Introduction from Alex Hems

Letter from the Head

The start of a new school year is always a special time, but never more so than 20th August 2020, five months to the day since we had said goodbye to our students in March. One of the most powerful lessons of this year has been that, while Teams, Zoom, and all the other platforms with which we have become so familiar are wonderful tools for work, which have enabled us all to stay in touch with colleagues and friends during lockdown, there is a deep-seated need in all of us for human, face-to-face interactions. It was clear as the staff returned to the school buildings during the course of June and then in August that this was what they too had missed the most.

Throughout the period of Supported Home Learning, from March to the end of June, we were impressed by the adaptability and resilience of the St George’s community. Teaching staff relearned their craft for the digital classroom, and many surprised themselves with their technical skills and the confidence that they developed in trying out new techniques. Across Edinburgh and beyond, bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms became offices and teaching bases. Students missed one another and the daily routines and interactions of school sorely. They had a plentiful supply of work, live lessons, some extremely creative projects, on-line exams, a rich co-curricular programme and even remote Sports Days to be busy with, but the learning that we value at school happens outside the classroom as well as inside, and springs from being with one another, growing up together, learning to flourish both as an individual and as part of a community. Nonetheless, they remained cheerful and resourceful. Our would-be examination candidates showed great fortitude and made an early and very positive start to their new Higher or Advanced Higher courses. For our Leavers, the Upper 6 of 2020, Speech Day had to take place on-line. It was a matter of great sadness to us that we were not able to say goodbye to them in person in June, but we look forward to seeing them back in school as soon as we are able to invite them here again, to celebrate their achievements and to commend the spirit with which they faced a period of uncertainty and frustration.

Of course, although the period of ‘lockdown’ has dominated all our experiences of the past few months, there was so much more to the school year 2019-20 than that. The year started auspiciously, with St George’s hosting our first ever Model United Nations Conference in October. We welcomed over 200 participants and felt the palpable excitement that comes from being with young people who are curious, energetic, keen to learn and to challenge themselves. That same spirit of challenge and endeavour was apparent in the Young Musician of St George’s Competition, and this year we enjoyed for the first time a Young Singer of St George’s competition as well. The joint St George’s / Merchiston production of Little Women was moving and funny in equal measure; our girls also rehearsed at Merchiston for their rousing, festive performance of A Christmas Carol. Cross-year multi-disciplinary teams of scientists worked hard to prepare for the Space Design Competition and, after a gruelling weekend of competition, won the Edinburgh-based event, earning themselves a place in the UK final that took place in London in March. For the Lower 5 A Hockey team, a trip to Glasgow for the final of the Scottish Cup saw them victorious in a closely-fought match against George Heriot’s, just days before lockdown began.

I hope that Miss Walker and our founders would be proud of the spirit shown at St George’s during this extraordinary year. I like to think that they would recognise and commend the versatility, determination and community spirit that have flourished and kept the school strong in challenging times. Alex Hems 2020