As the second half of the summer term begins, the bittersweet moment comes when the baton is handed on from this year’s Head Girl and her deputies to the next generation of leaders. Upper Sixth pupils, Hannah, Ruby and Alice have served the school in a myriad of ways and have been inspirational - and at times wonderfully entertaining - role models for the younger pupils to emulate. With offers from Bristol, Bath and St Andrew’s Universities in Law, Economics and Biology respectively, exciting new pastures await. We caught up with them before the exam season kicked off in earnest to hear their reflections on legacy, leadership and what they will miss most about SGA as their time at the school draws to a close.
What are you most looking forward to about your final weeks at St George’s?
H: I'm really excited about the last week - the leavers’ events like the Leavers Ball and the Valedictory Service - it gives the final year such a good send off.
A: I’ve had 7 years of watching the Upper Sixth walk across the stage at Prize Giving, but that’s going to be us this year? I cannot believe we have reached the end. I’m also really excited about going somewhere out of this familiar environment.
H: You’re right, we’re really comfortable here at St George’s so it’s going to be quite scary moving somewhere new but really exciting at the same time.
What do you think you will miss most about SGA?
A: Hot Chocolate!
H: (adopting a voice that suggests she may have said this at Open Mornings before) I always say that when I’m walking from one building to another you will bump into three or four people you know, teachers that haven’t taught you for a few years, girls from different year groups - you have a little conversation along the way. I get back to my room and think I am never going to have that anywhere else, that sense of community and everyone knowing who everyone is.
R: Because St George’s is so cosy, I can always find my friends; everyone’s everywhere and you see people just all the time. I wonder whether it will be like that at uni, maybe by the later years?
A: I will really miss my classes and my teachers. Our teachers work so hard for us. They make time for you and explain things to you again and again and again. I will miss my class dynamic, especially at A Level. With our smaller class sizes, I’ve made meaningful friendships with people that I never thought that I would ever be close friends with or speak to a lot because we’ve got through things together.
They’re not lying when they say that in Sixth Form you do have different relationships with your teachers and I think that is really special. I heard this quote ‘you won’t miss the circus but you will miss the clowns’ but I don't agree. I think I will just really miss this place. The people I think I'll keep in touch with, but the place I’ll never be able to replicate.
Hannah
What have you particularly learnt in your role as Head Girls?
R: When I was in the younger years and I would see the Head Girls team, I genuinely looked up to them, but then when we were in the Lower Sixth applying for prefect roles I thought ‘No one is going to look up to us,’ we seemed younger somehow. But they actually do look up to us! It makes you want to achieve more and have a positive impact for them.
A: The most important thing I’ve learnt is that when you take on responsibility, it’s important to include everyone and take lots of different opinions into consideration, but you also need to learn how to make firm decisions. Someone has to take the lead.
Do you think you have a legacy or something you’re proud of?
H: I have really embedded Coronation Chicken into St George’s life!
A: (guffaws) What?
H: I’ve been pitching for it so long and it’s finally on the menu!
R: That we're the best Head Girls team yet? (It was clear to me that Ruby, one of our must understated and humble of Upper Sixth pupils, was joking) Seriously though, our year has definitely had a lot of character development throughout their time at the school, a lot of teachers really recognise that. Everyone has changed in the most positive of ways.
A: I am the perfect example. I spent the whole of Year 7 in detention and the fact that I am on the Head Girl team now is almost unbelievable. I’m not naturally clever, but I am an example of how a character, with the right support, can develop over time.
How have your teachers helped you to develop specifically?
A: You never feel bad if you’ve made a mistake along the way. You never feel ashamed and no one judges you for that. You’re never afraid to put your hand up for extra help.
Mistakes that you make, they’re not frowned upon, they’re embraced as a learning opportunity.
Alice
H: I think our work ethic is strong. I think we all egg each other on, because we all see each other’s potential and we’re really supportive in that way.
R: Because of the size of St George’s, younger pupils are not afraid to come up to you and ask how you managed to change or how you got to where you are now. They’re not threatened by us, they’re friends.
What would your advice be to the next team?
R: Make the most of your Head Girl meetings because they’re not only a learning experience but also so much fun. You get cookies, you chill, you sing! I really recognise how approachable Mrs Hewer is after this year. Just enjoy it!
What have been the highlights of your time at St George’s?
H: I really like the week before Christmas
A: That will never be the same
H: I literally love that week
R: You can tell the interconnectedness of the school in that week
H: Can we talk about the disco this year?!
A: I did the worm with the Year 8s!
H: I cannot believe that we did that, it was wild!
R: The day after the school disco, I just thought what did I do?
H: We were high on life!
How has SGA prepared you for the next phase of your life?
A: That’s such a good question
I do think everyone in our year is actually really confident and I think that can be seen when we do assemblies in chapel. When you’re in the younger years, girls can be a little timid or self conscious. Then you look at, say, the leaver’s assembly, and we didn't need a microphone, we had the confidence to present and hold everyone’s attention.
Hannah
A: Like with the new Head Girl hustings, there were 13 brilliant speeches given. They all spoke so clearly!
R: I agree with Hannah! I know this sounds as though I came into St George’s with no social skills, but SGA does actually give you the skill to make social connections. There are so many opportunities to mix between year groups and meet people from outside school.
H: I really feel that I am trusted. For example at Open Mornings, we’re utilised as a voice of honesty and authenticity.
A: I would also say to do everything whenever you have the opportunity. Netball is such a good example for me. I arrived in Year 7 having never played and had no idea, but now it has completely taken over my life and I have such a love for it! It’s so important to throw yourself into everything whether that’s sports, drama or academics. I don’t know how they did it, but St George’s has instilled such discipline in me. The nature of the school day with classes and then clubtime, providing balance and a break, and then after that returning to work in prep. Your day is full but it’s also the correct balance between working and doing things you enjoy.
H: On throwing yourself into new things, I think we learn here not to take ourselves too seriously and we’re able to try new things without feeling embarrassed in front of people. For example, at House events, sometimes there isn’t someone to do something completely new, but you are willing to give it a go and have a good time. You don’t have to be the best at it, you don’t have to be perfect at it, as long as you’re really trying you enthuse others to join in as well.
What do you think the future holds for you?
A: I was really inspired by a talk given by one of our Alumna about the breadth of jobs available in the insurance industry so I want to work my way up in a world that has a broad range of opportunities like that.
R: I really wanted to be an astronaut when I was older.
A: I actually wanted to be an obstetrician!
R: Did you ever just wander around a shop singing and hope that someone was going to find you and make you famous?
Everyone falls about laughing at Ruby, the next Youtube sensation, and our interview is done. It was such a pleasure to hear the girls reflect so authentically about the ethos of SGA, but also share so sensitively and intelligently about their own learning curve and on the lessons they have learnt about leadership and responsibility. They will be greatly missed, but we look forward to introducing Judit, Jess and Oona to find out more about the future of leadership at St George’s, Ascot
