The Week Independent Schools Guide Spotlights Wycombe Abbey’s Future-Ready Approach
10 November 2026 - Academic
We are delighted that Mr Olly Murphy, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, has been featured in the latest edition of ‘The Week Independent Schools Guide’ as part of a feature exploring how schools are preparing young people for life beyond the classroom.
In the article, ‘Education Beyond Exams‘, Mr Murphy discusses the importance of equipping pupils with the confidence, adaptability and real-world skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. Drawing on initiatives such as Wycombe Abbey’s award-winning Carrington Programme, he highlights how providing pupils with opportunities to embrace unfamiliar challenges helps them develop the qualities increasingly valued by universities and employers.
As Mr Murphy explains: ‘Pupils can know the exam technique and the hoops they have to jump through to get an A*, but this isn’t necessarily what universities or employers want. We have to try and push our pupils out of their comfort zones. That might be by giving them something that they have never seen before, like a piece of art or a fiction extract, and asking them what they think, rather than just prepping them for traditional interview questions. It’s about getting pupils to respond to unfamiliar challenges.’
The article highlights several examples of this approach in action at Wycombe Abbey, including the annual Communications Conference, where LVI pupils take part in a crisis simulation, acting as Head of PR for an ice cream company facing a series of unexpected challenges. Pupils then review their performance with feedback from media crisis experts, building confidence, resilience and the ability to think under pressure.
The feature also explores how our unique boarding environment to broaden horizons beyond the curriculum. Through initiatives such as the Friday Night Lecture Series, pupils are introduced to inspiring speakers and diverse career journeys. Recent guests have included Demetra Pinsent, CEO of Charlotte Tilbury, who encouraged pupils to embrace unexpected opportunities, and Senior Ahana Kotibhaskar, who founded a charity manufacturing and distributing reusable menstrual underwear to communities in India at the age of 16.
We are proud to see Mr Murphy and Wycombe Abbey’s innovative and forward-thinking approach to education recognised in this publication.
Click HERE to read the full interview.
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