Patricia Lancaster - Reflections

Reflections … or “ch...ch...ch ... changes” … by Patricia Lancaster

Arriving at St George’s in the late eighties was an exciting time for me, both professionally and personally. I had been living and working in Bath, so knew very little about St George’s School for Girls but, at the outset, I knew I had landed on my feet. In my first few months in school, I was struck by the open and liberal ethos of the school. Sixth formers wore their own clothes and bohemian style mixed happily with the Sloane velvet hairbands of the time. I found the students to be curious and spirited, but also extremely friendly and open.

The curriculum has always offered ‘the best of British’ and I have seen the full cycle of examination courses within the English department: GCSE and A Level, Highers and Standard Grades, then back to GCSE then Intermediate 2, National 5 and back to GCSE. Hats off to staff, students, and parents for persevering in their effort to keep up with such changes. Personalised learning became a watch word and I know no other school that has offered such a flexible tailor-made set of courses to students.

The extra-curricular dimension of the school has always been outstanding: it is rich and wide ranging. Amnesty International, Debating Club, and the student newspaper, Independent Women, are just a few examples, but the girls often came up with their own clubs and societies: croquet was a popular for a while, as was quidditch! My involvement with extra-curricular made my first year at the school so much more enjoyable and I know that it helps to forge trust and respect between students and staff.

Drama and Music productions have always been central to the life of the school, particularly in the autumn term. In the early days, this was due partly to the fact that both departments were housed in the main Upper School building so that the corridors were filled with orchestral ‘joi de vivre’ and frenzied rehearsals echoed through the Crush Hall. Once the Robertson Music Centre and the St George’s Centre were built, Music and Drama had their own purposebuilt facilities, which offered students so much more. Like PE and Art, such lively and specialised departments offer girls the chance to become totally immersed in their sixth form courses.

The global dimension of the school was very real to me early on in my time at school. I was lucky enough to take part in the St George’s Germantown Friends School exchange programme. GFS is a Quaker school in Philadelphia and is the longest running exchange in school, going back fifty years. In 1988 it was the only exchange open to students and staff. The five-week exchange opened my eyes to a more informal and diverse school community and its dynamic ethos made a professional and lasting impression on me.

The manner in which the international exchange programme has evolved over the years reflects the school’s aim to expand student horizons, giving them a global perspective. Students in Lower School, Upper 4, Upper 5 and 6th Form have had the opportunity to

apply for a place on one of many exchanges around the world from Canada to Hong Kong. Despite the current pandemic, St George’s continues to be determined to give the girls insights into other cultures through new courses, developed during lockdown.

The ethos of the school and the pastoral care of the girls became my main area of focus and interest. Student concerns became more complex over the years and the pressures on young people in society more intense. Mobile phones introduced another layer of communication and not always for the best! In response to such needs, a Personal and Social Education programme was introduced, and Heads of Year appointed. This allowed students to have access to more support and to more up-to-date information. Now, more than ever, young people need a safe and open environment in which to voice their thoughts and to make mistakes.

An active student voice has always been encouraged, from an early school council to “Pow Wow,” a forum for discussion, girls have taken part in committees and focus groups and by doing so have made a difference. The student leadership team, or the ‘The Big Four’ as they are known, have consistently led school with enthusiasm and been powerful role models and communicators.

Looking back over my time at St George’s, one aspect that always makes me smile is dressing up for charity events. Concert Band charity extravaganzas, involving staff making fools of themselves, has been a highlight for students and staff alike. ‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Mission Impossible’ and a recent staff panto brought the school together in a wonderful crazy way. The St George’s ‘magic’ is hard to define; it is just as present in moments of intense sadness and loss as in times of celebration and gratitude. The school community is very special indeed, for it is based on relationships and respect.

The success of the school seems to hinge on its roots in the past and its ability to adapt and innovate. I worked under four Heads, each of them steering the school towards the future, without disregarding the past. Rituals and celebrations that have endured include magical Carol Services in St Giles with the choir processing by candlelight, Speech Days in the Queens’ Hall, the marquee at school and now St Mary’s Cathedral. Unlike most schools, there are no prizes at Speech Day, instead every girl ‘crosses the platform’ to be celebrated for who she is.

I knew that leaving the St George’s family would be hard, but nothing had prepared me for the extraordinary final months of teaching online during lockdown. Who could have envisaged that exam classes would be in tears on hearing their exams were cancelled? The day school had to close, before moving onto Teams, was an emotional one for us all. After my last lesson, I walked down the drive, not knowing when I would see my students and colleagues again when, suddenly, a car pulled up beside me and two familiar beaming faces yelled ‘Hello!’ Two old girls, now successful women, had driven up to school, ‘just for old times’ sake’ and had spotted me. On hearing that I had just taught my last face-to-face lesson, they magically produced a bottle of bubbly from their shopping in the back of their car as a farewell gift. The moment of sadness was gone – transformed, as only St G’s can do, into a moment of real joy and laughter.

That’s St G’s for you!