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DIALOGUE Issue #6 2021
The Headmaster’s Address Senior Prizegiving Tuesday 29 June 2021
Ladies and Gentlemen It is with a sense of frustration that I present my Prizegiving address to you today, once again, through the medium of the internet. When I did so this time last year, who would have thought that we would be doing exactly the same twelve months later? As we approach the conclusion of the Trinity Term, we can reflect on another extraordinary year which has challenged us, frustrated us, disappointed us, and inspired us in equal measure. After the Trinity Term lockdown of 2020, we were relieved and excited to return to school in September and to teach and learn face to face for the whole of the Michaelmas Term. We were very fortunate that, unlike most other schools in the region, with the exception of a handful of students in the Lower Sixth, the RGS was open for all students throughout the term. It was with a sense of exasperation, therefore, that we learned at the beginning of January that we were
locked down again for the majority of the Lent Term, but I am proud of the efficient manner in which we returned to the remote classroom and confident that the academic education of the boys was not unduly affected. The joy of resuming face-to-face education and joining together as a community throughout this Trinity Term has been very evident and we are hopeful that the vaccination programme will enable the School to return to some semblance of normality from September. We are keeping our fingers very firmly crossed; we all want to enjoy our school as it used to be. On an occasion such as this, I would usually report on the successes and achievements of the RGS during the past academic year. There have been some extraordinary achievements which have been reported to all via the usual channels. Not least, the success of Young Enterprise team Firefly, who won awards in local, regional and national competitions with a product designed specifically to
help those working from home during lockdown. Such innovation and entrepreneurship was rewarded with the accolade of Best UK Company from 720 different Young Enterprise groups, the first time that an RGS team has ever won this award. Team Firefly will now represent the UK in the European finals in July. At a time when companies are looking for creative and innovative young people, such experience will hold our students in very good stead for the future. There have been so many notable successes this year, but I wanted to use this time to reflect on the Coronavirus pandemic and the important things which I believe have come to the fore at the RGS during this extraordinary year and which we don’t often publicise as much. At my first assembly in September to the new First Form boys I always say to them that I have three expectations of them as RGS pupils: kindness, kindness, and kindness. And at a time of challenge, sadness, concern and stress, it is this sense of
