All children need to feel secure in school. For teenagers this is especially true because they’re usually under some pressure due to a combination of hormones and looming exams! Pastoral care at this sixth form in Surrey underpins every aspect of school life and this is how all schools should look at the emotional wellbeing of their pupils. It is a priority and without good pastoral care, there will be a poor set of standards in general as well as low performance academically. No child is immune to trouble. Even the most confident and stable of children will occasionally come up against a bump in the road, so the importance of pastoral care goes without saying.
When a school is ready and waiting with a good support system, that child will recover and spring back better than ever. Some of the issues they might deal with are listed below.
Common issues for adolescents
Low self esteem
Worrying about friendships
Concerns over academic performance
Troubles at home
Peer pressure
Bullying
Dealing with stress over exams
A good pastoral care system has in place a special person for each child to go to depending on their age. This person is there to listen to and to support the child with whatever issues they are going through.
Children should also feel that they can visit this person with concerns for their friends. A culture of mutual support and care should be fostered so that children feel that they are cared for and listened to. A school with a solid, well-designed pastoral care system is vital for the well-being of the children attending.
How can I check on a school’s pastoral care?
Pastoral care isn’t as simple to monitor as some of the things parents are looking for in a school.
It’s a simple thing when you want to check on what sporting facilities a school offers, or to see the exam results. But how can you work out what sort of pastoral care the school offers and more importantly, understand it’s effectiveness?
One way would be to talk to parents of current pupils. See how they feel about things. Another way would be to ascertain that the school has an on-site counsellor available for children to visit.
The best way is to ask. Speak to the staff or the Head Teacher and they will be happy to explain how things work.
The ups and the downs
As mentioned, it is common for teenagers to hit a few rocky paths on their journey through school. It’s completely normal to have some friendship issues now and the. Pastoral care is there to support your child no matter what the problem is. If you and your child know that there is a special person dedicated to help with these issues, then part of the problem is already dealt with.
Sometimes children will feel more comfortable speaking to a member of staff – parents are good for some problems but not for others! Rest assured though that if your child shares a serious issue with a member of the pastoral team, you will be informed.
How is pastoral care carried out?
Much depends on a school’s philosophy and facilities but usually, the following procedures are in place.
Consistent monitoring of each child’s academic and social progress; any problems will be noticed.
Open communication lines between staff and parents so that any problems are shared.
Regular training for staff to help them recognize the signs of any serious issues before they become problematic.
All children grow and change constantly, as such their needs shift and alter too. The best schools understand this and provide the security and stability which children need to grow and learn effectively.