On Friday 25 April, a special assembly was given by Andrew Rowlandson - Deputy Head (Staff) with the title Both Sides Now. You can read a transcript of the assembly below.

This year marked the end of an era. For the past 8 years, Lower 6^th geographers have been blessed by a remarkable fieldtrip to …. Mulbarton - a perfect example of a village just 5 miles south of Norwich that I am privileged to call home. Sadly, as our A Level specification is changing, this year’s pilgrimage was our last.

As a class, we study the impacts of housing developments on the natural environment and local community. On one occasion early on, as we drove into Mulbarton, I made the point about greedy developers ripping the heart out of our village by sending in bulldozers to demolish habitats and tarmac green spaces with no regard for local people. In hindsight I was perhaps a tad over dramatic – but I wanted pupils to understand a local’s perspective.

The next morning, one pupil stayed behind after class. “Sir”, they said, “I thought I should mention ahead of parent’s evening that it’s my dad’s company that is developing the land in Mulbarton”.

“Ah” I said. And quickly backtracking, I began to outline all the reasons why we need to build more houses; how the NIMBY (‘Not in my back yard’) brigade in some villages can be unhelpful – for “they’ve got to go somewhere”.

After a slightly awkward parents evening. We put it behind us. I’d learnt several valuable lessons!

“Evaluation” is an important skill to develop. We encourage our pupils to be critical. To look at issues from different perspectives.

Whilst still rather protective of my village way of life with its beautiful common, abundance of ducks, peacocks and a strong community spirit, I try to be more measured in my approach. Not least because I actually live on one of the new build developments!

Last weekend Christians around the world celebrated Easter. I say ‘celebrated’ lightly because at the heart of the Easter story we find two contrasting emotions: grief and hope.

On one side, we have Good Friday - a day of darkness, suffering, and apparent defeat when we remember the day Jesus was crucified on a cross. At the time, Jesus’ disciples will have experienced profound grief - everything they believed-in appeared to be lost.

On the other side, we have Easter Sunday. It’s the day we remember that Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave so that we might have life. It is when the darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of Easter Sunday. When the disciples’ grief and despair was replaced with joy and hope. When what seemed like the end of the story became the beginning of a new one.

These two sides of Easter - suffering and rejoicing, death and life, endings and beginnings - might seem contradictory, but they're inseparable parts of the same story.

This idea of looking at things from different perspectives is beautifully portrayed in the film ‘Coda’. It follows Ruby, the only hearing member of a deaf family. Through her use of sign language, Ruby is crucial to helping her family communicate with others.  

Ruby’s story is made more complex by her love of singing. As she approaches the end of high school, Ruby becomes torn between leaving home to study music at university and staying put to continue the crucial support she provides to her family. Her parents make it clear - they rely on her and want her to stay.

As the film draws to a close, Ruby auditions for music college with the song “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell. As she performs, her family, who have had a change of heart, slip into the back of the auditorium. In a poignant moment – Ruby spots them and begins to sign the words of the song. At that moment, they enter her world, see things from her perspective, and give her their blessing.

The song Ruby sings captures the reality of life - its highs and lows, wins and losses. It invites us to step back and see a bigger picture – even if we don’t always understand it. Life won’t be trouble-free, but there is something to be gained by living every day. What we experience today might only be part of the picture. The challenge of revision will give way to celebrating the last exam. Marathon training will be replaced with crossing the finish line. Good Friday is always followed by Easter Sunday. And even building developments on beautiful fields might one day provide homes for families.

Maleeya in U5 has kindly agreed to sing ‘Both Sides Now’. As you listen, reflect on whether there’s anything in your life that would benefit from being seen from a different perspective or as a temporary season. Consider how the different perspectives may ultimately give our lives richness. And I pray you will know something of the hope of Easter as you embrace both sides to your story.