Jessica Briggs interview

Joining a new school mid-pandemic could have been incredibly daunting, but new Deputy Head, Jessica Briggs, has taken it in her stride and is already very much part of the SG family with a clear view of how she would like to see the boarding and pastoral care develop.

With a school of more than 470 girls, I am very impressed by the way the teachers, tutors and boarding staff very quickly get an understanding of each girl. The focus is on ‘her’ as an individual and the aim of all staff is to do everything to make sure she absolutely flourishes at SG.

Boarding

I absolutely understand parents who are anxious about their daughters boarding. However, there are so many benefits. Firstly, they learn about key life skills much earlier. Sharing a house, a dining room, a dorm with others teaches you about empathy, respect and compromise. These are actually fairly mature adult skills and yet the girls experience and practise these qualities from when they join us aged 11 and 13. These skills are honed and developed by being around people from different backgrounds. They learn about other cultures and beliefs and learn to celebrate diversity – it is such an empowering environment and I believe the girls truly celebrate a unique unity because of their differences. It certainly prepares them for the adult world: it is an education through pastoral care. By the end of their time in the Sixth Form, we are confident our girls are equipped emotionally to head out to the world of work, university or other education path and that is due largely to the experiences they gain through boarding.

Transition

I love that we have Aldhelmsted West and can offer a safe, nurturing environment for our youngest boarders. During those first couple of years we can help them make the transition to a mixed-age boarding house through a carefully designed programme of active preparation. When they make the move up to Year 9 (L5), they can feel confident, settled and yet they also experience a new phase at the same time as those girls who join us aged 13. It is an incredibly successful process, which many parents will vouch for.

Again, the same care and attention is levelled for the transition from L6 to U6 in the Sixth Form. Moving to the U6-only house Mulliner actively prepares the girls for the next stage beyond A Levels so we feel that pastorally, we are supporting and preparing them for their next big leap.

Fabric of the Boarding Houses

My focus as Deputy Head (Pastoral) also examines the physical attributes of our boarding houses. The interior spaces and facilities should reflect the needs of the girls, so it’s quite right that we review and evaluate the houses to ensure they provide the best possible home, social and study setting. We have actively encouraged the girls to voice their opinions and become involved with the management of what is essentially their home. So, for example, if they would like to see changes to the menu, we now ask

for input from the girls so any change can be justified for its nutritional balance. There is a wonderful dialogue with the girls; it is very much a two-way process, so we listen to their suggestions and, if it is appropriate, we will support them to bring about changes and improvements. We may not be able to change and renovate everything at once but we definitely have a plan!

Communication

One of the true positives to come out of the COVID restrictions has, in my opinion, been the excellent parent communications. Parent meetings and appointments are now happening virtually but this means that they can take place at a more mutually convenient time for everyone, no matter where they live. We have leaned an incredible amount

We have actively encouraged the girls to voice their opinions and become involved with the management of what is essentially their home.

and will continue to refine our processes to make it easier, quicker and more convenient to speak to one another. On a final note, I wish to add that my family and I have been made to feel incredibly welcome since we relocated and I am relishing all the opportunities and challenges that this role brings. It is an absolute pleasure to come into work knowing that my relationship with the girls is growing and, with each day that passes, I get to know them more and more as individuals.

Jessica Briggs, Deputy Head (Pastoral)