IT has been a very strange year, 2016, and trying to make sense of it with our students has been interesting.

We have voted, via the referendum, to leave the EU but have not yet triggered article 50.

We have witnessed the most ridiculous race to the Whitehouse as Donald Trump wins the Presidency of the most powerful nation on earth by defeating the most unpopular candidate ever in Hillary Clinton.

We have witnessed the transformation of English rugby under the guidance of our Australian coach and seen Andy Murray become the world-ranked number one tennis player. Leicester City at 5000/1 become the Premier League Champions….the world has gone mad!

Talking about these issues has lead to many conversations about right and wrong, just and unjust, sexism, racism, bigotry, bullying, talent, collective effort and team spirit, leadership, challenge, excellence and the Walt Disney theory that “If you can dream it, you can do it”.

In education we are dealing and presenting the latter through the research of Carol Dweck around ‘Growth Mindsets’, the simple theory that if we develop a positive, can do, resilient approach to our studies, we can do more than we ever believed.

The adage, “I can’t do that….yet” is a very powerful message to present to our students. Yes, they will fail and time and time again have to re-set and have another go, but eventually, with the right guidance, support and attitude, they can and often do succeed.

In a year when so much has been achieved, so many remarkable high points for some of the least likely candidates, it is about time that we embraced this positivity in all aspects of life.

What next? Ed Balls to win Strictly Come Dancing and Honey G the X Factor? I wouldn’t bet against either.