Last week, we celebrated the graduation of the Runnymede College Class of 2026, marking the culmination of years of hard work, determination and achievement.
In his address, Headmaster Frank Powell reflected on the values that have always defined a Runnymede education: academic excellence, intellectual freedom, and the courage to think independently. He reminded our graduates that true education is not about being told what to think, but about learning how to think, how to debate respectfully, and how to remain open to changing one’s mind when confronted with better arguments and evidence. He also emphasised the responsibility that comes with the exceptional opportunities our pupils enjoy: to use their talents not only for personal success, but in service of their communities.
Our guest speaker, Gonzalo de la Vega (Old Runnymedian), shared an extraordinary personal journey that took him from being expelled from Runnymede as a teenager to helping build pioneering technology companies and ultimately standing on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. His message was both inspiring and deeply relevant: success rarely follows a carefully planned path. Instead, it often comes from trusting one’s intuition, embracing setbacks as part of the journey, and remaining resilient in the face of uncertainty.
Looking to the future, Gonzalo challenged graduates to recognise that in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, uniquely human qualities such as creativity, ethics, critical thinking, empathy and leadership will become more important than ever. His closing advice was simple and memorable:
Stay resilient. Stay curious. Trust your intuition.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. We are immensely proud of all you have achieved and look forward to seeing where your journeys take you next.