The Waddesdon Voice

Our school magazine, the Waddesdon Voice, is published termly. It showcases our students’ achievements and their contributions to the school community and beyond. As its name suggests, the Waddesdon Voice provides a mouthpiece for our students. Each edition offers you a rich range of articles, think-pieces and reflections on how our students make a positive impact on society.

There’s a story connected to the picture on the front page of this term’s edition of the Waddesdon Voice.

By the time he was handed the baton for the final leg of his team’s relay race on Sports Day, Lohan knew that there was no chance of him placing anywhere other than last.

But he did have a decision about how to finish the race.

Some people would have slowed down, some people may have even walked it, but Lohan didn’t. Lohan ran: to the rousing applause of the student body, and even managed to raise a thumb for Mr Peck, our photographer extraordinaire, as he approached the finishing line.

He made the race matter and his performance embraced the spirit of Sports Day in a way that this amazing event often does. We could all learn something about resilience and teamwork from this story.

This story also touches on the theme of this term’s newsletter, the importance of mattering. Mattering goes beyond belonging: it’s much more than letting someone know that they are valued, but – crucially for me – it says, if you weren’t here, we wouldn’t be as good as we are. You are valued, but even more you add value to our community.

You matter because of what you bring to Waddesdon and we are all the poorer when you are not here.

I invite you to read this edition of the Voice, therefore, through the lens of mattering. The Voice isn’t just a collection of amazing activities and life-changing opportunities. It is also a record of the active participation and agency of our young people. The deep message that runs through every article and picture is that all of our students and staff matter deeply.

If we want to be true to our Bible verse of living life in “all its fullness”, then the value and place of each individual within our school seems like a good place to start.