Inspired by our amazing students that recently undertook Ten Tors 2026, last week’s Whole School Assembly focused on the topic of endurance. Rebecca Davies (Deputy Head: Pupil Development) reflected on what it means take on a challenge and recognising the achievements in overcoming those hurdles, in ourselves and in others.
“Our brains are designed to seek rewards. Scientists now understand that dopamine isn't simply released when we receive a reward; it is released in anticipation of achieving something we have worked towards, because our brains are wired to enjoy progress.
Every music rehearsal, every sports training, revision session or exam session is gently altering your brain. And your brain grows most when it is challenged. Not when things are easy. Not when everything comes naturally. That’s why as a school we value challenge in a range of areas – in the hope you will all find an area where you thrive and grow.
One person who I have been really inspired by and who demonstrates this better than almost anyone is a woman called Fiona Oakes. Fiona holds four Guinness World Records in endurance running. Most famously, she became the fastest woman to run a marathon on all seven continents and the North Pole; which travel time aside means she did 8 marathons in a wide range of environments in 23 and a half hours (less than 3 hours per marathon).
That achievement is extraordinary enough. But what makes her story remarkable is that she was born with a condition affecting her knees and underwent major surgery as a child. She has no kneecap on one leg. When she was a child, doctors doubted that she would ever walk, let alone run. Now we can always find outliers like Fiona. But what I admire most about her isn't her speed. It's her mindset. She understands that confidence doesn't come before difficult things. Confidence comes from doing difficult things.
You feel confident because you've tried. You find resources because you've struggled. You feel capable because you've done something that once seemed impossible. The same is true of our Year 9s doing exams, or Year 10s and Lower Sixth earlier in the term; those of our pupils learning an instrument, performing on stage, speaking in public, competing in sport or simply dealing with difficult challenges in everyday life.
And that's the message I'd like to leave with you. It is EASY to avoid difficult things; but try to seek out some things that scare you – that scare you just the right amount – and try hard not to avoid difficult things. Look around you to notice other people who are also trying to do difficult things. They may fail; you may fail; but you can learn to celebrate yourself and others who do difficult things – especially when they don’t go to plan. The easy path often gives immediate comfort; the difficult path gives lasting satisfaction. And years from now, please know that you will rarely be proud of the things that were easy.”