@AGCAS & friends, a thought in 4 parts. Shouldn’t we be careful about phrases that define the class of 2020 as lost or unlucky? Or describing their prospects as falling off a cliff? Of course things are exceptional but labels and self-talk stick. /1

Yes, their circumstances are uniquely difficult, but they are extraordinary - pioneers en masse of online learning, assessment and graduation, who are being fast-tracked into future ways of working and connecting. They are volunteering and doing many amazing things. /2

Of course they need support, and we must influence and challenge emerging opportunity structures to uphold social mobility. Equally the class of 2020 need our help to define themselves as intrinsically valuable, successful individuals beyond and despite the C-19 environment /3

And we can help them as they approach the new world, learning from their adaptability and capability so that despite this terrible challenge, we all think about ‘career’ and ‘work’ in new and better ways. We could help the class of 2020 see themselves as pioneers of our time./4