Senior School

Over the past few weeks I have been writing to the School Community about the long-term impacts of COVID we continue to see affecting our young people, and inviting parents and carers to partner with us in addressing them. I have written about engagement in co-curricular life, social and emotional learning, and academic progress – all of which are important to us here at BMGS. 

This week, I invite parents and carers to reflect on the unsettling loss of certainty and persistent anxiety experienced by many of our young people, both as a result of COVID, but also as a result of  the world as presented in the media over recent years. When I started teaching (now almost two decades ago) I don’t remember schools talking about anxiety. While I know it was experienced by many people in private, we did not yet have the open and positive discussion of anxiety and its impacts we now benefit from. Much has changed in that regard over the past many years, and in that spirit it is important that as the adults in our young people’s lives we recognise the impact the daily reporting of infection and death rates, rolling closures and shut-downs, and the ”fake news” disputes regarding the management of the Pandemic have had. For young people working hard to establish both their own  identity and values and an understanding of how the world works, such an environment is deeply problematic. 

I encourage parents and carers to engage with the work of outstanding mental health advocacy and support organisations such as Headspace and Beyond Blue, and to reach out to Tutors or Heads of House should you have concerns. 

Mr Owen Laffin

Deputy Head - Head of Senior School