Last Sunday, while out exploring the city, I came across Jonathan Wright’s ‘Constellation’, commissioned in 2018 as the inaugural sculpture for Hove Plinth. As many of you will know, Wright’s sculpture is based on an orrery but, in the place of planets, the sculptor has used icons linked to Hove’s past and present. Eleven golden objects (among them the Amber Cup, a special effects cine camera, a Sussex cricketer, a skateboarder, Queen Victoria, and an elm tree) are to be found orbiting Wright’s solar system. While the visual effect is pleasing, what makes the work come to life is the addition of the ‘Talking Sculpture’ – an accompanying audio recording in which personified versions of these icons vie for attention and justify their place in the history of Hove. Wright’s sculpture captures the diversity and creativity in the city. Between the South Downs and the sea, start-ups, green spaces, historical buildings, all form part of the experience, and it is this variety that makes the place so special.
As I shared with parents during ‘Meet the Head’ events this week, one of the many reasons I am excited to have joined Brighton Girls is that I see an exciting opportunity to fuse the school with its local community and tap into some of the creative energy in the city.
As parents, you are key to this.
I have been overwhelmed by the response this week and want to thank all those who attended sessions at either the Prep or the Senior School, both for your thoughtful questions and for your positive engagement. I have received some generous offers from people, keen to share insights from their workplace or giving suggestions of links we could forge with local clubs, innovation hubs and other organisations. Parents representing a variety of professions from architecture, to healthcare technology, to wellness, have contacted me, all keen to engage in the debate about how we prepare your daughters for a world that is changing and, in the short term, how we can work together to create some exciting co-curricular opportunities for the girls.
It will require one huge team effort, but this is some team. I enjoyed my first PTFA meeting on Thursday evening and was struck once again by the great community spirit that exists here. Through the incredible work of the PTFA, parents have generously donated funds to support academic extension in MFL, craft activities for Wellbeing Week, School Council training and board games for a new lunchtime club. Thank you! The PTFA plays a crucial role in bringing the community together so please come and support. Your next opportunity is the Quiz Night on Friday 31st January. Get your tickets here.
At the ‘Meet the Head’ events, we heard a range of priorities – from music and sport to the use of technology, eco-anxiety and introversion – and a range of voices which, like Wright’s icons, all offered a different perspective. Debate is healthy and, while we won’t always agree, my priority will be to keep the conversation going and to ensure that everyone’s opinion is heard.
As I looked at the golden icons on the Hove Plinth last Sunday, and listened to its voices, I reflected on the importance of balance. In case you are wondering, I did use my mobile phone to access the ‘Talking Sculpture’ on Hove Plinth and the irony of this did not escape me. To me, this is a perfect example of why we must keep everything in moderation. We are not anti-tech or even anti-mobile phones. The recent restrictions are a response to the fact that social media had started to become too dominant; in other words, we felt there was an unhealthy imbalance.
This week, I have been impressed by the creative uses of technology in the school – like The Temple Times, a new online newspaper, student-led and brilliant. Read the read the first edition here. I am grateful to one parent for sending us a link to an organisation called The Female Lead, whose research suggests that there are some easy interventions we can make to encourage positive social media use among girls. I encourage all parents to read their research on ‘Disrupting the Feed’ here. The pastoral team will be exploring this next week, and I am delighted that the idea came from a parent. This, as with many other communications this week, demonstrates the magic of synergy and is an example of what can be achieved when we work together as a team.
I mentioned last week my intention to involve parents, staff and pupils in a review of our school values. Here is your first challenge: walk down to Hove Plinth to see Jonathan Wright’s ‘Constellation’; consider which icons you would choose to form the ‘solar system’ of Brighton Girls; find out more on our B-Right-On academic extension page here; send your list of icons to me at head@brightongirls.gdst.net.
I look forward to receiving your responses.
