During the first COVID-19 lockdown, we may have been temporarily closed, but St. Anthony’s School for Girls remained very much open. We successfully moved our provision online and offered our girls a rich and varied learning experience. Following the announcement of a national lockdown in January 2021, we shifted once more to a remote education programme to cater for all pupils in Reception to Year 6.
Our Headteacher, Mr Brennan, had this to say about our remote education phase in 2020:
“The establishment of a remote learning curriculum and timetable was a very positive experience at St. Anthony’s School for Girls. The children embraced their online lessons with enthusiasm, and the work being produced by the children deserved our commendation.
Creativity flourished with unexpected moments of originality, with children creating their own terrariums, designing their individual emojis and writing heartfelt letters to grandparents, William Shakespeare and David Walliams.
Our online assemblies three times a week allowed for a community celebratory moment to bring us together and feel connected. This followed by our pastoral calls and focus group lessons in reading and philosophy allowed for all children to engage, share and feel truly valued during the time of distance learning.
Technology allowed us to communicate and interact very effectively, in a school where pupil voice is at the core of what we promote”.
Find out more about what we offered our pupils while delivering education remotely:
Our girls had daily live lessons with their class teachers including English and Maths. These were complemented by a range of different live lessons in other curriculum areas including Art, Ballet, Mandarin, French, Drama, Science, Singing and Philosophy.
During the week, the girls also had the opportunity to read with their teachers, either individually or in small groups.
To supplement live lessons, the girls also had video lessons provided in a range of different subjects. This enabled the girls to have a much-needed break during the day and complete work in their own time.
The girls’ pastoral care is our main priority and we endeavoured to uphold the feeling of community within the school. The girls attended weekly assemblies with the Headteacher which is a time for prayer, reflection and togetherness.
Class teachers had a weekly 1:1 wellness check with each girl.
During the first lockdown, the school community also came together to participate in fun activities and enjoyed a range of quizzes.
If you would like to arrange a private tour and meet our Head and Deputy Head, please contact Kira Aujla on 020 3869 3070 or email admissions@stanthonysgirls.co.uk.