What A Year! A look back at 2020

I would love to be looking back on the past academic year and telling everyone that it was a year like any other, that not much had happened, and that ‘steady as she goes’ had been the order of the day. That, however, is simply not possible. The 2019/20 academic year certainly started on a high with some fantastic A Level and GCSE results, another successful production at the Edinburgh Fringe, and the redesigned Sixth Form Centre looking bright and inviting.   

The Senior Play, Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, got audiences off to a good start and we sat immersed in café culture, enjoying brilliant performances of the absurd depicting the rise of fascism. Closer to home, the Middle School superbly performed James Graham’s The Vote, producing thought and laughter in equal measure. In both cases, the cast and creative crew pulled off super runs of quite difficult plays, proving once again that the Drama team at KGS produce plays within a school, not simply school plays. 

The Autumn and Spring concerts and the beautiful Carol Service were equally enjoyable. Every other part of the School was flourishing too, with great debates, works of art, academic progress, intense discussion in societies and experimentation and execution of ideas in science, robotics and coding.

The U14 girls reached the National Finals and had obviously saved some of their best hockey for the finals as they swept through the opposition. Their triumph helped inspire further national successes in both the U13 girls’ and the U15 girls’ sides and for the first time in quite some years KGS was able to boast a trio of national titles in the same academic year.  

We were just under two-thirds of the way through the year when news of a virus began to concern us all – as a school, as a community and as a country.  At KGS we watched and waited and put potential plans to the test with a high degree of concern but perhaps just a little scepticism. Would the nation really go into full lockdown? Could all schools really close? And then, of course, it happened – and we did. 

What followed could be catastrophised and make for pretty bleak reading. Many aspects shone through, though, lightening the mood and offering hope. Captain (now Sir, of course) Tom’s fundraising and the waves of volunteers wishing to support those in need were all indicators that we wanted to show our appreciation and do what we could to alleviate the difficulties faced by many. At KGS we had more than our fair share of students and staff who were delivering food to the elderly and vulnerable and raising funds for the NHS and other local charities. Online learning quickly became the ‘new normal’ and staff and students adapted quickly. 

Finally, I commend all staff and students involved in the process of awarding the GCSE and A Level Centre Assessed Grades, not least for their stoicism while we campaigned and awaited the ditching of the algorithm in favour of teachers’ professionally judged outcomes.  

We are not out of the woods yet; 2020-21 may prove to be just as difficult but for now I truly believe that we can look back on 2019-20 and be justifiably proud of what we achieved both before and during lockdown. We can hope that the positive lessons that came from the experience of the latter will stand us and others in good stead for the future.

SR Lehec

Head Master