Girl power
From the Headmaster’s Desk: 10 March 2023
Mr Hammond
Headmaster
I write this Head’s desk following hearing tale from the under-11 and under-13 cross country team. They have been at a rather soggy competition, but the athletes were great and the cake plentiful – what more can you ask for from a sporting event? Even more wonderful was the inclusive nature of the afternoon. Boys and girls both raced alongside each other in an atmosphere of friendly rivalry on a course that is very familiar to me. It was fascinating to hear about the event through fresh eyes.
It can be challenging racing in an unfamiliar setting; unlike invasion team sports such as football, rugby or basketball, one is often isolated from one’s team mates in order to pursue the best time possible for the good of the group. At the race today, there happened to be fewer girls – not a sign of weakness; there were simply more all-boys’ schools present. However, the issue of gender equality abounds and I am constantly proud that Abercorn provided opportunities for all.
It is not only in the realm of sport that girls and women face barriers – this week brought us International Women’s Day. A global celebration of the women's rights movement, the day draws attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. The world should be free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination, but instead be diverse, equitable, and inclusive. At Abercorn, difference is valued and celebrated in all its many forms: children must not just be taught academic lessons at school; they must be prepared for life outside the classroom and (when the time comes) the world of university and work.
Abercorn even has our own female trailblazer in the international martial arts circuit. A few weeks ago, Miss Pursey competed at the IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu European championships in Paris – a prestigious competition. Miss Pursey is a committed, talented practitioner and coach and I am delighted that she came away as champion in the brown belt light-featherweight division. This significant achievement is testimony to perseverance; Miss Pursey has been pursuing the title for half a decade – bravo all round!
Finally, I am sure you will have seen my separate letter regarding next Wednesday’s tube strikes and the impact this has on the school day. Apologies for any inconvenience caused – do let us know if you have any queries.
Next week bring STEAM Week to Abercorn; a celebration of all things scientific, technological, engineering, artistic and mathematical. Miss Bhandari leads the charge here and I look forward to hearing how much the children enjoy the surprises that are in store.
All the best for the weekend.
Mr Hammond
To see how busy a place our wonderful School is and for a more detailed look into all things Abercorn, follow us on social media; Twitter, Instagram and Facebook offer a wide range of updates. My personal thoughts on educational life can be found @hammondteacher.
