Friday Flyer - 1st May 2026
Dear Michael Hall Community,
Before I share my thoughts from this week, I would like to celebrate that one of our Old Scholars, Kira Freije, has been nominated for this year's Turner Prize. On behalf of the Michael Hall community, congratulations on your nomination Kira!
The importance of being earnest
As we approach examination season, I have been reflecting on my own journey through the revision, practice and sitting of exams (GCSE class of ’92!). At A’ Level I studied English Literature (hence the title of the newsletter). My reflections are not about me, but more about what I see happening around me at Michael Hall that I have not consistently seen in other settings. I have no doubt that what I see supports the development of happy and healthy children, but also supports good, focused study and subsequently good examination outcomes for each individual.
Our children are entering a world that increasingly celebrates speed, spectacle, and surface-level success. The quality of being earnest can feel lost to this generation; quietly unfashionable perhaps. What I see on a daily basis at Michael Hall is that earnestness holds a central and deeply human place. It is not about a constant seriousness and lack of overt joy; rather, it is about sincerity of purpose, depth of engagement, and a genuine striving toward what is true, good, and beautiful.
In developing this genuine conviction, we support children in not only being great citizens of the world, but in going on to live an adult life that is true to them. In classrooms, this can be seen when a child leans fully into a task as I saw when I was fortunate enough to witness Class 5 developing an understanding of polygons (maths teachers – insert your own dead parrot jokes here!), led wonderfully by Mrs Nunhofer. Watching a teacher bring a lesson with thoughtfulness and care, not simply to deliver content, but to awaken interest and meaning; Earnestness transformed into activity and purpose.
Importantly, earnestness is not the enemy of joy. In fact, it is what allows joy to take root in something lasting. A pupil who works earnestly experiences the deep satisfaction of genuine achievement. A class that approaches its work with shared purpose (Class 9 projects underway!) often finds a richer, more authentic sense of community and humour – Michael Hall pupils definitely have a sense of humour!
As a school, nurturing earnestness means creating an environment where effort is valued over quick results, where depth is prioritised over distraction, and where each individual feels that their contributions have meaning. It calls on us, as adults, to model sincerity in our words and actions to show that what we do, we do with care.
There has been a recent time in which it felt Michael Hall was swimming against the tide. Wider society was being pulled toward the fleeting and the superficial. But now we are leaders in a societal shift where our earnestness stands as a quiet, steady force that anchors, guides, and ultimately enriches the life of the individual and the community alike. Depth, sincerity and purpose which underpins success and happiness in life.
Warm wishes,
Stuart
Stuart McWilliams
Principal
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