Principal's Blog

In his 54^th and final blog of the year, the Principal reflects on the last few months, and focuses on a strange method for divining the future, and determining our next steps.  

This week the Principal reveals a technique for thinking that connects our inner mental spaces with the outer spaces of the world, and how this can help students learn to be fully alive.

The Principal responds to recent events, arguing that as well as condemning racism, we need to educate people into a new respect, and reimagine a culture in which Strange Fruit might stand as a kind of anthem.

In this week’s blog, the Principal considers the ‘mirror stage’ in a child’s development, examines myths and scenes involving mirrors, and contemplates the place of reflection in education, including the walls of student bathrooms. 

Reflecting the fact that people are engaged by different things, this week the Principal chooses a piece of music, a piece of art, a cinematic style, a funny joke, a philosophy, and a great sporting moment, in the hope there might be something here for everyone.

The Principal reflects on the way Nature carries on during the crisis, considers the Global Seed Vault, and how the school itself comprises a vast vault of knowledge. 

The Principal reflects on the plague, how it led to Isaac Newton’s scientific discoveries, how the apple became a symbol of knowledge, and how our students might ‘eat them apples’.

The Principal considers how the lockdown has deprived us of the freedom of walking, considers what walking means in our culture, and hopes soon to see students walk through the school gates again.

The Principal considers the act of dancing, from an ancient tale, to a modern story of an improvised Club Kitchen, and confesses his own secret love of the Madison Dance. 

To complete his selection of 60 great paintings, the Principal chooses 15 favourites from 1925 to 2005 and explains why he likes them.

In the third instalment of his selection of 60 great paintings, the Principal chooses 15 favourites from 1800 to 1915, and reveals why he likes them.

In the second instalment of his selection of 60 great paintings, the Principal chooses 15 favourites from 1524 to 1793, and reveals why he likes them.

In the first part of his selection of 60 top paintings, the Principal chooses 15 favourites painted before 1512, and explains why he likes them.

To complete his selection of 50 pieces of music, the Principal chooses twenty favourite pop and rock songs and explains why he likes them.

In the second instalment of his selection of 50 pieces of music, the Principal chooses 15 favourite jazz tunes and reveals why he likes them.