HCH Online Assemblies

In today's lockdown assembly, the headmaster takes us through the details of getting back to school in March and the easing of restrictions.

In this morning's lockdown assembly, the headmaster celebrates the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Ox.

In today's lockdown assembly, the headmaster says that exercise and caring for your body is as much a part of your 'education' as a GCSE. He further urges everyone (pupils, teachers, parents) to get involved in the London-to-Tokyo Strava challenge. https://www.strava.com/clubs/848382

In today's lockdown assembly, the headmaster considers the timeless relevance of the fable 'the hare and the tortoise'.

In  this morning's lockdown assembly, the headmaster tells the story of The  Tower of Babel, and hopes that some of the school's younger children  might want to draw their own picture of this scene (perhaps inspired by  Brueghel).

In this morning's lockdown assembly, the headmaster remembers Captain Sir Tom Moore - the man who lifted our spirits through the pandemic. 'Cometh the hour, cometh the man.'

In today's lockdown assembly, the headmaster talks about the reliability (or otherwise) of what you find on the internet, with reference to the Microsoft Encarta project and Wikipedia.

In this morning's lockdown assembly, Guy Holloway talks about the joy of teaching oneself.

In today's morning assembly, the headmaster stresses the importance and significance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In this morning's lockdown assembly, headmaster Guy Holloway celebrates snow and childhood, and posits the view that our memories are who we are.

In this morning's lockdown assembly, head of art Eve Blackwood delves  into the history and origins of the quintessentially Scottish dish –  haggis.

In this morning's lockdown assembly, the headmaster discusses autocracy  and democracy, with reference to Louis XVI of France, Margaret Thatcher,  King John, Donald Trump, Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln... What can we learn from these leaders about how best to govern a country?

In today's lockdown assembly, the headmaster talks about the Roman god  Janus, in relation to Covid, Joe Biden, and new headmaster Adrian Rainbow.

In this morning's lockdown assembly, headmaster Guy Holloway celebrates the 75th birthday of Dolly Parton.

Jolene (and that version from Glastonbury)

Coat of Many Colors

Mary, did you know?

In this morning's assembly, on what is sometimes called 'Blue Monday', the  headmaster asks us all to step back, and to think of all the things we are grateful for."

"And  all because the lady loves.... " In this morning's lockdown assembly,  the headmaster talks about chocolate, dopamine, Shakespeare, slavery and  sugar.

In  today's assembly, the headmaster reflects on last night's impeachment  of Donald Trump against the ever-shifting balance of the world's  superpowers.

In  today's assembly, the headmaster talks about DIY lockdown haircuts,  Samson, counterculture long-haired lefties, Singapore, shampoo and other  hair-related issues... "Boy, get that hair cut!"

As we enter the worst period of the pandemic in the UK, the headmaster  recalls William Mompesson, the Church of England priest, and his  leadership of the Derbyshire village of Eyam during the plague of  1665/66.

In  today's assembly, the headmaster ponders the misunderstandings that  arise in language and asks us to consider the implications of living  with artificial intelligence (AI).

In today's morning assembly, the headmaster talks about Friday as a day of love and fish. Enjoy!

Reflecting on Trump and the events of yesterday.

The first assembly of the third lockdown, Guy Holloway speaks about the importance of language and the skill of responding and not reacting.

The headmaster Guy Holloway gives the final assembly of  the school year, with reference to the school motto "fortiter in re  suaviter in modo". See you all in September - time now to read, rest and  play.

In today's morning assembly, headmaster Guy Holloway reflects on the phrase, "I'm bored"...

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster discusses the  coronavirus vaccine and asks how we balance intellectual property rights  with serving the public good?

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster talks  about the danger of carving knives and headphones: whether or not we  permanently damage ourselves is our choice.

In today's assembly, the headmaster talks about how we can safely greet each other in Covid-19 times.

In Friday's morning assembly, the headmaster reflects on  the sights of people in the UK flocking together in the streets and on  crowded beaches - and recalls the proverb, "there's many a slip 'twixt  the cup and the lip'.

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster considers the phrase "let right be done".

The headmaster in his morning assembly urges us all to  play our part in the school community, and to be mindful of any unkind,  throwaway comment. He references the 1942 film 'Bambi' - "if you can't  say something nice, don't say nothing at all".

In today's morning assembly, the headmaster talks about monkeys, Shakespeare, Alan Turing and probability.

In this morning's assembly our headmaster Guy Holloway  reflects on the majesty of the celestial world, with reference to the  Summer Solstice.

In today's assembly, the headmaster talks about fathers  and fathers' day this Sunday... and stresses that families come in all  kinds.

In today’s morning assembly, the headmaster reflects on  the French expression ‘être bien dans sa peau' and tells a story he  first heard when it was read to him by his own headmaster over 40 years  ago.

"Anxieties over class" - in today's assembly, headmaster  Guy Holloway talks about English grammar and asks 'does it still  matter'?

In today's assembly, the headmaster says we must be able  to talk about prejudice - and in particular we must be able to face our  own prejudices.

This morning's assembly: the future of the environment lies in the choices that we must make together and as one.

In today's morning assembly, the headmaster tells a story for children aged 3 to 103.

In this morning's assembly, headmaster Guy Holloway  argues that a world of polarised views does us no favours; he urges us  to 'seek first to understand, then to be understood'.

The headmaster talks about cats and dogs... and reads Peter Porter's poem 'Mort aux Chats'.

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster talks about  slavery and asks whether or not it was right to allow protesters to pull  down the statue of the slave-trader Edward Colston.

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster tells some jokes and talks about the importance of laughter.

In today's assembly, headmaster Guy Holloway talks about  Alzheimer's disease - and urges you to support Susan Elkin in her  'Unbound' writing project.

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster Guy Holloway speaks about Fundamental British Values.

In this morning's assembly, the headmaster Guy Holloway speaks about Fundamental British Values.

Today's morning assembly: in the light of the riots and discord in USA, the headmaster asks 'what kind of leaders do we want?'

The headmaster welcomes some students back for the  partial re-opening of the school and thanks all students for playing  their part in the national effort to contain the virus: this is not the  time to ease off or to relax. Social distancing remains an essential  part of the national strategy.

In the last assembly before half-term, the headmaster thanks the school community and reflects on the art of finishing well.

In today's morning assembly, the headmaster talks about the beauty of chess and the art of making mistakes.

Today is National 'Thank A Teacher Day' and, in his  morning assembly, the headmaster remembers his history teacher, Dr  Rodney Atwood, and reflects on the life-changing influence of a great teacher.

The headmaster, in his morning assembly today, reflects on time, and its importance in managing all our relationships.

The headmaster's first assembly of the week is on Mental  Health Awareness Week - and the kind of society we want to shape as we  emerge from this pandemic. Let us be kind to others, and - crucially -  let us be kind to ourselves.

In this morning's assembly, Guy Holloway reflects on the  huge financial cost of the Covid-19 crisis and how it is all going to be  paid for.

In his morning assembly, the headmaster considers the conundrum of 'writer's block' and creative confidence.

Our headmaster, in his morning assembly, reflects on the  power of routine and endorses Flaubert's view that it is the secret to  being original in our work.

The headmaster stumbles across a copy of Dickens' novel,  David Copperfield, and reflects on how struggle can form part of our  growth to maturity.

The headmaster reflects on the Prime Minister's address  to the nation last night and urges us to be cautious about the use of  data and, for the sake of our own wellbeing, to focus on our own sphere  of influence.

With the bank holiday for VE Day coming tomorrow, our  headmaster Guy Holloway talks about the Second World War, which ended 75  years ago.

Headmaster, Guy Holloway reflects on the 1961 classic,  Katharine Whitehorn's 'Cooking in a Bedsitter', and urges us all to try  our hand in the kitchen this bank holiday weekend (with your parents'  permission of course!)

Guy Holloway receives his first complaint about his assemblies.

Guy Holloway reflects that our schoolwork only helps  us so much. Of greater importance are the values that sustain us. 'Let  Nature be your teacher' - William Wordsworth.

Headmaster Guy Holloway (inspired by Captain Tom) celebrates May Day by taking up skipping and cycling, and urges us all to prioritise our exercise and to look after our bodies generally.

Guy Holloway reflects on the quality of wisdom, with reference to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Guy Holloway talks about pocket money and the devastating wonder of exponential growth.

Guy Holloway talks about the history of vaccination in  the hope that some of Hampton Court House's students will be inspired to  become virologists and research scientists.

Headmaster Guy Holloway reflects on breakfast, fasting, and the holy month of Ramadan.

Headmaster Guy Holloway speaks about the pain of bad  plays, the joy of great theatre, HG Wells' The War of the Worlds, and  launches the school's online Zoom theatre club.

End of Term. Online assembly by Hampton Court House Headmaster, Guy Holloway.

Some fascinating facts about Easter and a very interesting analysis of biblical scripture.

Some historical perspective on the current situation.

The NHS, Nye Bevan and the power of gratitude.

The concept of freedom, with help from the English philosopher JS Mill.

The importance of knowing scripture in order to unlock meaning in art, literature and music.