“A message from the Deputy Head Academic"

Finding Our Rhythm Again

The past three weeks have been all about finding our footing, adjusting to new routines, new timetables, new teachers, new Year Groups, and for some, even a new school. Change is never easy, but it is an important part of growth. What matters is keeping our eyes on the end goal: making progress and becoming just a little better than we were yesterday.

With our students, we have been emphasising a few simple but powerful reminders:

1. Focus on Consistency - small, steady steps are the real key to improvement.
2. Personal Progress - compare yourself only to who you were yesterday, not to anyone else.
3. Celebrate Small Wins - every improvement, however small, builds momentum.
4. Patience and Persistence - progress takes time, and persistence makes the difference.
5. Inspiration - each journey is unique, and every step forward matters.

As Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Success is rarely the result of one off efforts or sudden bursts of energy. Instead, it is built day by day, in the quiet routines and the steady choices we make. Excellence becomes part of who we are when we commit to showing up consistently, even in the small things.

In Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s words: “Success is not always about greatness. It is about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” His words echo the same truth in a modern way. We do not need to chase greatness overnight. By putting in consistent effort, doing our homework, paying attention in class, and practising a little bit each day, we lay the foundation for future achievements. Greatness is not the starting point; it is the outcome of persistence, patience, and habit.

Together, these perspectives highlight a powerful lesson for our students: focus on consistency over perfection, progress over comparison, and trust that greatness will follow in time.

Our role as parents (myself included) is to create the right conditions for consistency at home. That means encouraging effort, noticing the little wins, and reminding our children that it is okay for progress to feel slow sometimes. I say this as a note to myself too!

When we celebrate persistence and treat mistakes as part of learning, we help our children build resilience and confidence. Together, school and home can shape the habits that lead to long-term success.

So let us keep cheering them on with every step forward.

Noela Gichuru

Deputy Headteacher - Academic