1. Those who seek to use the magic of the creative process to help instil in those children some of the most important lessons for childhood. This often results in superbly memorable messages conveyed through classic moments, capturing utterly an important truth. Think ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ and the like. 

2. Those who take the approach of shoving as much stimulation, conveyor-belt ‘entertainment’, rapid changes, and cheap (often crass) humour as possible into their output, leaving the mind with the equivalent of a raging ‘sugar high’ from which the inevitable ‘crash’ will emerge… The sort of output that usually makes parents have rather uncharitable thoughts about what they’d like to do to the ‘creative talents’ involved.  

And in the children that consume these – unsurprisingly – life often imitates ‘art’. 

With this in mind, I discovered with Ms Willcocks recently a shared love of ‘Bluey’. As per category 1 above, every now and then, a children’s show comes along that says something beautifully simple - and surprisingly wise - about life and learning. Now, there is an episode of Bluey called “Cricket” which Ms Willcocks reminded me of and which provides such a moment. It being the right sporting season, it seemed apposite… 

In the episode, we meet Rusty, a young pup with a big passion for cricket. At first, it looks like a familiar backyard game, but as the story unfolds, it becomes a lesson in persistence, practice, and personal growth. Rusty isn’t particularly gifted - he’s just someone who loves the game enough to keep playing, keep learning, and keep showing up. “He just wanted to get better,” one character says, and we see him in quiet moments: throwing the ball against a wall, trying again, missing, trying again. 

It reminded me of what we so often see in our classrooms and sometimes even at break times. That slow, steady improvement - the kind that doesn’t come with fireworks or sudden breakthroughs, but with hours of patient effort and a quiet determination. Whether it’s learning long division, tackling a tricky reading passage, or mastering a musical piece, it’s that same principle at work: we get better by showing up and trying, even when it’s hard. 

One of the most moving lines in the episode comes from Rusty’s dad: “You’ll face harder things than a cricket ball. And when you do, you’ll have two choices - back away, or step in and play a pull shot.” It’s a nice metaphor not just for sport, but for life, and the heart that’s often involved in facing a challenge. And it’s a message we hope the boys hear loud and clear: don’t be afraid of hard things. Lean into them. They’re how we grow. 

And happily, the episode isn’t just about grit. It’s also about kindness. In a touching moment, Rusty lets his little sister take a catch and win the game. A small act, but one that reminds children about the power and importance of good character and generosity. 

So as we move through this term, I encourage our boys - and all of us, really - to take a page from Rusty’s book: to keep practising, keep showing up, and always make room for others along the way. 

Tim Butcher
Headmaster