We know lots of you may be apprehensive about your children going back to school. The GDST (Girls’ Day School Trust) would like to know what concerns you have – and any tips you’ve discovered to reassure your children about their return to their classrooms. Three expert GDST Heads will be joining this discussion in a few days to answer your questions and address your apprehensions.
Are you anxious about your child’s safety back at school? Are you curious about how teachers will get children back up to speed? Have you got thoughts or questions about how to help children re-adjust to the formality and structure of school after the many months of home learning? Maybe your child’s teachers have absolutely smashed it so far, and you’d like to give them a shout-out; maybe your child is approaching a big transition in their education and you’d like to know how best to support them for public exams, or transition to a new school or college.
Here’s what the GDST has to say: “The GDST is a family of schools where girls learn without limits. We are the leading group of independent girls’ schools in the UK, with 23 fee-paying schools and two academies.
We know that parents want to support their children. Now, we’re working with Mumsnet to provide reassurance, advice and guidance to parents as we look ahead to the new school term."
Want to know who will be responding to your questions and comments? Find some information on the GDST’s experts below:
Claire Boyd is Head of Wimbledon High Junior School.
Claire has experience of teaching at every level of Junior education, including Reception and Key Stage 1. Before joining Wimbledon High, she was Head of Sydenham High Prep and, prior to that, Head of Lower School at Ravenscourt Park Prep School. Claire is dedicated to educating children to be the very best they can be, but always ensuring first and foremost that they are having fun and are happy.
Nina Gunson is the Head of Sheffield High School for Girls.
Nina studied Molecular Biology and, after a short stint as a recruitment consultant, trained as a teacher. She began her teaching career as a biology teacher, before becoming Head of Careers, then Head of Science, and rising to Assistant Head. She was Deputy Head at Sheffield Girls’ before moving to lead Wakefield Girls’ High School, and then returned to Sheffield Girls’ as its Head in 2018. Nina aims to instil a ‘can-do’ approach into everyone in the school community.
Emma Pattison is Head of Croydon High School
Emma hails originally from Lincolnshire, and is a Modern Languages specialist. A teacher of both French and Spanish, she went on to become Head of Year 8, Head of Modern Foreign Languages, and then a Deputy Head before joining Croydon High as Headmistress in 2016. Emma has led the school through a period of positive change and growth and is now facing the challenges of Covid-19 with the same energy and proactivity. Emma leads by example, with a caring approach and a commitment to help each student achieve their best, creating a nurturing environment in which they can flourish.
Whether you’ve got a burning question or a useful technique to share, let the GDST know by posting on this thread and their experts will join the conversation and try to address some of the queries raised.
All who post a question will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).
Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
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