Head Master’s Welcome – January 2021

Welcome to Lancing’s first e-newsletter of 2021. As we approach the end of January it certainly feels that term is well underway and, despite working remotely, pupils are back into the routine of College life, working hard and engaging enthusiastically with lessons, co-curricular activities, tutorials and their House groups.

In my most recent letters and emails home, I shared some of the latest developments at the College, including the introduction of lateral flow tests for staff and pupils currently in school. The programme is working extremely efficiently: pupils who are here have been tested twice upon arrival and now weekly and staff working from site are tested weekly; the Sports Hall has become repurposed as a testing centre with over 400 tests being carried out to date. Tests have already proved effective in identifying a few asymptomatic staff with the virus, enabling them to self-isolate immediately. You may well have seen in the news that there has been a pausing of elements of the testing regime in school (the seven day consecutive tests as an alternative to self-isolation for contacts) but there was also a stepping up of other elements – so as from next week we will be moving to two tests for staff per week and preparing for a higher volume of testing on the return of pupils to school. This is certainly a time for the learning of new skills and the management of new areas of school life and – like so much else – everyone is impressing with their ‘can do’ attitude: we are taking it in our stride.  

The transition to remote learning has taken place seamlessly and smoothly and pupils and staff have shown resilience, adaptability and a determination to make the most of all teaching and learning. Over 70% of our students had already experienced Lancing’s remote learning in the summer term last year, and thus are ‘old hands’. Tutors and teachers are working closely with pupils and we are encouraging ‘cameras on’ where possible to keep that sense of connection and communication across groups even if via a screen. Dr Herbert’s article gives you some insight into what is happening and some light-touch suggestions too for how you might wish to support your children’s learning.

Our provision is under constant review and to this end we will be repeating our pupil and parent remote learning and wellbeing survey next week. I am very grateful to our pupils and staff for the commitment they show in these difficult circumstances, and to our parents for the support and encouragement provided every day.  We will welcome your feedback as we hone what we are doing to be as effective as possible. There are also a couple of days left before we hit the deadline for the online survey on the school’s termly Quad magazine and your comments will be very welcome there too – the survey closes at 9am on Monday.

In addition to their academic commitments, there is rich re-engagement with co-curricular activities. From the choir and orchestra, with rehearsals and recordings from homes around the globe, to sports challenges, quizzes, House chess battles or the mentoring of younger pupils by those in the years above, there is a wealth of activity, support, connection and indeed fun on offer and evidence at every turn of the inventiveness, spark and energy of our pupils. Through Houses, activities and clubs as well as through lessons and academic enrichment the sense of community and of mutual support is lively and tangible, and so very Lancing. I have particularly enjoyed hearing about a House cooking challenge where all the pupils – regardless of location – are trying to cook the same meal at the same time.

Finally for now, a reminder of two events for your diary. 

I will look forward to seeing Fifth Form parents at the first of this term’s parent teacher meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, with one-to-one sessions with teachers on Wednesday and an opportunity to find out more about subjects new in the Sixth Form at Thursday’s webinar. Do check your email from Academic Admin for more details.  

Our Head Master’s Lectures this academic year have showcased the wealth of world-leading expertise amongst our alumni. Next week, on Thursday 28 January, we will welcome Professor Rana Mitter for the first (and this time entirely virtual) Head Master’s Lecture of 2021. An OL, Professor Mitter holds the University of Oxford Chair in the History and Politics of Modern China and is a Fellow of St Cross College. His title will be ‘What next for Beijing in 2021?’ and this promises to be an evening of up-to-the-minute insight into world affairs. I do hope you can join us. 

We will be in touch again very soon. In the meantime, I hope that wherever you are you are keeping safe and well.

Dominic Oliver, Head Master