HCH Online Assemblies: Recent Episodes
Hampton Court House School
In this morning's lockdown assembly, the headmaster talks about NASA's latest mission to Mars, and considers the future of interplanetary travel. Following the assembly you will hear the first ever sounds captured from Mars by the NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover.
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, headmaster Guy Holloway shares his love of poetry, with reference to 22-year old Amanda Gorman's poem, 'The Hill We Climb', which she read this week in front of the world at the inauguration.
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!
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'.
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 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 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 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.
Some fascinating facts about Easter and a very interesting analysis of biblical scripture.
The importance of knowing scripture in order to unlock meaning in art, literature and music.
“No Man is an Island”. Online assembly by Hampton Court House Headmaster, Guy Holloway.