As a member of the Governing Council at KES Academy, James Wild MP gave the keynote speech at the school's annual presentation evening to celebrate the achievements of students across academic, sporting, musical, and service categories.
Addressing an audience of students, staff, and parents, James reflected on the power of ambition and resilience, drawing on the inspiring legacy of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.
James Wild MP said:
Good evening. It is a real pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate your successes.
I have been a member of the Governing Council at KES for four years and joined because I was excited to see the Inspiration Trust come to West Norfolk, with its uncompromising focus on academic success so that more young people here could realise their potential. And tonight is about your achievements. But achievement doesn’t happen in isolation – it grows from ambition.
I was fortunate to go to Norwich School, and one of its former pupils personified ambition and courage. Coming from a humble upbringing as the son of a parson, he went to sea at the tender age of 12 and went on to become our finest ever Naval hero. I refer, of course, to Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. His name is firmly part of history, but his journey did not begin as a legend — just as a determined boy from Norfolk who dreamed of the sea. He faced illness, hardship and overwhelming odds, but his response was always the same: persistence.
He once said, “I am of the opinion that the boldest measures are the safest.” That belief guided him through storms, battles and doubt. At the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, facing a larger combined French and Spanish fleet, he chose a bold and unconventional attack, breaking the enemy line rather than following safer traditions. His famous signal to the fleet, “England expects that every man will do his duty,” captured an ambition that was not just personal, but shared and purposeful.
His approach teaches us something vital. Ambition — wanting to succeed, to excel, to be the best — is not arrogance. Rather, it is the courage to believe that effort and purpose can shape destiny. All the prize winners here this evening have shown those qualities.
There are two lessons I want to highlight from Nelson’s example. First, ambition must be active. Nelson did not wait for perfect conditions or guaranteed outcomes; he acted with preparation, conviction and a willingness to take calculated risks. In the same way, academic success, leadership, music, sporting achievement or service do not come from hoping, but from hours of practice, self-reflection and the bravery to try when success is not guaranteed.
The second lesson is how to handle setbacks. Nelson lost the sight in one eye in battle and later lost an arm, yet he returned to sea and continued to lead. Now, Health and Safety would prevent that happening at KES, I hope — but some of you may have received a grade that disappointed you, or felt overshadowed by others. The defining question is not “Did you fail?” but “What did you do next?” Resilience turns a bad result into a turning point.
To those receiving awards this evening, enjoy this moment. Take pride in what you have achieved. And in doing so, we also acknowledge that achievement is never truly individual. Your success depends on teachers who give their time and expertise, families who encourage and support you, and classmates who learn alongside you.
But keep your eyes on the next horizon. Be bold in your ambitions, true to the values you have learnt here, and generous in your leadership. Remember that true achievement is not measured only by personal success, but by service and contribution — by making a meaningful difference in your communities.
To conclude, this evening is not only about what has been achieved, but about what is yet to come.
