For this week's View from the Top, we've handed over to William Austen, head of Witham Hall School. Below, Mr Austen explores the importance of taking risks...
At a time when children are increasingly sheltered from risk, it is more important than ever for prep schools to foster a culture that embraces it. Encouraging risk-taking is not just about outdoor adventure or daring activities — it extends to the classroom, to the way children learn, and to how teachers teach. A school that nurtures risk-taking equips its pupils not only with academic knowledge but with the confidence, resilience, and adaptability they’ll need for life.
At Witham Hall, we encourage pupils to take risks with their academic work and not to play it too safe. Children often want the answer before they even begin tackling a problem, driven by a fear of failure. Overcoming this fear isn’t easy, but with the right guidance, pupils who move past that initial reluctance often gain something far more valuable than a correct answer: confidence.
Teachers play a vital role in this process. The best educators challenge pupils to think deeply, ask questions, and stretch themselves intellectually. This requires an openness to uncertainty — and, yes, to getting things wrong. Equally, teachers themselves must be willing to take risks in how they deliver the curriculum, stepping beyond rigid methods to find creative, varied approaches that engage different kinds of learners. After all, children are individuals, and they respond differently to different stimuli.
When pupils are consistently encouraged to take thoughtful academic risks, they develop strong problem-solving abilities and a mindset that sees setbacks not as failure but as the first step toward success. This is the foundation of resilience — and, ultimately, independence.
Outside the classroom, the best prep schools offer a rich and varied curriculum that allows pupils to explore a wide range of activities — both sporting and intellectual. Whether it’s polo, clay pigeon shooting, chess, or model-making, these experiences encourage children to step beyond their comfort zones. Each new pursuit is an opportunity to take a risk, try something unfamiliar, and discover hidden talents.
These activities don’t just develop skills — they build character. They help children grow in confidence, learn from setbacks, and develop the socio-emotional intelligence that will serve them in later life.
Ultimately, great schools challenge pupils to reach their potential — and the only way to do that is to create an environment in which neither children nor their teachers are afraid to take risks. Risk-taking, when guided by support and reflection, is not reckless; it’s the engine of growth.