Welcome

Those who have been at PGS for some time will know that the Portmuthian magazine has always had a theme.

In 2015, we marked the opening of the new Sixth Form with architectural drawings and a compass on the front cover. A year later, we put an iPad on the front cover and transformed the chapters into ‘apps’ to mark the introduction of iPads across the Senior School. More recently, we put a world map on the front cover to show PGS’ exploits away from the city: in Borneo, America, China and Russia. The process has always been simple: look at the most important thing that has happened that year, and that’s your theme.

Unsurprisingly, however, this year has bucked the trend. There have been no landmark buildings to open, no step-change in technology, and certainly no trips abroad. Instead, this year has been marked by reflection and re-opening, to cautiously emerge from COVID restrictions, and return to the school site. Rather than big, external projects, this year’s adventures have been largely internal, within the minds of the school community. We therefore spent much time deliberating what our theme should be in a year where, although much has changed in how we approach learning and support each other, the essence of the school remained the same. It was our fantastic graphic designer, Jiali Hicks, who suggested artwork that would combine all four seasons within a single frame. It would show how, despite the challenges that weathered us, we continued to stand tall with our roots firmly in the ground.

Thus, our theme is resilience, demonstrating the strength of the PGS community to adapt and bounce back from difficult times. To stand stall, like our tree on the front cover, in times of uncertainty – through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. This year’s Portmuthian is a celebration of the PGS identity. Sure, there’s less to fill the pages with adventure and excitement, but there is much to be cherished about who we are and how, despite being away from each other physically, we have all remained Portmuthians.

Thomas Locke Editor-in-Chief