“Don’t compare yourself to others, you are all on a different path, focus on the best that you can be” is the key message at WGS Speech Day
Senior School Speech Day at Wisbech Grammar School was back as staff, pupils, parents and special guests came together for a celebration of achievement.
The school were also joined by special Guest of Honour, Simon Prior, an Old Grammarian, Head of the Quality Engineering Team at EasyJet and recently awarded Testing Manager of the Year at the European Software Testing Awards in 2021.
Simon talked about the challenges he has faced, and overcome, including contracting Pneumonia and a collapsed lung when in Year 7 and how he left for University without a clearly defined path for his career, to study Computer Science without actually having his own computer! He also talked, following his eldest son’s diagnosis with autism, about the incredible work he is doing as a Neurodiversity Advocate to change the workplace environment to be more accepting and open doors for those that may think differently. “Embrace and accept everyone around you for their differences” he commented.
One particular golden piece of advice for pupils mirrored his own career challenges where he had to learn and adapt things that he didn’t think he would have to do to move forward to achieve the award winning success he has today. “Prepare yourself for more than just the happy path. Sometimes you’ll need to take a sideways or backwards step in order to move forward. Always think of the bigger picture”.
His final message for the pupils was how we should embrace technology and he put his speech into 'ChatGPT' and asked it to create a limerick to summarise his message to the audience:
“In Wisbech Grammar School's old halls,
A speech was given, inspiring all.
From humble beginnings, To leadership winnings,
His journey, he did proudly recall.”
Headmaster Barney Rimmer, in his first Speech Day address since taking over as Headmaster, talked about the return to relative normality again but at the same time continuing to embrace the new ways of working to compliment our teaching and learning.
He spoke passionately about both Community and Opportunity at the school. Mr Rimmer spoke of his pride at how the sense of community from the WGS family has been exemplified in many ways throughout the year - from support for each other in tragic times, pupils and staff coming together in numbers for school events, embracing our diversities and celebrating our successes.
He continued by highlighting the incredible opportunities the have been available to pupils with trips to Germany, Poland, Greece with our Duke of Edinburgh Gold group heading to Norway next week; The drama department’s excellent production of Arabian Nights and the pupil directed take on the 39 Steps; our musicians have performed outstandingly in various recitals and a choir performance in St Pauls Cathedral.
For both music and drama, our pupils have continued to deliver outstanding results in their Trinity exams. Sport has continued to flourish with pupil representation in a number of different sports both regionally and nationally.
The final piece of advice to our wonderful Upper 6th form leavers – who actually sat their first public exams after a pandemic disrupted GCSE year?
“School is not just about exam results, certificates, badges, ties – these memories you will never forget and they are the most important things to take with you.
It is also about skills and behaviours needed for the workplace for the next part of your journey.
Focus on who you are, rather than what you are. The qualities that are important to be able to be successful define you rather than what your title is – being reliable, hard working, honest, have integrity, ability to challenge, to work as a team. These are important and are the qualities that people will respond to.
Be your own best friend. Be positive, talk to yourself in a positive way – don’t be an enemy to yourself.
Continue to surround yourselves with people who want the best for you, who will encourage you, support you, believe in you. Remember that is everyone here this evening. You are now and will forever be Old Grammarians and you will always continue to have WGS as a support – whatever and whenever you need guidance, you know where we are”
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."