Goodbye 2020, hello 2021

Our RGS News team ask a number of students and staff two questions about their experience of living through 2020, and their hopes for the year to come

Sixth form student Oscar Lees

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: Fundamentally life is different, and it is out of our control which I think has meant that we have all had to become more adaptable due to the uncertainty over what lies ahead. I believe the pandemic has had a positive impact on me as the independent side of learning has matured me into a better student.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I just can’t wait to play rugby again, it’s such a big part of my life and to play a few games with my friends again will be such a great feeling.

Head of science Dr Grime

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: It has made me appreciate things that I had taken for granted.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: Being vaccinated, seeing my mother again and going skiing (but that will probably have to wait until 2022).

Head girl Molly Cushing

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: The main impact of the pandemic was that I had to get used to a very different way of learning, and I found it hard to motivate myself to sit in front of a computer all day.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I'm looking forward to being able to meet up with friends and socialise outside school next year.

Year 8 student Ethan Kendrick

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: Having only just found my feet as a first year pupil at RGS, it was very difficult to do online learning in some subjects. It was also very hard not seeing family and friends, but the Ripon Cathedral choir was doing Zoom sessions every day, so we could all see each other, which was really helpful on the mental health side of things. I was meant to do my Grade 5 piano exam in June 2020, but like everything else that was cancelled.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I'm looking forward to getting together with family who I have not been able to see during lockdown and go on a holiday somewhere abroad.

English teacher Mrs Mars

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: I feel like my world got smaller: fewer people, fewer adventures. As a keen hiker when I'm not teaching English, I was pleased to see lots more people discovering how lovely it is to be outside in nature, and how discussions of the value of arts subjects and culture gained greater prominence.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I'm most looking forward to being back in museums and theatres. I've really missed it.

Sixth form student Alice Fundell

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: I found this year’s lockdown really difficult, I missed spending time with my friends and my family. Online learning was also a challenge, I normally enjoy going to school but I found it hard to have motivation to do all my work with little contact with teachers and peers. However, this year has been a time for my immediate family to spend more time together which has brought us closer.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: In 2021 what I look forward to most is spending time with my friends and being able to visit family members around the country. 


Year 11 student Adam Carpenter

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: I think living through the pandemic was a subtly good thing for me. I could structure my work how I pleased, and it gave me much more self-discipline. I know other members of my family were affected, by being in the high-risk category, but I could spend much more time with my close family, which was nice. Being unable to do normal activities was very different and missing out on football and school gave me a loss of structure in my previously normal week. However, life was much more relaxed for me in the lockdown period and it gave me a time to cool down while still focusing on my studies.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year we hope life will return to normal?

A: I am looking forward to a much more positive year in 2021, with the new vaccine being key to this. I am excited to return to normality in all areas of my life, whether it be sport, school or simply visiting the shops. I am also looking forward to seeing what new doors A-levels might open for me in September. Hopefully 2021 will be better for us all but it is imperative that we keep everyone safe in the meantime.

Head of music Mr Barker

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: It has really restricted how much I can see my family and friends and my holidays. I have missed the connections I have with people all over the country who I haven’t been able to catch up with properly.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: In 2021 I really hope to be able to explore new places and cities and get back to concerts and the theatre.

Sixth form student Eve Maylor

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: I think people’s experiences of lockdown largely differed depending on their different mindsets and attitudes to it. In the beginning, I found myself slipping into the typical habits of late nights, long lie-ins, unhealthy eating and a lack of productivity. However, I soon came to the conclusion this was impacting me negatively both physically and mentally. I then began to use my time in lockdown much more productively and not only did I feel better for it but I hope that I also helped others. Initially, I rang the local care home wanting to speak to some lonely residents, I brought food and presents to people’s doorsteps who I knew were shielding, I gained qualifications in online courses, I researched more what I would like to achieve in the next few years and where I am aiming to be in the future. Therefore, despite missing out on many things I had been looking forward to, I believe living through this pandemic helped me to make the most out of a terrible situation.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I think that after 2020 I will appreciate things that used to be so minor, such as going to the cinema, bowling, to a party, etcetera, so much more than I ever have. I am also very excited to hopefully be able to go and view some of the universities I would like to apply to. Additionally, hopefully if things begin to get better I will be able to start planning my gap year.

Sixth form student Ben Rickard

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: The biggest effect the pandemic has had is on my social life - it has stopped me seeing my mates and playing sport together. It was also hard trying to motivate myself to keep exercising and staying healthy whilst organised sport was cancelled.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I am most looking forward to being able to freely see who I want without having to worry about how many people will be there and if we are allowed inside.

Music teacher Miss Morpeth

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: Going into lockdown, it was difficult to contemplate how we would juggle all of our commitments - the prospect of working from home whilst looking after our two young children was pretty daunting! Before the restrictions we relied heavily on childcare and clubs for our two boys, and I was concerned about how we could keep them entertained, particularly given the significant limitations on time spent outside the house. I have now experienced how pre-school children very much live in the present and adapt easily to change. We soon began to actively enjoy and cherish our long days together.

Lockdown gave us a rare opportunity to reset things, and whilst our day-to-day routine continually evolves as we navigate the pandemic, many of the benefits experienced remain. The realisation that, for many, working from home can be effective and efficient has transformed our daily lives - my family and I are all at home more often, see each other more, and that has definitely changed our lives for the better.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year we hope life will return to normal?

A: After one of my boys had to have ten days of isolation following an outbreak at his preschool, cautiously made birthday, anniversary, and Christmas plans were out of the window - plans which, in all honesty, were made with an air of scepticism. So, I am most looking forward to being able to look forward to things again. Making plans that are more likely than not to come to fruition. I am looking forward to experiencing music with others again, seeing friends, and giving my niece and nephew a big squeeze.

Sixth form student Jake Hewison

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: There have definitely been some challenges to face, but I think overall the pandemic has taught us to be more resilient and not to take things for granted.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I think I’m most looking forward to being able to socialise normally again, because it can get a bit boring meeting up outside and staying 2m apart.

Food & nutrition teacher Louise Solden

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: The pandemic allowed me to challenge myself in ways I never thought possible. Firstly, I started to exercise regularly. I walked every morning and actually still do. I feel so much better and healthier for doing this. Secondly, I learnt new skills - namely sourdough and then went on to share my knowledge with others who in turn have passed it down. I learnt to be more appreciative of the things I used to take for granted. I realised that so many good people were giving their lives up to help others. When I went shopping in supermarkets, I thanked the checkout assistants and genuinely meant it. I learnt to give more to other people, supported vulnerable people in all sorts of ways. Telephone calls, shopping, errands and so forth. Living on my own, I had developed a degree of independence and I made sure that I was never lonely and always had a focus for the day. I did have five holidays planned and sadly had to cancel them all. Travel is one of my great loves, but I learned to be more flexible and adaptable.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I look forward to catching up with my friends once again and be able to go out to eat with them in restaurants. I look forward to being able to go to school and at the end of the lesson not having to say, "Don't forget to put your mask on". I look forward to once again being able to see films in the cinema and sit in friends’ kitchens drinking tea and coffee. I look forward to large family gatherings and not having to worry about which tier we are in or if we’ll contaminate each other. But most of all I look forward to seeing everyone keeping alive, staying safe and being well.

Sixth form student Robyn Kanani

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic has affected your life?

A: The pandemic has affected my life in that it has made me increasingly aware of my surroundings, how we now have to wear masks in public and keep a safe distance from others. Lockdown was difficult from the perspective of not being able to see my friends every day at school and living away from my family for extended periods of time because of restricted travel. However, in hindsight this has made me more grateful for the time that I spend with them now. Although it tested my motivation at times, the positive side of being in lockdown was that it afforded me time to spend on my interests outside my school subjects and has given me more flexibility as to when and how I do my work. 

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I'm looking forward to being able to go out without having to remember to bring a mask and hand sanitiser, and to keep a two metre distance from strangers. Obviously these regulations have been put in place for a reason, but I'm sure it's so far removed from all of our ideals and I can't wait to return to pre-covid times which, with the new vaccine, will hopefully be soon. I'm also looking forward to being able to being able to travel again with my friends and family, and seeing everyone at school once lockdown is over in February.

Year 10 student Isaac Henson

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: It has been a struggle with my schoolwork this year and I have struggled with some activities but I have made vast improvements in my exercise as I have had lots of time to work on it.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: Looking ahead to next year I am looking forward to doing my athletics in full vigour so I can do every event and to keep improving.

Modern foreign languages teacher Mrs Lyons

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: Like many other working parents, I found it stressful trying to manage teaching remotely with keeping a small person entertained. I really missed being in the classroom and the day-to-day interactions that I realise now I used to take for granted. We're really careful about what comes into the house, quarantining post and shopping, and now we're all back in school/work, there is a lot more washing to do as everything goes in the wash when we get home. On a more positive note, my husband was furloughed for the first seven weeks of the lockdown, so we got to spend a lot more time together as a family, and I got to spend a lot more time outside, running either alone or with my little boy on his bike, or exploring the wonderful countryside and green spaces on our doorstep.

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I'm looking forward to feeling less anxious about going places, not feeling compelled to wash my hands after touching things and not needing to wash down/quarantine all the shopping. But most importantly, I'm looking forward to seeing more of my family, to hugging my mum, dad and sister, to meeting up with friends, some of whom I've not seen in almost a year. I can't wait for that.

Maths teacher Mr O'Donovan

Q: Looking back on 2020, can you sum up how living through the pandemic affected your life?

A: I may be alone in saying that I actually enjoyed the start of lockdown in March 2020; the experience was new and exciting and different, and the final two weeks of the Easter term went well. My wife has worked from home for the last four years – nothing to do with COVID-19 – and it was nice that we used to meet up at lunchtime daily. Soon after the start of the summer term however, and the novelty of setting online teaching had worn off, I desperately missed the interaction not only of work colleagues but of students too, and I was grateful for the opportunity of getting back into the classroom – if only in limited form – in the second half of the summer term with Year 10 and lower sixth classes. The period from March 2020 to July 2020 showed us all how important it was – for staff and students alike – to touch base and keep in close communication with each other (and not only about academic problems).

Q: Looking ahead to 2021, what are you looking forward to most in a year when we hope life will return to normal?

A: I have possibly hinted at the answer to this in the above, but I simply want the opportunity to say a proper farewell to my colleagues when I eventually leave RGS or finally retire from teaching. Last year the mathematics department lost two stalwarts in Caroline Sutcliffe and Louise Johnson and, although I said my goodbyes to them both at the time, it seemed somehow less of a send-off had we been working together under full-timetables in school at the time. TS Eliot once wrote: “This is how the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper,” and I realise now what he meant with those words. I write this to you just after a second national lockdown has been announced by our prime minister.