The Headteachers Blog - The Burfordian, Issue 13 2024-2025

As we begin the May half term, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the rhythm of the school year and the demands it places on our students—particularly those in Years 11 and 13, who are in the thick of national examinations. It is a time of focus and determination, and I commend them for the resilience and maturity they continue to show. I am also grateful to the families and staff who have and continue to provide the wise guidance they need to flourish.

Half Term coincides with Ascension Day, a significant date in the Christian calendar, which this year falls on Thursday 29 May. It marks the moment, forty days after Easter, when Christians believe Jesus ascended into heaven. It is a time of reflection, of looking upwards and outwards, and of considering the journey ahead.

What is striking is how this theme of spiritual elevation and pause is echoed across many worldviews. In Buddhism, the festival of Vesak—also observed in May—commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. In Islam, the conclusion of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr is a moment of renewal and gratitude. In Judaism, Yom Kippur, though observed later in the year, is a powerful example of a day set aside for reflection, atonement, and personal growth. Within Humanist traditions also, there is a strong emphasis on pausing to reflect on our shared humanity and ethical responsibility

Though these moments arise in different traditions, they share a common thread: they invite individuals and communities to pause, to reflect, and to reconnect with their values. In the context of school life, and particularly during exam season, this message is timely. It reminds us that education is not only about outcomes, but about growth—intellectual, emotional, and moral.

Half term offers a natural opportunity to step back. For students, it is a chance to rest and recharge. For families, it is a time to reconnect. And for all of us, it is a moment to reflect on the year so far and the values that guide us—Respect, Participate, Reach.

At Burford, we are proud to offer an education that is broad and balanced, rooted in academic excellence and enriched by the arts, sport, and community. We are equally proud of the space we create for the development of character. In the busyness of business, it is easy to overlook the importance of pause. Yet it is often in these quieter moments that we find clarity, purpose, and renewed energy.

I wish all members of the Burford community a restful and restorative half term.