The journey to return to Campus

The spring and summer months of 2020 have been an extraordinary time for everyone. Staff had to get used to a new way of working and teaching from home, parents became teaching assistants and children had to adjust to time away from their friends, the campus and our staff.

Although some of our students (and staff) were away from campus for nearly five months, many staff and students returned to School earlier than perhaps you might think. Some staff were never away, working tirelessly to keep the buildings and grounds maintained; supporting new families as they prepared for their new school and ensuring a warm reception welcome for delivery drivers, maintenance staff and visitors to the site. Children of key workers remained in School until the end of the summer term and staff worked on a rota to ensure they continued with their lessons and received the pastoral care that they needed – during what must have been a very difficult time for them.

Junior School children had a very successful return to campus at the end of June. We were one of the few schools in the country to effectively ensure the safe return of all of our Year 3 to

Year6 children. Dan Peters, Head of the Junior School, had nothing but praise for the children, their parents and his staff who had to learn a “new normal” to all aspects of life – from drop-off points to classroom layouts and socially distanced sports.

Senior staff and teachers of Year 11 and Upper Sixth worked on the calculation and submission of their Centre Assessment Grades. Year 11 students were given prep work to help them prepare for Sixth Form, working on tasks set in all of their chosen Sixth Form options, including an independent research and extended writing challenge.

Senior staff, Communications and Estates teams spent the summer holidays preparing for the prospect of all students returning to campus. The whole of the School then returned to campus in September. All of this, as you can imagine, required organisation with military precision. One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the provision of PPE and hygiene equipment, such as portable handwashing facilities and signage, all of which enabled students, parents and staff to feel safe on site.

The return to campus has been a great success. Thank you to everyone who continues to keep our community safe and supported.

#WGSTogether

#WGSTogether was launched to provide a break from the curriculum and lessons for not just children, but their parents too! Daily and weekly challenges and activities were on offer culminating in a live, virtual author event with comedian and award winning writer Ben Miller. Extra curricular activities became online and virtual. Everything from juggling classes, gardening, book clubs, psychology to knitting tutorials.