Sophia Roger, a 17-year-old student at the Sixth Form Centre, looks back on her experiences during the Covid-19 lockdown. While others were struggling, she feels very proud that Guernsey navigated the pandemic successfully. Doncaster’s director of Inclusion and Services for Children and Schools, Nick Hynes, labelled the lockdown period as “scary.” As he noted, it was one of those few times that everyone really believed in the States. Both the States and the island community of Guernsey worked together to navigate the unprecedented situation.
Nick Hynes spent the summer of the first lockdown in Guernsey, where he experienced a better situation compared to his peers in the UK. Indigenous organizing characterized the island’s response, as dozens of groups came together to protect the swath of land. Hynes recalls, "At the time, it felt like we were making very big decisions – not only personally but for the whole community – and not quite understanding what that might mean then and in the future."
At a time when educational disruption was at its peak, Guernsey teachers stepped up in truly committed ways. They worked through their Easter holidays to support the island's most vulnerable students, ensuring that education continued despite the disruptions. Hynes expressed his admiration for their efforts, stating, "I'll never forget the dedication that staff put in, without complaining."
It was a much tougher ride for Tom Rylatt when he sprinted to escape university. His fight to finish his education remotely underscored the obstacles that are too often put in front of students. Kieran James, the principal of the new Sixth Form Centre, cited the shift to virtual learning as a principal struggle. He viewed it as the initial obstacle to clear. He emphasized the importance of social interactions in education, saying, "We value social interactions with our friends and having one-on-one conversations with our teachers, even going out to the shop."
