End of Term Update

As the last of the GDST schools officially break up for Easter, I want to thank everyone for supporting our teachers and staff at this most challenging of times.

I have been so impressed with the way the GDST family has come together, supporting one another and making sure that we still put each and every girl first in all that we do, despite the extraordinary disruption to our usual schedules.

Putting girls first means keeping the majority of our schools open during the Easter break for the children of key workers. Putting girls first means staff dedicating hours to developing innovative and engaging lessons via guided home learning. Putting girls first means prioritising every student’s mental health and wellbeing during this time of lockdown. I want to reassure you that all our staff are still working very hard to ensure the GDST continues to be where girls learn without limits.

We are continuing to find ways of helping as many parents as possible, too, and we thank you for your patience in giving us the time to respond to the many requests we have received over the past two weeks.

So, when I stood outside on Thursday evening like many of you, I was clapping for the amazing NHS staff but also for everyone on the front line whose hard work is ensuring that most of us can stay home and stay safe. I was thinking especially of our fantastic teachers and support staff, both across the GDST and beyond. They all deserve our thanks right now.

And I want to leave you with just one example of the GDST family and guided home learning at its very best. Here are the Ukuladies, Nottingham Girls’ High Junior School’s Year 6 remote choir singing their cover of Lewis Capaldi’s Someone You Loved. Enjoy it below.

I wish you all a happy and healthy Easter break.