I think most would agree that we want to avoid not being too dependent on our mobile phones. Having so much time apart over the last 2 academic years during those times of isolation, technology helped out enormously and we all became used to using Teams and our phones to stay connected. With restrictions eased, it is great to be back together again as a school, having assemblies and lunches together, with a greater semblance of ‘normality’.

Now that we are back we are going to trial a new ‘Social Interaction Friday’. This will mean that all mobile phones will be put away when school starts and not taken out again until school finishes at 4.20pm – for everyone in the Senior School. We think it is extremely important for all of us to talk to each other face to face as this will help us all integrate with our peers more. We have many new pupils here this term and this will help them practise their conversational English, as well as help them to settle in. If any parent needs to contact their child during the school day, may ring the school office and a message will be taken (if needed, your son/daughter will have permission to call home). 

I hope parents support this as we try to ensure that our pupils are not too dependent on their mobile phones. Many of us grew up in a time when they simply did not exist but even some of the staff may find it difficult at first. Hopefully, this will only add to the excited energy that is around school, and possibly new friendships will be formed.

Adele Gilmour, Deputy Head, Pastoral