The eagerly anticipated second edition of Tolle Lege, Heritage’s Senior School pupil-led magazine, has been released to much acclaim. Editor Maxim (Year 11) has once again done an outstanding job curating this engaging collection, highlighting the diverse talents and voices of our students. Contributions from pupils across various year groups bring together a compelling mix of articles, stories, puzzles, and reviews, making this edition even more impressive than the first.

Some of the highlights of this issue include:

• An account of the Year 11 mock exams, offering humour and insight into the Senior School experience.
• Fascinating articles on historical and cultural topics, including the Romantic Movement, Christian Heresies and the Dinosaur Renaissance.
• Reviews of Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy and The Hunger Games, alongside thought-provoking pieces like the impact of AI on society.
• Personal reflections on the French trip, as well as alumni reports offering guidance for future leavers.
• Interactive features such as multilingual crosswords, puzzles, and creative writing, including short stories and poetry.

Printed copies have been made available to Senior pupils, and they have already sparked lively discussions and much admiration for the creativity and effort poured into the magazine. Proceeds from magazine sales supporting UNICEF’s Ukraine crisis appeal.

We extend our congratulations to Maxim and all the contributors who made this issue such a success. Tolle Lege continues to be a testament to the intellectual curiosity and collaborative spirit that define Heritage School. We look forward to seeing how this excellent publication evolves in future issues!

In mid-October, a journalist from the Dutch newspaper Trouw visited Heritage to learn about our alternative learning culture, where the distractions of screens and tech are replaced by a knowledge-rich curriculum that ‘prioritises reading books, nature and engaging in real-world activities and relationships’.

In common with other visitors to Heritage, Trouw journalist Niels Posthumus was immediately struck by the calm learning environment, as he spent time observing in the Year 5 classroom:

‘Everything in the classroom is designed to enhance their ability to focus. The lighting is soft, partly provided by table lamps. The walls display a piece of art and a world map, as in every classroom, along with some student projects. But they have deliberately been kept calm. And most importantly, there are no mobile phones, iPads, or televisions in sight. Students cannot access the internet throughout the school day—also not during breaks. Teachers … do not use electronic tools in their teaching.’

The article highlights how Heritage has been ahead of the curve, by adopting its screen-free approach from its foundation in 2007, as now an increasing number of parents, schools and governments are concerned about the dangers of giving children unlimited access to smartphones, with more schools looking to limit pupil’s smartphone use at school.

Mr Fletcher is quoted, explaining: ‘”The problem with the internet, smartphones, social media, and gaming is that they are destroying our capacity for attentive engagement…[technology] is taking an axe to the root of the tree of human flourishing.”‘ Because without the capacity to concentrate and to be curious, he argues, acquiring knowledge is difficult. It limits a child’s—and later an adult’s—potential for personal growth.’

If you have not yet visited for yourself, this article captures perfectly so much of what makes a Heritage education special and attractive; to read more, click here for an English translation of the full article, or to view the original in Dutch, with additional photographs, click here.