Birthday lessons from Sir David

Last week marked one of the great milestones of our age as Sir David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday. Few public figures can claim to have held so consistently to their values, and retained the trust of generations, across so many decades.

I spent the evening watching the celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall: the archive footage, the music, the tributes and reflections on a life dedicated to helping us better understand the world around us.

It came at the end of a week in which I had the opportunity to visit an international school again after some time away. Watching the celebration, I was reminded of something that many international schools do exceptionally well, and in ways that are still too rarely seen within UK education.

Reflecting on Attenborough’s achievements, António Guterres reminded the audience that: “We protect only what we love, and we love only what we understand.”

At their best, international schools embody this principle through their commitment to international mindedness. As genuinely diverse communities, they create daily opportunities for young people to understand difference — not as something to fear or tolerate, but as something that enriches, strengthens and deserves celebration.

And once we truly understand one another, protection and care follow naturally.

Returning home to a country that feels increasingly divided following the local election results, there is perhaps something important for all of us to learn from that idea.