News & Events

Mrs Cook’s Blog

May her character and talents inspire others.

Reading Mrs Pattison’s Leadership Likes on the last day of term, where she spoke about the specific achievements of one of our alumnae and related it to our school motto, made me think about the real importance of a motto and what it represents.

So, I asked myself, what actually is a motto and why do we (and so many other organisations) have one? A simple definition  is a short sentence or phrase chosen as encapsulating the beliefs or ideals of an individual, family, or institution. In short, whilst complicated ideas can get lost in translation; simple mottos can help us all remember what’s really important.

Once I started thinking about the subject, I found out there is a lot to learn. For example, who knew that Croydon has its very own motto? Ad Summa Nitamur (Let us strive after perfection). Keep striving, Croydon.

Some mottos are particularly comforting, perfectly expressing what you would expect that organisation to stand for. The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland for example, live by the mantra In somno securitas (In sleep there is safety). We hope so.

As a football fan, and a diehard Liverpool supporter, it pains me to celebrate the motto of our great rivals, Everton, who (allegedly) live and die by their motto of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (Nothing but the best is good enough). It’s

strive for, our highest goal if you will and to incorporate this in to our daily school lives.

certainly a strong message designed to keep everyone on track  – but I would have to question how it is working out for them! For the supporters of my team, of course, just hearing the words You’ll never walk alone is enough to evoke a sense of pride, expectation and shared purpose that binds us together in good times and bad. Crystal Palace on the other hand doesn’t appear to have a motto. Perhaps that’s where they have been going wrong? (With apologies to Mr Nelson, Mr Symes, Mrs Roe, Mrs Congram and all you Eagles fans out there…just banter!)

From a marketing perspective, mottos and slogans are of course an important way to highlight and communicate the essence of an organisation, but can only be really effective if they ring true. When trying to encapsulate the many facets of Croydon High life, it is virtually impossible to condense who we are and what we do in to one short sentence. So, our motto seeks to focus on what we

Happily, the actions and attitudes of Croydon High students throughout the school bring our motto to life every single day. The amazing Amnesty Conference at the end of last term was testament to the sort of impact we, as a school and the students as individuals, have on those who come into contact with us. Here is just a flavour of the feedback we received from schools who attended…

Thank you for creating such an amazing experience last week with the conference. The students loved it, they are now forming their own Amnesty group so I might be in touch regarding ideas

Thank you for an amazing day, the conference, the girls and the school blew us all away. Congratulations for hosting such a worthwhile and enjoyable event

Thank for a very inspiring day yesterday, the students were a delight; it was fantastic to work with so many inspirational human rights defenders.

Congratulations on the excellent, well-planned and enjoyable day yesterday. I was very impressed by your students

I was so impressed by your students – great role models for activists.

This Conference came about as a result of an immense amount of hard work, passion and belief from a team of highly motivated people – with an inspiring leader in Mrs Abrams. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the planning stages and witnessed the character and talents of those members of the Amnesty group, determined to put on the very best event they could with the intention of encouraging others to take up the cause they hold so dear. They put huge amounts of effort in themselves, but were also able to inspire and motivate, mobilising teams of girls too young to be delegates on the day but willing to help beforehand, preparing decorations for example. For the greater good – another worthy motto.

Similar examples, such as the appetite for introducing eco initiatives from girls throughout the school, always inspire. What is clear too is that these convictions are deeply held – they are certainly not fads or fancies. Flora, in our Junior school, for example is one of many girls who have a developed social consciences far beyond their years. She is an active part of our Plastic Free School Team, raising awareness of our impact on our environment and petitioning school departments to make changes to the way we operate. The group have organised a guest speaker for assembly and also take part in litter picks. As well as a passion for the environment, Flora also has a commitment to help other children which she teams with plenty of ambition. She helped organise a networking event for children her age held in The Transport Museum in London where she delivered the opening address. Not bad for someone in Year 4.

As well as the more high profile activities that go on in school, it is the small everyday actions and initiatives that, for me, demonstrate the veracity of our motto. Sixth formers proactively setting up extra-curricular groups for younger girls because they know they would have enjoyed them at their age. Senior girls leading assemblies to talk to the school about things that have impacted on their lives. Tutor groups raising awareness and raising funds for charities big and small that have caught their attention. Peer listening and Big Sister programmes offering support and building a sense of family and community that is so strong it is remarked upon by almost everyone who visits.

I’m not under the illusion that our school motto is necessarily front of mind for every girl, every day. It’s possible (heaven forbid) that some may even need to be reminded what it actually is. But what is important and what is clearly happening, is that the environment in which we learn and work is such that compassion and passion, proactivity and positivity are character traits which are encouraged and celebrated. Inspiring others, like our motto, has simply become a way of life.

Mrs Fran Cook

Director of External Relations