It is becoming rather predictable to say that this has been a complex term! Since I last wrote, the national situation has both deteriorated and improved; schools have prepared for variety of scenarios and eventually managed to reopen. For centuries, schools have relied on tradition and routine, following identical patterns from year to year. They say that necessity is the mother of invention and over the last 12 months we have embraced innovation, perhaps like never before, adapting, experimenting failing and improving. The willingness of teachers, support staff, parent volunteers and students to adjust has been nothing short of inspiring and the eagerness of so many to engage with their local communities and offer support to those most in need has been heart-warming. Whilst I never thought I would say this, in spite of the trials, tribulations and headaches of the last year, I am so pleased and proud to have had the opportunity to witness the boundless ambition and compassion of this special community at this extraordinary time.
Successive lockdowns have helped us to learn and there is much that we will keep for the future. A great advantage has been the ability to engage a host of world-class lunchtime speakers with relative ease and HabsTalks was most certainly a highlight of remote provision. Talks by, among many others, Sir David Lidington (OH 1974), John Vincent (OH 1990), Lord Alfred Dubs, Joe Denly and Mark Ramprakash MBE brought a new dimension to the term. In a similar vein, activities like HabsMUN, the European Youth Parliament and debating forged on with great success online.
Lockdown proved no barrier to the Arts and creativity either, with the new weekly Arts forum, ‘Submarine’, serving up a smorgasbord of creativity and imagination, whilst monthly photography competitions, Art workshops and collaborative music-making brought opportunities for everyone to engage. The incredible performance of ‘I Want You Back’ is a thing of great joy and wonder – please find time to listen to it.
Physical activity was essential for a healthy and happy lockdown, and HabsDashGO! once again drew hundreds onto the streets. Equally popular were the morning fitness sessions for Prep and Pre-Prep pupils, with well over 100 boys joining every morning for their dose of daily exercise and an incredible 215 boys showing up for ‘Wellbeing Wednesday.’
Everyone was delighted to return to Elstree in March. Teaching is ultimately about relationships and, whilst we are now feeling confident about remote learning, nothing beats the real thing. The campus is at its best in spring and, whilst the building site emits a steady hum, the chatter of excitable Lower School pupils drowns it out fairly effectively! With planning permission granted to bring the Pre-Prep on site, the coming years will see even more construction, but the temporary disruption will be well worth it.
The resulting onsite obstacles presented further challenges for the organisers of HabsDash. Never daunted, they proceeded to stage one of the most energising and powerful events I have experienced since arriving at the School. In glorious spring sunshine, RainbowDash saw close to 300 boys, girls and staff running in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, wearing bright colours and brighter smiles in a strong statement of inclusion. In a carnival atmosphere, there was even a rainbow of balloons over the finish line and a performance from DJ Metcalfe – a joyful way to welcome the final days of term!
Next term will see renewed challenges. The world is changing at a dizzying pace and we need to react and respond with courage and ambition. There will be the immediate issues surrounding the awarding of public examination grades for many pupils, and I wish everyone involved the very best for the coming weeks. More profound are the ongoing discussions that affect everyone regarding culture, diversity and inclusion, whether this be in relation to race, gender or sexuality.
We aspire to be a community which listens with humility, asks hard questions and has the courage to speak truth. We aspire to be a community based on love for others, regardless of difference. And we have much still to do.