Academic Development and Personal Growth

Amidst all the amazing opportunities available to pupils at MCM, we must not forget that making the most of their potential in the classroom has to be the priority. Be they starting out in Prep, or taking their IB Diploma in Sixth Form, working hard academically is something we value hugely.

Boarding is a great environment to try and reach that potential as pupils get the benefit of ring-fenced time and staff expertise to help them reach their academic goals. Each evening, two academic teachers visit each boarding house and support the pupils by supervising prep, running clinics and being a supportive presence. This is especially important during exam periods but success in the exam hall has to be based on consistent dedication all year round and that is why having a rock-solid routine is so important.

In Wills, the evening begins with supper at 6.00pm, then check-in at 6:45pm. Prep follows from 7.00pm – 8:30pm and then device hand-in and bedtimes staggered depending on age. This rarely changes as discipline is something that usually outperforms ambition and so in house, we try to ensure the boys are self-motivated and working towards their goals, or at least learning how to do that. The routine helps, as does the support of beaks and tutors, but so do rewards for consistent effort and excellence which we hand out regularly at house assemblies throughout the terms.

The Wills DNA is made up of Kindness, Respect, Curiosity and Courage. All of these can be applied to academic development but curiosity and courage especially. I love to see pupils stepping out of their comfort zone in their pursuit of academic growth. Be that through the universities they apply to or the subjects they choose for GCSE. I love when pupils take advantage of the super-curricula opportunities they are afforded and enter competitions to see how their creative ideas, skills or knowledge stack up against others from their age groups around the world. I love it when a student shows courage to hand in their mobile phone earlier than needed as they want to remove distractions. It may seem small but when peer pressure and social norms all point the opposite way, it does take bravery to row your own boat knowing it is in your best interests. This is why I shared the below with pupils and parents:

Academic ambition and effort is something to be celebrated. There are few better feelings than seeing significant improvement in your academic performances based on hard work and that is what we are trying to work towards each day in school and in boarding. The aim is you leave our college not just with results you are proud of, but a work ethic that will help you achieve amazing things long after you leave MCM.

Written by Jack Travers, Housemaster of Wills