Godolphin’s New Year’s Resolutions: 2026

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where the social construct of the New Year, designed to spark that bit of motivation to drag yourself through the depressive months that are January and February, is upon us. Who cares if you haven't seen the sun in centuries, when there are new goals to be achieved? For everyone’s sake, pretend that rhetorical question wasn’t sarcastic, and enjoy the following list as inspiration (or a sign of what not to do - there was a range, as there always is with godolphin students) for your very own resolutions.

Y7:

My dad said it should be to stop scrolling through YouTube so I said I will when he stops scrolling through Facebook

Honestly iconic. In a world of resolutions to cut down on screen time, this resolution makes me want to scrap my list and add “be better at comebacks” instead. 

Be slightly kinder to my brothers

A truly noble goal. We could all use a little more sibling love these days. I approve.

To cut down on my compulsive buying and Starbucks consumption. :/

In all fairness, the Hammersmith Broadway is literally designed to inspire compulsive buying in secondary school students. I also think going to starbucks religiously each day in the lower school is a rite of passage, until the inevitable alma upgrade. (also rip chatime, you are sorely missed).

“Do homework the day you get it” Technically, if I got homework on a Tuesday, and it’s due on a Tuesday, it doesn’t matter which Tuesday I do it on righhhtttt? Still the same day of the week I got it :) I have a whole list of resolutions. And genius ways to achieve them :) :) :)

The amount of smiley faces makes me think this resolution is not as positive as it is trying to seem. As much as I love the line of reasoning, I can’t bring myself to fully support it, knowing that procrastination is only going to get worse from here, until it isnt an option anymore… enjoy it while it lasts.

Y8:

Stop making and laughing at 67 jokes

I’m embarrassed to say it, but same. It’s just low, and as a sixth former I just don't think I can get away with it in the big ‘26. I don’t think it was our only submission along these lines, and by the amount of people I know who are still making these jokes, I hope it is on the resolution list of many others. It should only be funny if you are in year 6 or 7.. .

Follow through (try not to ppl please too hard)

Honestly, no notes. This is a good, balanced and well meaning list of resolutions. The dichotomy of ‘follow through’ and then ‘try not to people please’? Beautiful. As a chronic canceller of plans because I just ‘don’t want to’, this hit hard and something very similar is scribbled in my diary. You go girl.

To think of a really good resolution for next year

I agree, as a chronic procrastinator I actually also put off making resolutions, and then start making lame ones in a half-hearted attempt. Sadly, I never commit. So I fully support this resolution - it’s hard to look at yourself with a critical eye and find something to fix! Don’t change, be you. At least not until the 1st of January 2027.

Being more organised and less sarcasm

Hopefully the first part isn’t sarcastic too! Kidding, I'm sure it isn’t. You aren’t the only person who wants to be more organised this year. Although I've never heard anyone want to be less sarcastic, I understand. Unless the entire thing is sarcastic, then I don't really know what to say tbh. 

To stop getting banned from Roblox

I initially liked this one until I realised this may be synonymous with no longer being rude to children on roblox.. May I ask why you are getting banned? Whatever you say will hold up in court so swear to say the whole truth and nothing but the truth… or not!

Y9:

To be a kind and good role model for all the lower years, and to be the best version of me

How wholesome! A nice palette cleanser after the absolute chaos of every other submission from year 9. I know you guys are going through a transformative era of your life (leaving lower school), but I was wholly unprepared.

To spend less money at tuck cause I spent £50 in three days

Honestly very relatable. I am going to encourage the whole school to go to tuck less, just so that the queue doesn’t take 500 hours, complete with death glares whenever you move forward. The tension is too much.

Stop falling down and up stairs and win the fight against gravity

One questions how someone can fall UP stairs, but to be fair, the school has recently become so congested that getting to class is near to  impossible. Everywhere you look there’s someone who has literally made it their one true mission to trip you up. So upon reflection, this is felt.

Make more roast potatoes because in 25 I was always waiting for a meal that included them like Christmas dinner. Then I was in PRET and I bought a box of roast potatoes and I realised that they’re not that hard to make and I can just make them myself to enjoy.

A future food tech student right here. We love to see the initiative - although I didn’t realise people enjoyed roast potatoes to the extent of not only waiting all year for them, but buying one from PRET?? I also didn't realise roast potatoes were such a rare commodity - it feels like school serves them every other day. But maybe this person has a very specific type of roast potato in mind? The mystery is overwhelming.

I do not in fact believe in New Year’s resolutions. I never wish to be asked this question. However, this year I have taken one up as if I am late one more time [named teacher] will skin me alive. I am calling it my 2026 short time beneficial life habit that I will see if I like.

I find it hard to believe [named teacher] would do this, but the fear of walking into class past the 8:30 bell is enough to spark any number of worst case scenarios. I do like the idea of a “2026 short term beneficial life habit”- really rolls of the tongue, and provides enough wiggle room to at least partly lower the guilt of when my resolution inevitably does not come to fruition.

Y10:

Have a screen time average below seven hours

Same. I fear my brain is genuinely rotting, and I have too much to do to be on my phone for 7 hours! Where do I even find the time? I’m so busy yet my screen time has been so consistent. I tell myself it’s from working on my laptop all day, but I may be lying to myself. Another resolution: stop lying to myself.

To not fail chemistry

Ah, a classic. You aren't alone in your wishes to academically succeed this year, as there have been many answers along this vein in the responses. It takes a village, and by that I mean quizlet. We believe in you. Sometimes out of failure comes greatness. You can quote us on that. Lock in, you’ve got this. 

Y11:

Survive until summer

If someone had asked me for my new year’s resolutions in year 11, I probably would have started crying, so huge appreciation to those of you who filled this out in the middle of mocks. This is one of the more positive work-related resolutions we received, and definitely the most relatable. Keep going, year 11s, and think of GCSE summer - but whatever you do, don't dwell on what comes after.

To pick up my friend and run around with them.

An admirable resolution - my only recommendation is to try not to do this near the middle school office, as I can't guarantee that our beloved faculty will be as enthusiastic.

feed my cat 

revise circle theorems

go on the traitors

win the traitors 

spend my winnings on more cat food

This feels like a haiku - definitely the work of someone trying to cram creative writing skills the night before English language paper 1. We’ve all been there, and even if the insane vocabulary has faded from my memory, the stress definitely hasn’t. The use of circularity, and topical references (the traitors is my current obsession) here is admirable, so clearly some of that revision is paying off. 

LVI:

Stop using ai 

As a day 1 hater of AI, I commend this resolution. Let’s exercise those brain muscles people! 

Lock the flip in, not deal w the lowkey fakers but also give everyone the benefit of the doubt, write an essay for some random competition and win, get on the gym grind for the glutes and learn how to do a pushup.

The priorities of the lower sixth wrapped up into a neat resolution - I can see the onslaught of higher ed sessions is beginning to take a toll. You’ve got this. I like the oxymoron of not dealing with fakers but simultaneously giving them the benefit of the doubt - or BOD, as it is affectionately called on my geo papers - a nice positive spin on something that is near impossible to achieve. 

Nothing. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions because who keeps them up for more than a week anyway #newyearsameme

For the sake of this article, I will disagree, and say this response is filled with the cynicism of the lower sixth. Being more optimistic would be a great new years resolution to consider - but considering what lies ahead, maybe trying more caffeine is a sufficient stand in.

UVI:

To unsubscribe from any mailing lists I don't want

So I actually tried to start doing this a few months ago, and I slowly realised it actually doesn’t work if you keep signing up to others… Anyway, I personally love this one. The 340 unread emails on my phone don’t really go with the organised vibe I’m trying to bring into 2026. 

Get into uni lol

Well I’m sure you aren’t alone in this sentiment. It’s certainly on the minds of UVI and LVI alike, but my heart goes out to you sitting your mock A-levels. You are brave. Yet it would be silly to underestimate a godolphin girl, so I am more than certain you will get into uni, and much more than that. Sending peace though. 

Be smart […] find a patch of grass to touch after each academic fail

We could not agree more. Touching grass is so important and vital to maintaining sanity during exam season. Keep up the good work!

Bonus - Any Other Thoughts…

I haven’t read unpublished since last year 😂😏😉 (sorry if you hate those jokes)

Waiting on the application… no, not really. The apology is a nice touch, though.

I HATE it when people make those dry NYE jokes like “I haven’t showered since last year” or “I haven’t eaten since last year” the SECOND that the clock strikes midnight. Other than that, I love New Year’s 

Hope the person above rereads this enough times for it to sink in.

Better be less buns than 2025

Beautifully put.

New Year’s resolutions are a social construct. Change now, not later

We appreciate the decisiveness, but I think the point is that we are changing now… it’s the new year..

I wrote a short poem on learning from my mistakes going into the new year:

In 25 I made financial progress

But then I spent it all at Tesco express 

I found that experience really hard 

So this year I’m getting a Tesco clubcard

Going bankrupt from tescos trips is a true godolphin canon event, although I thought everybody had moved to Sainsbury's by now? Or is that a sign of being an out of touch upper school student? Hoping this reader has better luck in 26.

Xoxo,

Unpublished