Thought For The Day – Wednesday 3^rd June 2026

Recently, a former student of The Bishop’s Stortford High School, George Hoddle, was awarded the “Young Player of the Season” award by the team George is a professional footballer for, Cambridge United.

This was a fine achievement by George.

Not least because Cambridge United achieved promotion from League Two, after a season of consistently high standards, on and off the field.  Can you find George in the inclusive the squad photograph above?

George broke into the team, in the heart of the midfield, as Autumn transitioned into Winter. It was no coincidence that, at this moment in the season,  the team continued to rise up their league to challenge for promotion.

Success by the team was built on brilliant “home” form in Cambridge. As the season progressed, the performances and results “away” from home followed this lead, with adapted and adaptive tactics, carefully thinking about, and solving, issues and problems.  All along the Manager, Neil Harris, who humbly thanked everyone else in the moment of the club’s promotion, led the way.

George, who left T.B.S.H.S. in 2022, after his fine G.C.S.E. success in Year 11, has had to show resilience.  Resilience in learning and waiting for his opportunity. Resilience in taking advantage of this opportunity. Resilience in returning from injury and subsequent operation in 2026.

Resilience is such an important aspect of all our lives.

George is living his dream, learning, and excelling, in his craft and profession.  George is showing ambition, aspiration, and application. He is a symbol of so many of our former students.

What do you wish to do when you leave T.B.S.H.S.?

Though education, and schools, have their own purpose, not least to nurture good, kind, and moral citizens, who care for others, and themselves, one aspect of the importance of education is to prepare students for employment, and life generally, beyond school.

At The Bishop’s Stortford High School, we, and you, are blessed to have so many wonderful opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom. Such opportunities should not be taken for granted, but should be fully appreciated.

One inspirational example of such enrichment is all the school does in careers and employment education.

Whether it be:  the inspirational and vast Careers Fair  in October of 2025; the many guest speakers T.B.S.H.S. hosts; the second to none advice on “next steps”, particularly after Year 11 and Year 13;  the careers day next week; and Year 10 and Year 12 work experience, The Bishop’s Stortford High School prepares you for the future. Your future.

Future hopes and dreams help present discipline and motivation.

For the greatest gift that be given to a young person is a good start to life.  And we build such moral foundations on rock, not on sand.

A vital part of this good start is nurturing love, resilience, responsibility, and respect.

Good ethical values always underpin all the above.

Character matters.

This is most certainly the case with George Hoddle.