Thought For The Day – Friday 8th May 2026
Thank You Year 13
Today, the 8th of May 2026, is Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
Talking to a Year 7 student, who has significant international experience, the student, without any prompting, or reference to today, mentioned the educational and global impact of one figure on his life – Sir David Attenborough.
Inspirations transcend time, place, space, subject, and generation.
And our inspirations are all around us. They are in our communities, in our families, and in our souls.
Today, at T.B.S.H.S., we pay great tribute to legends close to home on Year 13 Leavers’ Day.
This literally ground-breaking year group were the first Sixth Form to complete two years at Beaumont Avenue. Indeed, their formative experience was unique: being inducted in a school shortly to be demolished, marking the transition from the classic to the modern, and keeping the faith that summer as the new era was crafted and created. These students came in their numbers, even as “T.B.S.H.S. Version 2.0” was being completed, and the staff, led by Mr. Reeve, were wearing high visibility jackets and hard hats.
To slightly misquote the film “Field of Dreams”: “If we build it, they will come”. And you did. Thank you very much.
We will always be very grateful to those students who were with us in earlier years at our former home of London Road. Sixth Form begins in Year 7. The “First” Team begins in the Academy.
We are equally most appreciative of those students who decided to join us in the Sixth Form, enhancing T.B.S.H.S. for everyone.
And never forget the part you played in helping others in the global pandemic.
The Year 13 of 2025 and 2026 leave a rich “Black and Gold” legacy in: academic subjects (the best is hopefully yet to come with the examinations); sport; music; drama; debating; and every area and dimension of T.B.S.H.S. and the wider community. Year 13 set the tone in our new school for future generations.
Even more importantly than all of that, they are good and wonderful people.
In thanking Year 13, we never forget the deep roots of the flower, and the environment, not to mention the gardeners and nurturers: carers; guardians; parents; friends; mentors and supporters; community groups; nursery, primary, and secondary school staff.
Particularly with Sixth Form, Mr. Munro, the Sixth Form Management Team, and the Sixth Form tutors create such an outstanding culture.
We send every good wish for the examinations, and beyond. Look after yourself and others.
Though schools are always places of continual movement, progress, and transition, perhaps the hardest thing is to say farewell, never goodbye, to individuals, whether they be staff or students. “Totes emosh”.
For individuals are unique and irreplaceable, having their own sacred gifts, identity, inspirations, and story. The individual list above was manually created and checked last night and this morning.
Together, individuals are part of an even greater narrative.
Pictured below: The Bishop’s Stortford High School this morning and yesterday.
