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Courage at Cokethorpe School
In a recent Head’s Assembly, Cokethorpe heard from a pupil in Year 11 who delivered a speech entitled ‘There can be no courage unless you are scared’. Having recently won a public speaking competition, this was an opportunity to showcase and celebrate her skills – but the message was just as important. No doubt, standing in front of an audience of her teachers and peers was daunting – but courage enabled her to speak clearly and captivate those listening.
Each week, pupils perform in the Corinthian Concert and Cake – a ‘low‑stakes’ concert that allows them to play to a small audience of their peers. Some performances are more polished than others – and that is exactly as it should be. Sometimes the performer plays a wrong note, gets a bit lost, or loses their nerve, but they are encouraged to gather themselves and carry on. Likewise, the Drama Department prepares all pupils in the First and Second Form for a performance in front of parents – an experience that can feel scary for many, but which offers a valuable opportunity to show courage.
Being scared is not a pleasant feeling, and it is understandable that many default to ‘playing it safe’. Yet playing it safe limits one’s potential and can close off opportunities. Often, adults inadvertently model this behaviour. Education, however, should provide a secure environment in which children are encouraged to try new things, to risk getting things wrong, and to learn from their mistakes. At Cokethorpe, this is why the co‑curricular programme is so important. Climbing is not only for children who already love heights – it is for those who have never tried it. Kayaking is not only for those who enjoy the water – it is for those willing to try something new. The Music Instrumental Scheme programme, through which all children in Years 4 and 7 receive free one‑to‑one tuition on an instrument of their choice, is not designed for accomplished musicians – it is for those who have not yet had the chance.
Of course, courage is not just about trying something new. Sometimes, it is about standing up for something you believe in or offering an idea in class. For some, courage emerges when applying to university or when making decisions about GCSE subject choices.
The pupil who stood up in assembly to deliver her speech on courage illustrated her point vividly: unless we allow ourselves to be scared, we cannot be courageous. What frightens us is a deeply personal matter – which makes it all the more important that teachers know pupils well, in order to guide and support them appropriately, ensuring that courage can flourish.
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