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Pastoral Care in the Senior School
At St. Edmund's, we place great emphasis on the quality and the extent of our pastoral care and believe that this is one of the aspects of the school which most distinguishes us from our rivals. Whilst we have a formal system in place to provide care throughout our pupils' Senior School years, the full range of support and guidance available to our boys and girls is far wider, and encompasses all of our teaching and support staff: in this respect, every teacher is a 'pastor' to your child.
All pupils at the Senior School are members of one of our four Houses, and the Housemaster* has the primary pastoral responsibility for the academic, social and personal welfare of the boys and girls in his care; in this, the Housemaster is supported by a deputy, and a team of eight to nine tutors, who meet regularly to discuss any issues or problems which may be occurring. The tutors each take on a group of eight to nine pupils and formal tutorial sessions take place twice a week. Time is also available outside of formal tutorials for more private and personal issues. The Housemaster and his team will come to know each pupil very well over their time together and they actively encourage the involvement of the parents in their support of the child's life at St. Edmund's.
The Headmaster has, of course, a key role to play in the school's system of pastoral care, and his door is always open to pupils; additionally, he teaches Personal, Social and Health Education to the Lower Fifth Form, and takes the Lower Sixth for General Studies.
Pupils who are boarding also come under the care of their House Parents and resident tutors, and all pupils can approach the Matron and medical team and the School Chaplain. Based in the school, she is always available to listen, support, console and advise, and as Child Protection Officer she is central to any 'Welfare Plans' which may be required, often in conjunction with the school's Medical Officer and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator.
Whilst it is inevitable that most time and pastoral care is given to those pupils with the greatest needs, it is also a truth that no pupil can spend time at St. Edmund's without realising that we value him or her as an important, individual, young adult, and that our formal and informal system of pastoral care is in place to ensure his or her welfare at every stage.
* Housemaster or Housemistress.
