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Dear Parents
Our Year 5 girls have been busy preparing what promises to be a wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking assembly. At the centre of their performance is Mr Spink, a rather dubious careers adviser who promises to match their interests and ambitions with the perfect jobs. His descriptions of treasure hunting, working with animals and designing beautiful objects sound wonderfully exciting. Unfortunately, the reality turns out to be rather different! Transported back in time, the girls discover some of the less appealing occupations of the past, from chasing birds out of fields and collecting leeches to making matchboxes and working as domestic servants.
Behind the humour lies a powerful message. For countless children in the past, work was not a choice but a necessity, and opportunities to learn, play and pursue their dreams were severely limited. As the girls remind us at the end of their performance, every child deserves the chance to learn, play and dream.
This message has prompted me to reflect on the extraordinary opportunities available to our girls today and, perhaps more importantly, our responsibility to prepare them for a future that none of us can fully predict.
The world of work has changed beyond recognition since the days portrayed in the assembly (and indeed since I was their age!), and advances in artificial intelligence and technology are transforming it at an extraordinary pace. Many of our girls may eventually pursue careers that do not yet exist, using technologies we can barely imagine. It raises a fascinating question: how do we prepare children for a world we cannot yet see?
Interestingly, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies analytical thinking, creativity, resilience, flexibility, curiosity and lifelong learning among the skills that will be increasingly valued, alongside technological literacy. What I find particularly encouraging is that, even as technology becomes more sophisticated, the qualities that make us human remain so important.
And this is where our eight Channing Characters come into their own!
Curiosity Fox encourages our girls to ask questions, explore possibilities and think creatively. Resilience Robin and Perseverance Squirrel remind them that setbacks are opportunities to learn, while Bravery Mole inspires them to embrace challenges and try something unfamiliar. Independence Owl encourages them to think for themselves and exercise good judgement. Equally important are Empathy Rabbit, Respectfulness Hedgehog and Responsibility Badger, who help our girls understand the importance of kindness, integrity, collaboration and caring for others.
What I particularly love about our Channing Characters is that they make these qualities meaningful and accessible to children. They are far more than characters we celebrate in assemblies or recognise through our weekly Channing Character Champions meetings. They provide a shared language that helps our girls understand not only what they are learning, but who they are becoming.
This connection between human qualities and future success is also explored in SuperSkills: The Seven Human Skills for the Age of AI, a fascinating new book by one of our Governors, Rahim Hirji. One idea that particularly resonates with me is his distinction between drift and design. As technology becomes increasingly capable of suggesting what we should think, do or choose, will we simply drift along with its recommendations, or will we have the confidence, curiosity and judgement to design our own paths?
For me, this goes to the very heart of education. Of course, we want our girls to develop strong academic foundations and achieve their personal best. But we also want them to question thoughtfully, think independently, embrace different perspectives and make decisions guided by their own values.
Which brings me back to Mr Spink! His enthusiastic descriptions of exciting careers certainly sound convincing, but a little more curiosity, independent thinking and a few carefully chosen questions might have saved the girls from some rather unpleasant experiences! It is a delightful illustration of why critical thinking and good judgement matter, whether we are listening to a persuasive careers adviser or navigating an increasingly complex digital world.
Of course, childhood should never be viewed simply as preparation for adulthood or employment. There is enormous value in learning for the sheer joy of discovery, in playing, creating, imagining, laughing and building friendships. Indeed, it is through these very experiences that so many of the qualities our girls will need in the future are developed.
We see this every day at the Junior School: a girl persevering with a challenging maths problem, friends showing empathy as they resolve a disagreement, a pupil bravely sharing an original idea, or a child’s curiosity taking a lesson in an unexpected and wonderful direction. These may seem like small moments, but together they are helping our girls develop the confidence, resilience, compassion and imagination to embrace whatever lies ahead.
And perhaps this is the true meaning of our vision, Girls enjoying success. It is not simply about academic achievement or future careers, but about nurturing curious, compassionate, courageous and independent young people who have the confidence to follow their own paths, find joy in what they do and make a positive difference to the lives of others.
We cannot predict the world our girls will inherit, but we can help them develop the character, confidence and imagination to shape it. Most importantly, we can ensure that, while preparing for their futures, they never lose the joy and wonder of being children.
My heartfelt thanks to our Year 5 girls and their teachers for preparing such a thoughtful and imaginative assembly. I am very much looking forward to sharing their performance with parents on Wednesday.
As we look ahead, this week also brings opportunities to reflect on the values that unite us as a community: compassion, gratitude, freedom and respect for others.
I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all members of our community celebrating Bandi Chhor Divas. With its powerful message of hope, freedom and standing up for others, this special occasion reminds us of the importance of valuing the freedoms we enjoy and showing compassion towards those around us.
We will also come together to mark Remembrance Day, remembering those who have served and sacrificed, and reflecting with the girls on the importance of remembrance, gratitude and peace. Please see below for further information about how we will mark this important occasion.
There is a particularly meaningful connection with Year 5’s assembly. Both remind us to appreciate the opportunities and freedoms we enjoy, recognise those who came before us and consider the kind of world we hope to create for future generations.
With warmest wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
