John Browne Head, Stonyhurst College
Throughout the pandemic, Stonyhurst, like all schools and sectors, had an exciting opportunity to challenge and change traditional thinking around teaching, living, and learning. The Jesuit concept of having ‘one foot in the air’, ready for the next challenge, perhaps had never been more relevant. The journey since March 2020 has led to new understandings as schools emerge from lockdown. The challenges presented by COVID-19 have accelerated the implementation of digital strategies in educational settings. For example, all pupils from Year 5 upwards at Stonyhurst now have a school-issued device. Lessons take advantage of Microsoft OneNote and there is an increase in well-chosen digital resources and online textbooks available to pupils. The advantage for boarders is that instead of hauling around multiple folders and books at the end of term as part of their luggage, they
its parent consultations online so that every
social media events such as assemblies,
can simply pack their device in their hand
parent can attend, rather than limiting to
house competitions, masses and other
luggage and they have everything they need
those who would have traditionally had to
celebrations with the wider school
to continue their studies in the holidays. By
travel to or across the UK to attend.
community.
learning offer during periods of lockdown
This has also improved things for busy
Part of the joy of boarding is the community
now gives schools the ability to reassure
day pupil parents, who no longer have
feel of the boarding houses, where
pupils and their parents that any potential
to make babysitting arrangements to
boarders share their lives together.
durations of quarantine or isolation will not
attend school consultations and also no
Boarders are used to the busyness of the
result in children missing out on lessons,
longer have to queue for conversations
house and having their friends ‘on tap’.
pastoral support or the community spirit
with teachers. Zoom calls have allowed
With COVID-19, boarding communities
that is so important in a boarding school.
teachers and pastoral staff to have face-
were scattered worldwide. Although
to-face conversations with parents. This is
almost all boarders returned to school, a
very useful for pastoral conversations as
number found themselves attending online
it introduces a more personal relationship
school from their own homes. Part of the
between parent and teacher. Parents are
challenge for lockdown in a boarding school
more connected now than ever because
was gathering the community together.
schools can also share online or through
Stonyhurst managed to keep the
the same token, the success of the online
CONNECTING WITH PARENTS As well as advances in technology aiding pupils in their lessons, schools now have better and more frequent communications with parents. Stonyhurst has moved all of
