#coeducational

Coventry is known across the world as the City of Peace and Reconciliation, due to its response to the devastation of World War II. On the night of 14th November 1940, the city endured devastating bombing raids that destroyed much of its heart, including the medieval St Michael’s Cathedral. Bablake was also hit, and three families were killed.

In the aftermath, rather than seeking vengeance, Coventry’s leaders chose forgiveness. Provost Richard Howard’s message of “Father Forgive” became a cornerstone of a new vision: to heal wounds, build bridges and work for peace. This commitment lives on through Coventry Cathedral’s global ministry and the Community of the Cross of Nails, inspiring generations to turn conflict into friendship.

At Bablake, as a Cross of Nails school, these values are not just historical, they are part of our mission. Last month, our pupils composed and performed an original piece titled ‘Peace and Reconciliation’, blending the rich traditions of Gamelan music with Coventry’s enduring message of hope. This creative project, showcased at Coventry Cathedral, reminded us that reconciliation is not passive; it is active, requiring imagination, empathy and collaboration.

This Sunday, that same spirit will shine on national television, as Songs of Praise broadcasts from Coventry, featuring pupils from Bablake https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002nc7g. The programme celebrates hymns and stories that uplift and unite, echoing the city’s mission to “learn to live with difference and celebrate diversity.” For our pupils, participating in this broadcast is a chance to share Coventry’s story with millions, to show that peace begins in local communities and in classrooms.

The Cathedral’s Litany of Reconciliation, prayed daily, reminds us of the human failings that lead to conflict: “The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class… Father forgive.” These words are not about guilt but about hope and are a call to acknowledge our shared responsibility to work together for healing. They challenge us to live differently, to choose forgiveness over bitterness and to build bridges.

Wednesday’s visit by the Band of the Grenadier Guards was a truly memorable occasion and a wonderful example of the enriching experiences we strive to offer at Bablake. The collaboration between the Guards’ band and our pupils resulted in an outstanding musical performance, showcasing both talent and teamwork. Watching the Guards march across the front field, with most of the school gathered to witness the spectacle, was a powerful and inspiring moment and most certainly one that will stay with us for a long time.

At Bablake, music is more than just a subject – it is a source of joy, connection and growth. Whether it is a child picking up an instrument for the first time or a seasoned performer taking to the stage, music has a remarkable ability to bring people together and lift spirits. Research consistently shows that music helps us feel happier, more relaxed and less anxious. It stimulates every part of the brain, making it a powerful tool for learning and wellbeing.

The benefits of music are not limited to just those who consider themselves to be “musical.” You do not need to be a trained musician to enjoy what music offers. Singing or playing in a group can boost our sense of belonging and emotional wellbeing. I personally look forward to my weekly 20 minutes with the brass ensemble, even if most of the pupils outplay me (they do practise more!). It is a chance to step away from the day’s responsibilities and enjoy something completely different.

We are proud that music continues to thrive across all areas of the school, from our youngest learners in Pre-Prep to our Sixth Form students. Hundreds of instrumental lessons, ensemble rehearsals and performance opportunities take place each term. Some of you may have heard our talented music scholars perform at St John’s Church last week. If you missed it, do not worry, as there will be plenty more chances to enjoy their music throughout the year.

We truly believe in the value of music, not just for mental health, but also as a powerful learning tool. Studies show that children who learn to play an instrument often see improvements in their academic performance. Why? Because learning music helps them to develop a positive mindset and resilience. It takes effort and persistence to master an instrument, but the rewards are clear: progress, confidence and a sense of achievement.

In assemblies last week, we reflected on the impact William Kamkwamba made in his village in Malawi. During a period of drought he designed and built a wind pump to irrigate crops. William’s story was recently made into a film, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. At the end of the film, William himself was interviewed and asked about what happened. He said that he refused to accept the situation that his family found itself in and, thanks to his interest in science, he recognised a possible solution. Most importantly he then did something. He took action. The start of a school year is an ideal time to change something or do something new. This might be related to academic progress, for example to regularly attend a workshop or complete homework on the night it is set, or it could be to get involved in the co-curricular life of the School. Whatever it happens to be, having made the decision it is important to do it as soon as possible and therefore avoid returning to old habits. Sharing ideas with others often means you are more likely to do it, as you feel more accountable. Perhaps, therefore, this could form the basis of discussions at home. This term’s co-curricular programme may inform this conversation and is available with other parent information on our website – www.bablake.com

Over the last couple of weeks, I had the pleasure of attending many school events. These concerts, exhibitions, talks, presentations and productions are an important part of school life. I thought I would use this blog to mention three of them which demonstrate how we are a thriving intellectual and creative community. 

This week many of our Lower Sixth pupils presented their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) reports. Part of the requirements of the course is that they present their work and, given the numbers choosing to do the EPQ at Bablake, we run an evening where work is presented as posters. Those attending then get to speak to the students about what they have researched and discovered. Every year, the quality and range of the projects is impressive. It is a demonstration of how good our students can be, given the opportunity. I have written previously in this blog about the importance of ‘being interested’ and the evening is a great chance for those visiting to discover and think about a wide variety of topics. I had conversations with Sixth Formers about the annexation of Crimea, the anterior cruciate ligament, birdsong, the idea of a good war and dementia. It is a great way of spending a couple of hours and I found that I was challenged, impressed and fascinated in equal measure. 

The Art and Design exhibition took place last week and again the hall was full of an amazing variety of work. While the exhibition focuses on examination work, there were projects completed by other year groups and some local professional artists also exhibited their work. Compared with other schools where I have worked, I am not only impressed by the quality of the work but also the range. Both departments allow students to develop their ideas and passions; it is incredible where this can lead and again highlights, when given the opportunity, our students can achieve amazing things. 

Both events were accessible to people of all ages and celebrate what has been achieved by other Bablake pupils. While I know it is a busy time of year, I would have hoped that a greater number of pupils would have attended these two opportunities. I am aware that sometimes we could do better in the way we highlight events and encourage people to attend. We are thinking about what improvements we could make. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. 

The third event was the drama production of ‘100’. It is great to see how performing arts is developing here. The play, which was put together in only two weeks, was everything that you would have hoped for in a piece of drama; entertaining, challenging and well produced and acted. The premise of the play was that the characters could choose one moment in their lives to keep forever; all other memories would be lost. As the production finished, I could hear conversations immediately starting, as people discussed what moment they would choose if they were asked to make the same decision. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Guest blog, written by Mrs Helen Skilton (Assistant Headteacher - Teaching and Learning):

My Upper Sixth historians are currently getting to grips with the demands of their A level coursework. As I explained how they should structure their essay, I advised that they should start with the relevant historiography. Some blank faces prompted me to remind them that historiography meant how historians had written about the past; ‘historio’ - history, ‘graphy’ -writing, therefore writing about the past. ‘So, you mean interpretations’, one pupil responded. ‘Why didn’t you just say so? Why do you have to use so many long words?’ Cue eye-rolling on my part and an unwanted lecture on the importance of using complex vocabulary to express precisely what you mean! 

I am not alone in noticing that the vocabulary range of even our brightest pupils seems to have narrowed in the past few years. In 2018, Oxford University Press published a report entitled, ‘Why Closing the Word Gap Matters’. In the report they noted that 60% of secondary school teachers think pupils’ vocabularies are more limited than they used to be. Research has shown that a large vocabulary is a key indicator of success in Mathematics as well as English GCSE and to access the new knowledge-rich GCSE curriculum, pupils need to understand around 50,000 words. 80% of everyday language, on the other hand, consists of around only 2000 words. Word-rich pupils are more successful than the word-poor; it is impossible to learn about a subject without first understanding the words that describe and explain it. 

How then do we ensure that our pupils are word-rich? An obvious solution is to encourage them to read! Reading for pleasure will expose a child to a wider range of words than they will encounter in every-day conversations, television or social media. Reading alone, however, is not a panacea; how often do we, as adults, skim over a word we are not sure of, assuming we have interpreted it correctly from the context? Another strategy to help young people acquire a broader vocabulary is to use complex words in our conversations with them, not casually, but deliberately, taking time to delight in the complexity of the word, explore its etymology, suggest synonyms and antonyms and give other examples of its use. If you are looking for inspiration, try the Merriam-Webster ‘word of the day’ – my latest favourite is ‘oneiric’.

We live in a busy world. There are so many competing demands on our attention and use of technology has made it more difficult to focus on the things that matter. Almost every conversation I have had with parents over the last few weeks has included a discussion about how difficult it is to support their child with their use of social media, games, and smartphones in general. There are no easy answers, but that does not mean we should give up. There is ongoing research into the link between mental health and time spent online, however, I think we can all agree that, while social media and messaging can have some benefits, they can also be a huge distraction. Many of the pastoral incidents we encounter in school have an element related to social media use and we often find messages being sent between children very late at night or even in the early hours of the morning. 

As in many things in life, a balance is required. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) offer these four questions for families to use as a guide to examine their screen time: 

Is screen time in your household controlled? 

Does screen use interfere with what your family want to do? 

Does screen use interfere with sleep?

Are you able to control snacking during screen time? 

They go on to say: “If a family can ask themselves (or be asked by others) these questions, and are satisfied with the answers, then they can be reassured that they are likely to be doing as well as they can with this tricky issue.” More information and advice can be found here from the RCPCH.

One of the many activities that can lose out to social media is reading. We know that, in general, pupils who read more do better in their exams; bluntly, if you want to be more successful, read. This is not a great surprise given the importance of a wide vocabulary to help learn and understand new topics being taught. It is why we dedicate time in school to silent reading, but this is not enough; it should be a frequent habit at home as well. 

There are many other good reasons for reading and, this week, I came across “Letters to a Young Reader”, by philosopher Alain de Botton. A book comprising 121 letters written to children. I have reproduced one below:

“Dear Reader, 

We wouldn’t need books quite so much if everyone around us understood us well. But they don’t. Even those who love us get us wrong. They tell us who we are but miss things out. They claim to know what we need, but forget to ask us properly first. They can’t understand what we feel — and sometimes, we’re unable to tell them, because we don’t really understand it ourselves. That’s where books come in. They explain us to ourselves and to others, and make us feel less strange, less isolated and less alone. We might have lots of good friends, but even with the best friends in the world, there are things that no one quite gets. That’s the moment to turn to books. They are friends waiting for us any time we want them, and they will always speak honestly to us about what really matters. They are the perfect cure for loneliness. They can be our very closest friends.”

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and are able to spend a little time immersed in a book. 

(Bulletin No 5 - 7th June 2019)

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