FROM THE HEAD

It really has been quite a year! It is remarkable when we look back to the first two terms of 2019-20 to think that these were very ‘normal’ at St George’s, with a busy, thriving School that was full of activity inside and outside the classrooms, as well as beyond. It is clearly evident in the bursting pages of this edition of The Dragon, that in the lead up to March 2020, we had no idea what was to follow…….

While the world around us seemingly started to crumble in March 2020, the St George’s community remained a remarkably healthy and resilient ‘bubble’ until what felt like the inevitable closure of schools on Friday 20th March, a week before the end of term. Little did we know at the time that it would be six months before we would be all back together as a School community.

I went into teaching, senior leadership and headship because it is sociable; l like being around people and having an impact on their lives, especially young people who, I have realised more than ever, are the source of such energy.

When dealing with something difficult at School, a quick trip into the Dining Room at lunch time, to the Library, or on to the South Lawn in the summer, will bring me face to face with smiley, chatty, friendly girls who do wonders to lift the spirits just by being themselves, and in our empty buildings during the Summer Term, we longed for that to be the case again. Having spent time over the preceding two years, particularly with my Deputy Head (Academic) Jeremy Hoar, deciding on and developing a new IT strategy at St George’s, we were very well-placed to ‘switch’ the School online for the Monday morning following this closure of schools. Our IT development had seen a move to cloud based systems and the roll out of school-owned Chromebooks to pupils and staff (a work device as distinct from a ‘play device’ such as an iPad or a phone) in September 2018, as well as the staff becoming proficient in Google Suite and other education applications alongside the development of our online academic and communications tool, Dragonfly. Thus, girls, staff and parents were already used to our systems and the girls and staff to their devices, and this allowed for a near seamless switch to remote schooling.

The support of parents and the dedication of the girls, despite motivation flagging at times and feeling the absence of their teachers and friends, was a vital feature of ‘Remote St George’s. However, none of the success of the Summer Term 2020 would have been possible without the dedication of the wonderful staff I lead, those teaching and all those supporting behind the scenes. During this time we said a very fond farewell and thank you to our long-standing Bursar and member of the Senior Leadership Team, Julia Wood, and welcomed our new Bursar, James Anderson. We have always known that really positive elements of St George’s are the size of the school, the personal connections and the strength of the community, and the resilience of the bonds between everyone within a school community is never tested more than in a time of change and uncertainty.

And the St George’s Governors have all continued to be a great support to me and the Senior Leadership Team as together we have steered the School through these turbulent times. As you will read in later pages, at the start of the Summer Term we heard the very sad news that Anna Laurie-Walker had passed away. You will read a full and fitting tribute to Anna in the Alumnae section of this edition, which really captures the essence of the wonderful Old Georgian that she was. Anna was a Governor of St George’s for many years and had attended meetings at the School until shortly before her death. She was a great supporter of the girls, and the staff, and to me, and Headmistresses before me, and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and support that she gave to me, especially when I first started in post. We look forward to the School playing a part in a service to celebrate her life when we are able to; may she rest in peace.

I spoke to the girls at the end of the academic year about some of the things we may have learnt during this period of remote schooling. The girls worked hard with their teachers in their online lessons that continued on a similar timetable to normal, with tweaks aimed at improving wellbeing, such as breaks between lessons, less prep, and a longer lunch time. They also continued with many of their co-curricular activities, albeit remotely and in a different format to usual. I also think we all learnt a lot about ourselves; some people had challenging times at home, as well as good times, and this whole experience will be a part of every one of us becoming who we are.

So what I have I learnt? Well, as the girls saw in my online assemblies over the term each Monday, I’ve done more jigsaws, I’ve got into gardening and growing vegetables. I’ve realised I quite like wearing tracksuit bottoms and trainers every day but I am also keen to get dressed up and get out and about and meet people, which is usually such a big part of my job. I learnt to cook some different dishes and I really enjoyed my online cookery lessons with the Upper Sixth and Mrs Jones. I’ve also realised more than ever what a great job I have, how much I love running St George’s with such a fantastic groups of girls of all ages and such committed, dedicated and enthusiastic staff who have nothing but the girls’ best interests at heart.