The purpose of a pastoral care department within a school is to ensure there is a positive attitude amongst the pupils and that they are all able to reach their full potential.
Their role is to protect children from any personal or academic problems to ensure they are happy, healthy, and able to succeed. After all, no matter how old your child is, they will always have a unique set of physical, emotional, and academic needs that parents and school staff can work to accommodate.
I have teamed up with a private school in Beaconsfield to share some more information about why pastoral care is so important.
First of all, it’s worth sharing some examples of pastoral care within a school so that you have a broader understanding of what they are responsible for:
- Form tutors who tend to meet with their form group at least once a day and can therefore closely monitor their progress, and bridge the gap between home and school
- Heads of year groups who deal with any serious issues such as a bullying incident or misdemeanour in class
- Counsellors are able to provide support for children who are struggling with their mental health, issues at home, or any other problems
- Caretakers ensure that the school is safe, by monitoring things like the fire alarms and the security systems
These are just a few examples of many of the responsibilities held by a pastoral care team. In simple terms, pastoral care is crucial within a school because it helps ensure children are performing well in class, staying out of trouble, and maintaining strong relationships with their peers and teachers.
They ensure that every child’s needs are met so that when the time comes for them to move on from school, they are ready on both an academic and personal level.
With this in mind, when you start looking for a school to send your child to, be sure to call into question the pastoral care provisions.
Do the school staff maintain regular communication with parents? What are the school’s anti-bullying policies? Does the school plan regular events to help students make friends and experience a sense of community spirit?
Is there an on-site counsellor who can support your child if they ever struggle with their mental health? Be sure to ask these questions when you attend the school’s open events so that you can be sure you’re making the right decision for your child.
*This is a collaborative post
