We are a friendly and down to earth school, where students are encouraged to explore their beliefs and values, so they find their voice and face challenges with resilience. Our key mission is to support students during their educational journey and help them become whoever they want to be.
Within school, pastoral care is at the heart of everything. We focus on the individual so students develop confidence and awareness of the impact of their actions on others and the wider world.
We have created a toolkit as part of our commitment to ensuring students are Life Ready by the time they graduate from school. Our Life Ready Toolkit incorporates our well-being initiatives alongside a support provision which prepares students for life.
Our pastoral team, including Heads of Year, Tutors and dedicated support staff, have a detailed understanding of every individual and the progress being made on all aspects of their personal development. This approach enables us to both celebrate student successes and be there when times are tough. Our students touch base with their Form Tutors at the start of each day, so there is plenty of opportunity for the light-touch conversations and regular check-ins on student well-being, fostering supportive relationships. This personalised approach also facilitates prompt intervention when it’s needed.
At its heart, all of our most effective work with young people and their families combines both academic and pastoral strands – it’s impossible to separate them fully. We believe students flourish most when the care is tailored to her specific strengths, needs and interests. This includes an awareness of how we empower students with opportunities to cultivate leadership skills, resolve conflict, overcome obstacles and even fail so that, when it comes time to leave school, students feel confident, excited and prepared for their next steps.
Of course, schools are only one aspect of a child’s environment, and for school initiatives to have maximum impact, a strong “triangular” student-staff-parent relationship, with ongoing open communication, is crucial. Our tutors phone parents in the first few weeks of the academic year and the dialogue continues with a programme of events for parents, providing information and opportunity for conversations, alongside regular one-to-one tutor-student mentoring.
Find out more about our Life Ready Toolkit which underpins every child’s experience.