As we celebrate the school’s 150th birthday this month, the Head Girl Team gave a fantastic assembly earlier this week on our school values of empathy, kindness, inclusivity, respect and wellbeing, sharing examples of each value with us.

Empathy: Princess Diana and how, in the midst of the 1980s AIDS epidemic, she opened a ward at local Middlesex Hospital and showed the world that it was safe to hug people with AIDS. This empathetic gesture was a turning point in people’s understanding of how the disease is transmitted and helped reduce discrimination.  

Kindness: the video of a mother dog being reunited with her puppies at shelter brought tears to our eyes and reminded us how thoughtful moments can have a huge impact on others’ lives. 

Inclusivity: record viewing figures of women’s sport have been recorded in 2022 and 2023. Female athletes have powerful voices and aren’t afraid to use them. The Lionesses have advocated for equal opportunities to play football for boys and girls in schools across the UK and the Government is listening. They also supported the campaign for sportswomen not to have to wear white shorts, as menstrual leaking is a huge issue of concern. The Lionesses now wear blue shorts and Wimbledon have allowed female tennis players to wear other colours. 

Respect: did you know flowers, including the camellia, bluebell, iris and daffodil, symbolise respect along with other key values. Like a flower, respect is natural and not forced. It shouldn’t need to be earned but should be naturally given to all we come across. In fact, respect is underpins every other positive attribute. 

Wellbeing: crucial for our physical, social and mental health, don’t underestimate the importance of wellbeing. Daily exercise and eight hours of sleep keep us feeling fresh and motivated. Crucial for hardworking NHEHS pupils to flourish!

Finally, what unites all students at NHEHS is the ability to have fun, as seen in the recent Sixth Form film and behind the scenes bonus film produced by our Sixth Formers! (coming soon to our website!)