5 minute read
The Headmaster Writes
It is said that a bit of a crisis is no bad thing early on in your time as Headmaster. It allows you to get stuck in, to pull your team around you and to see the strength of the community in action. In truth, I might have preferred a slightly smaller crisis! I am hugely proud of how Oakham School has responded to the pandemic, and as we move forwards, I am sure that we will relish restarting some of what we have missed, but also learning from this experience and embedding where we have made changes for the better. Had I written a year ago that we were going to close School on a Friday afternoon and all be teaching and learning remotely on Monday morning, I wonder what we would have thought? Like many schools, Microsoft Teams has underpinned our way of teaching and our way of operating, but it is teams of people in every area of school life that must truly take the credit for our response to Covid. When we moved into distance learning, for me, the key aim was to provide rhythm, routine and reassurance and to stay connected. Our success was due to the adaptability and hard work of pupils and staff, coupled with the fantastic support of parents, but this would not have happened without the deep-seated and long-nurtured DNA within the School of creativity and innovation. Because the foundations of Oakham were strong, we were able to construct a new way of working swiftly and purposefully. As you will see from the wonderful range of articles and features in the magazine, the torch of Oakham School has shone brightly throughout the year, and even the complexities of Covid have not diminished this. We have much to celebrate; glittering examples of pupil performances on stage and in concerts, on the sports fields and in the classrooms. There are so many achievements and endeavours showcasing not only team and individual talent but also hard work and a sense of service. I hope that you will take the time to read our feature on pages 20–23 and feel as proud and inspired as I did at the way pupils rose to the challenge, got involved and supported the wider community when friendship and help were needed. I commend all the pupils for their efforts and thank everyone who has guided and supported them along the way. For pupils who are living and learning through this period, there is a part of me that feels sympathy and a touch of sorrow for what they are missing out on. For our 2020 Leavers, the anti-climax of cancelled examinations and the loss of milestone celebrations is a great shame, and I am conscious that university life for many has also been restricted. For the Class of 2020, there will forever be the unique bond of sharing such an unprecedented time at School. However, our pupils’ ingenuity and perseverance ensured that they still enjoyed some of the natural rites of passage; their Leavers’ Concert, albeit virtual, showcased incredible musical performances, all recorded and shared from home. I believe this group and the current generation of pupils will benefit from having experienced such change and will understand the versatility that may be required in the future. The adaption to remote or blended learning is something that will serve them well. A generation missing out to an extent, but better equipped to learn independently and flexibly, and not take things for granted. Above all, we have all had the importance of human relationships brought back into focus; living and learning together has been restated. Children across the UK returned more eagerly to School in September, appreciative of the little things and each other more than ever. Parents and families have cherished being together this year, perhaps enjoyed a slower pace of life at times, and we have been reminded of a desire for normality and our great fondness for it. (I am sure a few parents will also have been eager to see their children back at school; one can have too much of a good thing!) Looking ahead, the School continues to evolve, gradually further adopting the Middle Years Programme in Forms 1-3 and considering the balance of our curriculum in the Middle and Upper School. Much work has also been done to realign the spirit of the Oakham School Foundation, with an emphasis on raising funds to provide life-changing bursaries, as much as buildings and facilities. You will hear more from us over the coming year about how you can become involved and help us achieve our ambition. As we emerge from Covid, the independent sector will once again come under scrutiny, and I hope that we can continue to be a beacon of good practice in education, supportive partners in the community and a provider of life-changing opportunities. In September 2021, we celebrate 50 Years of co-education. Our truly co-educational approach says much about the balanced outlook to so much that is good at Oakham as we seek to stay true to the timeless value of a holistic education. It is a point in time that reminds how important balance is, something which is also reflected in the blend of boarding and day, local, national and international pupils within our School. Above all, we are a community that cares, that is connected, and that relishes challenge. In the Spring Term, Mary and I enjoyed having over 200 pupils into Deanscroft for breakfast, break or an evening pizza. As someone who relishes being out and about, meeting parents and pupils alike, the last few months have been frustrating. I have missed being able to walk the touchline, enjoy a Chapel filled with girls and boys singing, assemblies, plays and concerts and fulfilling the role as Head of the Community, not only Head of the School. It was my strong desire at the start of the academic year to meet and learn the names of all of my pupils; I was making good progress, but this has been made somewhat more challenging while adhering to a two-metre distance and faced with a sea of matching face-masks! This year has been successful because we have pulled together in the same direction. To everyone who quietly gets on with it and provides a support network; you are the glue that holds the community together, and I thank each and every one of you for your incredible fortitude and care. It has been a year like no other. I am incredibly proud and grateful to have been handed the torch of Oakham School. That torch has shone brightly when the clouds of Covid have been over us, and it will continue to do so when these recede, and the sun shines again. I look towards the 2020–2021 academic year with great optimism and enthusiasm. The resilience and teamwork demonstrated this year have shown that we can adapt at pace and collectively move forward with confidence and ambition. Quasi Cursores.
