Senior School

When asked in 1972 about the long-term impacts of the French Revolution of 1789, the then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai is famously reputed to have expressed the long view of history, replying… “It is too early to say.” Of course, like many historical moments… this one is slightly mis-quoted. Premier Zhou was in fact referring to riots in Paris in 1968. Whether referring to events two centuries or only four years earlier, however, there is a lesson we can learn. We still do not know what the full impact of COVID will be in the lives of our children and young people, and may not see the full impact for some time. We can, however, be active in overcoming its effects. 

Over the past few weeks I have been writing to you about the impacts of COVID on our community, and suggesting ways in which we might work together in our ongoing recovery in coming weeks, months and years. I have written asking for your help in re-engaging our young people in co-curricular programs here at the School, and also for your help in assisting your children to catch-up on missed opportunities to engage in social and emotional learning. This week, I ask for your help in ensuring that where children may have missed a step academically, they have the opportunity to catch up. 

The impact of COVID on the learning of our young people has been both complex and unequal. I am proud to say that our teachers did an outstanding job in pivoting to online learning (multiple times) and supporting our students remarkably under trying circumstances. Our teachers developed challenging and engaging online learning tasks, provided ongoing and significant feedback through Google Docs/Presentations and via an extraordinary number of hours live with students via Zoom. Some students (who may struggle with distraction more than others) even benefitted from the solitude of learning online at home.  For many, however, the lack of interaction was hard. More importantly, the kind of immediate and personalised feedback our teachers can provide in-person and the benefits of peer collaboration and feedback were not possible, and this has meant that there are gaps in the learning of some students. We are working hard to find those gaps and to close them. 

So, I am asking parents to do three things. Firstly, please let your children’s teachers know if you have any concerns. Our teachers care deeply about the learning of your children and are committed to their success. Secondly, avoid catastrophising the gaps should they appear. Our teachers are outstanding, and young people have an amazing ability to learn and grow when provided the opportunity to do so. Thirdly, please model a focus on learning by celebrating both the process and the gains rather than focusing on the marks. Marks matter, but they are best achieved when learning, growing and improving are upheld as the most important thing. 

I am confident that we do not yet know the full impact COVID has had on our children. I am also confident, however, that by working together these impacts can and will be overcome. 

Mr Owen Laffin

Deputy Head - Head of Senior School