyant even in the face of adversity. In doing so we need to celebrate areas of strength, as this encouragement fuels confidence. We need to model resilience, showing our children that life’s inevitable setbacks are not failures but opportunities to grow. We should foster an environment where kindness and collaboration are valued and finally, support them to recognise their potential, explore new interests, and develop their own sense of purpose.
This is the third time that I have heard James speak and his words left me with a renewed commitment to supporting our children in recognising their own worth. Beachborough is committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, empowered, and confident in their ability to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
If you would like to learn more about James Shone’s work and his charity, visit his website at https://icanandiam.com
Wishing you an enjoyable weekend,
Simone
Following the recent Scholarship Assessments held at Bloxham School, I am delighted to announce the following awards:
Lily, in PP1, took part in the Milton Keynes Festival of the Arts on Saturday 22nd Feb. She entered a non-competitive class, and read a chapter of Roald Dahl’s The Twits, for which she received a merit.
Isla R, in Form VI, took part in the MK Festival of Performing Arts this weekend for the poetry recital. She performed The Tyger by William Blake amazingly well and won 1st place with an outstanding achievement.
Join us for our next Beachborough Explorers event, taking place on Monday 17th March 2025 at 09.45am-11.00am.
Recently, Form III have been making their own news reports to bring the Roman invasion to life. Following this, they wrote some persuasive letters to a BBC Newsreader, Ben Brown, who happens to be Mrs. Keen’s father! Their hard work convinced the former war correspondent to come and speak to Form III-VIII about his career as a journalist for the last 30 years. Ben has covered many important events in recent history, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Queen’s death, wars in Iraq and Ukraine, as well as natural disasters such as the Boxing Day Tsunami. Ben discussed with the children what the news is and why it matters. Ben also shared a clip of his father, Mrs. Keen’s grandfather – Antony Brown, reading the news on television in 1961 to show how the news has changed. The children asked thoughtful questions about his life and career, including ‘What was the most astonishing place you have been to?’, and ‘Which story was the hardest to report on?’. He shared the process of creating a news report, explaining that often this would be on the go after collecting footage, or if back in the studio it would be at a desk. Ben talked about some of the more dangerous positions he has been in and being torn between maintaining his safety whilst also being in the thick of the action! All of the pupils found it to be a fascinating insight into life as a journalist and more than a few have been inspired to become a journalist in the future!
We can’t wait for Ultimate Activity Camps to return this year, with camps running during the Easter and summer holidays. These camps offer an incredible opportunity for children to discover new activities, boost their confidence, and make lasting friendships. Each week is packed with over 40 thrilling sports, games, and creative activities, all delivered in a safe and fun environment inspected by Ofsted.
Our FVIII children have been busy experimenting with eggs in Food Tech this week, and they created lots of delicious recipes!
We have a very special pup that we’d like you to meet… introducing, Connie!
On Sunday 27th April, Mr Blee will be running the Shakespeare Half Marathon, all in aid of raising money for Mary’s Meals!
