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Pastoral Care

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"I think the school is great. We are given lots of chances to thrive and the staff here are amazing. Year 7"

Our Approach to Pastoral Care, Student Support and Wellbeing

The happiness, security and welfare of the girls is our highest priority, and it is important that we understand and support the needs of high performing girls. We aim to ensure they are free from gender stereotypes and supported to be themselves, so they can become confident, capable and resilient in whatever path they choose. We believe that freeing girls to be themselves; confident, and ready for the world is a much bigger vision than academic performance alone. When our girls begin her new adventure with us at Dr Challoner’s High School, we will strive to provide her with a supportive and caring environment. Our aim is to provide every girl with the opportunity to achieve the very best possible outcomes and to be the very best they can. 

Our Personal Social Health Education curriculum (PSHE) provides a broad, comprehensive learning opportunity for all girls in Years 7 to 13 that includes relationships and sex education, health and wellbeing and living in the wider world. A programme of age-appropriate study is followed. These aim to give girls the opportunity to explore and discuss a wide range of complex issues and moral dilemmas they will face in society both in and outside school, providing them with both information, advice and a moral compass.

Our Resilience Courses across the key stages, have been developed by experts in their field and learning is built upon. It is important to us that our girls embrace what it means to be a young woman today and to deal with whatever life throws at them.

With our specially trained team in school, we have introduced the ‘Girls on Board’ approach that empowers girls to navigate the choppy waters of friendships for themselves and help minimise any distress they may feel. Details of this approach can be found here

Our aim is to provide the best possible education for all of our girls.  Our tradition of excellence will never change and is underpinned by our belief that girls learn best when all are valued, inspired, curious and happy.  Our highly experienced, capable and passionate staff are central to this.  Our Form tutors are at the forefront of our pastoral care and student support system.

Our wider pastoral team consists of Head of Years, Pastoral Support Officer (Matron), Student Support Officers, Learning Support Team and our team of Counsellors and Mental Health Specialist.

Head of Years co-ordinate the pastoral work with individual form teachers and meet regularly with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) to evaluate girls’ progress, support individuals, and discuss any causes for concern. The school is organised on a form basis with form teachers responsible for the day-to-day care of girls. All staff are responsible for safeguarding and the wellbeing of the girls and we have team of experienced safeguarding leads. Safeguarding.

However, it’s not just staff who are involved in pastoral care. We promote an ethos among our students to take on roles of responsibility and support each another. They are encouraged to inform staff if they have a concern or are worried about another student.

We have a team of year 12 students who are specially trained by the charity ‘Mind’ to work with younger students on a one-to-one basis as peer mentors.

Many girls in Year 10 choose to become Befrienders. Each form in Years 7 and 8 has four Befrienders who visit regularly to offer a friendly face to the younger pupils. Joining secondary school can be a difficult adjustment, and girls are often more ready to talk about these issues with fellow students who have been through the same experience only a few years ago. Every class from Years 7 to 11 also has a Form Prefect who meets with them once a week and is available to discuss any problems or questions that the girls have.

 For our parents we run a series of evening events called ‘Essentials’ that covers topics that are relevant to raising and supporting girls with their journey through the teenage years.

 Parents are encouraged and always welcome to contact the school with any concerns and speak to the appropriate Head of Year or contact our student support team.

Key Contacts

For pastoral enquiries contact:

Student Support

Counselling Services

If you are worried or would like to be in touch with one of the school counsellors for any reason at all, please email [email protected] which will be monitored and answered during the school day (term time only).  We are standing by and ready to support you. 

For safeguarding enquiries please follow this link  

"This is an excellent school, a very impressive atmosphere and I am happy to send my daughter here"

I really enjoy Dr Challoner's High School and I think that the school should carry on with what it is doing because I think it is doing a good job! Year 7"

Safeguarding Statement

Dr Challoner’s High School is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, children and staff. At Dr Challoner's High School we raise awareness of child protection issues including radicalisation, to equip staff and children with the skills needed to keep them safe.

All concerns are passed to the Designated Safeguarding Lead in compliance with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and our Safeguarding Policy. At Dr Challoner's High School we practice safer recruitment practices and ensure that successful applicants are subject to safeguarding checks.

If you have any Safeguarding concerns about your daughter or any other student at Dr Challoner's High School please do not hesitate to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead. For all other pastoral concerns or advice please contact your daughter’s Head of Year via the school office.  Please click here to read our full Safeguarding Statement.

The pastoral care I have received by the Sixth Form Team and wider staff has been amazing and I feel more supported at school now than ever. The generosity of time that teachers have given towards helping and supporting my learning has been wonderful.

External Sources of Support for Our Community

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