Developing our Academic Qualities: Determination
9 March 2025 - Academic
The video on the front page of the Wycombe Abbey website opens with a powerful message: ‘A new world of determined girls exceeding expectations.’ The past ten days have demonstrated this spectacularly. Our community has competed at lacrosse nationals, auditioned for Guys and Dolls, tackled mock examinations, delivered multiple musical performances, raised a significant sum during our inaugural Giving Day, and transformed into countless characters for World Book Day—all during a school inspection! Determination is clearly in abundance at Wycombe Abbey, but what is it, and how do we foster it?
My favourite definition of determination is ‘the ability to continue trying to do something, even though it is difficult.’ It means facing challenges head-on, learning from failure and maintaining an unwavering focus on long-term goals, even when immediate progress seems elusive. We help pupils to develop this important quality in many ways.
Whether on the sports field, stage, or in the classroom, we equip our pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to take on new challenges. Once they do, we give them the opportunity to get ‘stuck’. For example, in our LVI University Preparation lessons, pupils are presented with graphs with no labels, made-up languages or dense medieval legal documents and asked to work their way through. After the initial confusion, somebody spots something familiar and the puzzle unfolds. Our girls learn a crucial lesson here: initial confusion is not a signal to stop, but an invitation to dig deeper.
Determination underpins our other Academic Qualities. It encourages pupils to step outside their comfort zones and take risks. It fosters resourcefulness, pushing pupils to seek creative solutions when they face obstacles. It necessitates reflection, stopping and thinking about what went well, what did not, and what happens next. Finally, it is essential for development and growth, making it a key factor in the many successes celebrated by Wycombe Abbey pupils.
Mr Neill George
Head of History and Politics.
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