Focus on Education June 2021 No. 2
We have recently finished our assessment series for Years 11 and 13, and our students can now breathe a huge sigh of relief as we begin the grading process. They have prepared well and we have been impressed by their dedication and focus as they have sought to give the best account of themselves at the culmination of their courses. We have set Year 11 a series of Summer Tasks in readiness for their chosen A Level courses, which is an important aspect of their A Level preparation work. These are mandatory tasks and will prepare them well for A Level life as well as enabling them to effectively cope with Year 12 work and assessments. We have also provided them with some broader guidance on Sixth Form life such as Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and Syed’s Bounce. Please encourage Year 11 to regularly check their Teams channel for support, resources and guidance. Please also encourage your son in Year 10 and Year 12 to check their Teams channel regularly as information and resources are being posted for them to help them catch up in readiness for their delayed Summer Exams, which will be held in September.
The good news from the Pearson’s 2021 Global Learner Survey is that young people may recover faster from the pandemic than previously thought. The survey polled more than 6,000 people globally, including a UK sample. It found that 80% of British university students had found new ways to be more resilient and self-sufficient, and that 57% felt they had grown as people. Parents of school-age children reported a similar trend, with 85% saying they were impressed by their child’s self-sufficiency and adaptability.
Although other surveys have unsurprisingly reflected loneliness and mental health concerns due to the disruption to education and long periods spent at home, the majority of students apparently feel they have become stronger and more empathetic. Parents have also noted their children’s resilience during months away from school and friends.
Some 68% of parents and students said they felt that the pandemic had caused people to be more caring and understanding. 83% of parents said that their children are more aware of the hardships other people face, and 64% expect that they will become more interested in social issues as a result.
It was often said earlier in the pandemic that the world should never be the same again and that we should learn lessons, emerging as more considerate human beings, making time to support our neighbours and to rebuild communities.
It has been a steep learning curve for all of us, and we shall benefit from some of the lessons learnt during the pandemic in order to mould our school development and values over the years ahead.
Stay well and safe.
Be kind to yourself and each other.
Best wishes,
Dr Bird
