The move to online teaching and learning for the education industry was unprecedented in its scale and speed. It was a learning experience for all. I was proud of what my school accomplished, I am proud of the plan I instigated, but it was every member of the team that delivered and contributed towards it. A focus on wellbeing and live lessons from the outset was key, although fully live class lessons are not necessarily the gold standard of remote teaching. In the classroom we make such an effort to ensure that we are working to act as guides to a pupil learning, ensuring that they take ownership, that they fail and prosper, that they develop resilience, but to a parent at home, that was not going to go down well day one.
The pandemic will have a lasting impact on us all. 18 months on and I am finally feeling myself after being struck with the virus. But those chats online at the time with the staff were just as revealing. Those members who were alone throughout, those who were one of five sharing a small environment, those having to home school their children whilst looking after 170 from school, and all still succeeding in delivering an education and supporting one another.
The pupils were amazing. The first lockdown was interesting experiment for all, but by the second, they had adapted and responded incredibly. The new tools available from shared digital whiteboards, to virtual reality field trips and the gamification of studying broke up classes naturally as we would aim for in the classroom. Their resilience and enthusiasm was there to the end and the evidence of their learning was there for all to see by the end of term.
I have promised myself that one day I will write down everything that happened over the last 18 months in schools. I do believe that we were consistently let down by the Department of Education, with last minute changes, Friday night bulletins to change school from Monday and staff working 7-day weeks since the pandemic began and it is a testament to those that succeeded despite the poor guidance. One thing I can say is that I was so tired of being strong.
I left my Deputy Headship at the end of the Summer Term and spoke much on the future and looking forward for everyone there. Leaving that role meant that I can ensure my full efforts are with Catherine in ensuring that pupils are placed in the best schools they can, and achieve the best they can to ensure every door is left open to them in the future. Years of science specialism, coaching and a focus on the pupils mean that we can continue to do what we love but in a different way and we are excited to start our new venture.
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