Reflections on Lockdown

Well where do I start …? This has certainly been an experience, and one that we are definitely still learning from. Our experiences have undoubtedly all been different, with the term ‘unprecedented’ being thrown around a lot!

In my twenty years in this profession, I have never been through anything quite like this… managing online learning and virtual classrooms, home schooling my own two children, in addition to trying to squeeze in the usual daily meetings and other tasks.

Trying to maintain some sense of ‘normality’, whatever that means anymore, during this ‘unprecedented’ (yes – I said it!) time, has been trying to say the least!

I can’t tell you how delighted my own son was to be going back to school this week, and how ecstatic I was that he was going back! However, I am certain, that just like many of you, it caused some anxiety around him being in the school environment during this period of unrest. It did help to know all that we are doing as a school to maximise the safety of the young people and staff in our care.

I’m sure you will agree, that a school isn’t school without the children, and therefore, one of the highlights of my lockdown experience has to be seeing some of the Year 10 and 12 students return to join some of our key worker students.

Change is hard at any point in our lives, and I will be the first to say it has been incredibly hard during this period; however, we learn to adapt very quickly and children, in particular, are extremely resilient! It has been incredible to watch how they have embraced the ‘virtual learning’ and adapted.  

I personally have had some very different reflections and changes to face as I embark on Headship in September; and the thought that I won’t be back at Capital in September makes me very sad, however I am also very excited to be taking on some new challenges.

This has been a very ‘different’ experience for all of us, however this is absolutely now the time to come together as a community and tackle the next phase.

Rhoda Flindall

Vice-Principal – Inclusion, Safeguarding, Welfare