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Two children wearing yellow shirts stand close together, smiling at the camera with arms round each other. One child holds a water bottle; other children are visible in the background.

What does resilience have to do with school?

I think we understand now that resilience is not an innate trait. It is something we build, whether that is through adversity that we did not choose or by deliberately doing things that push us outside our comfort zone. Schools are excellent places to develop resilience in a safe space supported by caring, trained adults. Physical challenges and outdoor activities are a great example of deliberate approaches to building resilience: hiking up a steep trail, tackling a long-distance run, even just heading out in difficult weather can teach us to keep going when things get tougher. You might feel tired, frustrated or tempted to give up, but every time you take another step, you’re proving to yourself that you can handle more than you thought.

Over time, those little moments of pushing through discomfort build confidence, patience and the ability to bounce back when there is a bump in the road. The outdoors becomes a brilliant training ground, not just for our bodies, but for our mindset too.

This week we held our annual House Cross Country event. All the children from Year 1 to Year 6 head out to the school fields, donned in their House colours and brimming with excitement. The turnout of parents and grandparents was, as always, excellent. The support for all the children was overwhelming, not just their own children but all of the children.

The event opened to a galvanising rendition of The Power In Me, a personal favourite of mine that really gets the crowd pepped up. The course gets progressively longer, moving up the year groups, until by Years 5 and 6 they are looping the field, the athletics track and through the Bayman Woods.

Young girl with blonde hair runs outdoors on grass, wearing an orange polo shirt and blue shorts. Another person in a reflective vest is blurred in the background. The setting appears to be a sports pitch.
A large group of children in coloured shirts are starting a race on a grassy field, energetically sprinting forward from the starting line outdoors.
A woman and three children sit outside, smiling and making peace signs with their fingers. They are wearing school uniforms and a water bottle is visible near them. A blue rope runs across the foreground.
A group of children in colourful uniforms are running on a grassy field, participating in an outdoor race or event on a sunny day.
A boy in a blue shirt and shorts runs on grass, holding a black shoe in his right hand. The background shows a green field.
A young girl with a plaited ponytail runs outdoors on a grassy field, wearing a dark green polo shirt, navy shorts, and trainers.
Two children wearing yellow shirts stand close together, smiling at the camera with arms round each other. One child holds a water bottle; other children are visible in the background.
Two girls in purple shirts smile and hold a handmade sign that says Go Tasker with stars, standing outdoors near a purple banner.
Two young children are running outdoors on a grassy field. The child in front wears a purple shirt and maroon trousers, while the child behind wears an orange shirt and similar maroon trousers.
A boy wearing glasses, a navy jacket, and blue shorts is running on a grassy pitch with goalposts in the background.
A young girl in a purple shirt and blue shorts is jogging outdoors on a grassy field, looking ahead with a focused expression.
Young boy in a yellow shirt and blue shorts runs outdoors on grass, with another person's hand and leg partially visible beside him.
A group of children in red shirts cheer and hold GO LAWRENCE signs behind a red banner at an outdoor sporting event. Some adults and marquees are in the background.
A group of smiling schoolchildren in uniforms pose outdoors, some standing and some sitting. One child holds a homemade sign, and several children are waving at the camera.
Two children wearing yellow shirts and blue shorts are running on a grassy sports pitch. In the background, goalposts and another person can be seen. Both children appear focused and are participating in an outdoor activity.
A young child in a green shirt and red trousers runs outside during a race, with a group of people watching in the background.
Two boys in sports uniforms race on a grassy field, focused and determined, with other children running behind them during what appears to be a school sports event.
A group of children in colourful shirts hold trophies and stand outdoors with two adults on grass, smiling for a photo.

Click here to view more photos from the day

It is clear in the faces of the children, and in the heaviness of their legs, that the sheer determination to fight the desire to stop running is directly building resilience. Their physical instincts are telling them to slow down, rest, breathe, whatever you do, don’t keep running. It is their minds, the sound of the cheering crowd and the belief that they can do this that enable them to keep going. You cannot create opportunities for resilience to be developed by staying cosy in your comfort zone.

And of course there were outstanding times set and House points won. This year’s House Cross Country winners are …..[drum roll please]….. Bayman!

Two kids in blue uniforms and hats smile excitedly whilst holding a large shield-shaped trophy together on a grassy sports pitch.
Two children wearing blue uniforms and hats lift a trophy together outdoors, smiling. A man sits at a table in the background under a marquee, with green grass and trees around.

Next week, our Year 5 pupils head off on a 3-day residential. Not only will they create lifelong memories from their adventures, but they will come back feeling a little bit more capable. Knowing you can handle life is liberating. I will be sure to give you the highlights next week.

Enjoy this crisp and sunny weekend,

Alice Goodfellow

 

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