Pastoral Care
Heard, known, valued and supported
At St Christopher’s, pastoral care is at the heart of school life. We believe girls thrive when they feel happy, confident and secure, and when they know they are valued for who they are.
Every girl is known as an individual and supported by a strong network of staff. Form teachers play a central role in each child’s wellbeing, building strong relationships with pupils and families and providing consistent day-to-day support. This is complemented by our wider pastoral team, who work together to ensure every girl feels listened to, understood and cared for.
As girls move through the school, they are supported at every stage. New forms are created each year, giving pupils the opportunity to build new friendships and develop as part of a connected and welcoming cohort. Transitions between Lower School, Upper School and Senior School are carefully planned, with support provided through form time, PSHE lessons and the House system.
Pastoral care is woven throughout the school day. Friendship benches, problem-solving boxes, Rights Reps, Peace Pals, Wellbeing Ambassadors and regular cross-year connections encourage girls to look out for one another and contribute positively to the school community. As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, we promote inclusion, respect and an understanding of every child’s rights and responsibilities.
Girls also have access to weekly wellbeing drop-ins, and additional support is available when needed through our Emotional Literacy Support Assistants and art therapy provision. Through these experiences, girls develop the confidence to navigate challenges, build positive relationships and care for both themselves and others.
Strong partnerships between home and school are an important part of our pastoral approach. As a Tooled Up Education school, we provide parents and carers with access to expert resources and regularly host talks and workshops on topics such as digital safety, wellbeing and supporting children through the tween years.
We encourage every girl to embrace what makes her unique while showing kindness, respect and consideration for others. In doing so, they learn not only to belong, but also to help create a community where everyone feels they belong.
"Pupils contribute to our pastoral programme by volunteering to be Rights Reps, Peace Pals and Wellbeing Ambassadors."
Each year group is mixed, and new forms are created at the end of each academic year, ensuring the chance to form new friendships and the development of a fully cohesive cohort. As girls transition upwards through the school, from Lower School to Upper School, from Upper School to Senior School, they are supported in these transitions through form times, tailored PSHCE sessions and their House mates.
Allyship is embedded in our pastoral care with friendship benches, problem-solving boxes, and RightsReps (Upper School inclusion ambassadors) and Year 6 pupils regularly visiting younger year groups to check in and offer a listening ear. As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, we foster inclusion, and protect children’s rights.
The Pastoral Team also hold weekly wellbeing drop-ins. Where children are experiencing ongoing issues with their wellbeing, we offer art therapy as well as one-to-one sessions with our Emotional Literacy Support Assistants.
Parents and carers have a vital role in promoting and supporting the wellbeing of their children and we encourage regular and open communication between home and school. We are a Tooled Up Education school, receiving access to Dr Kathy Weston’s exclusive resources, covering areas such as resilience, mental health, relationships at home and at school, and a range of different behavioural and psychological support. We regularly organise workshops and talks for parents and carers, with recent topics including ‘Digital Safety and Hygiene’ and ‘The Tween Years.’
