This is an article I wrote at about this time last year (amended slightly). I think it still holds true, and I post it again as encouragement to our imminent Leavers.

I often encourage boys to use memories from their past as a starting point for their writing, especially when someone tells me that they do not know what to write about. Memory serves as a powerful tool in our lives, and it is often very disconcerting when we struggle to remember something. Those of us who have family or loved ones facing challenges with dementia can attest to the pain of seeing someone struggle to pull all the strands of their life together because they have been lost in the ether.

I have spoken with a number of parents this week who have children at home preparing for (and now writing) their GCSE exams. For many, it is a time of treading on eggshells, as their children’s anxiety around the exams is easily taken out on the nearest living being – mostly their parents! For many, the atmosphere at home might feel charged with tension and stress. For parents, watching their children navigate the pressures of exams can be both challenging and worrying. It's natural for young minds to feel overwhelmed by the weight of expectations, but as parents and teachers there are numerous ways to provide support and guidance to help them cope with exam pressure and anxiety effectively.

In today’s digitally driven world, televisions and screens are ubiquitous, providing endless hours of entertainment, education, and, at times, unwelcome content.

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy.                                                                                                              J.M. Barrie

It can be quite confusing when listening to people speak about wellbeing.