We pride ourselves on the pastoral service we offer to students and families. This support is divided into five stages:

First stage support is provided by form tutors. Form tutors see their tutees each day, will stay with them throughout their time with us and will therefore become the person who has a good overview of their welfare and academic progress. Any concern in relation to a student’s pastoral care is initially directed towards their form tutor who will assist in the first instance. Form tutors will help to establish clear expectations and reinforce the College’s Routines for Learning with their tutees:

• Ensure you arrive on time and with the correct equipment.
• Actively help to maintain a positive learning environment.
• Aim to reach your target grade in every lesson by completing work to the best of your ability.
• Aim to show respect for all involved in the life of the College.
• Seize opportunities to consolidate and further your knowledge.

Support at home such as ensuring students take pride in their uniform, leave home with the right equipment and having completed prep and the support of teachers when a student’s behaviour falls short of our expectations is critical to ensure students are able to thrive. If students do not meet our expectations staff will set catch-ups, opportunities to address their wrong-doing through restorative justice or time-out in a different class and your support is critical to ensure poor behaviour is not repeated. We will endeavour to contact home and keep parents /guardians informed if a student fails to address our concerns. A more detailed description of our approach to managing student behaviour can be found in our Behaviour Management Policy.

Our pastoral team, located in Client Services, complements the work of tutors by providing more specialist help and support to students and their families where medical, social, emotional or behaviour issues are having a broader impact on their progress. There is always a member of staff available in Client Services to talk to students if they have a concern, no matter how small or large it might be. We value this relationship with our students as such openness is critical to ensure we can act proactively to de-escalate any worries they may have.

We recognise that students who have parents that work in the Armed Forces may need extra support. David Savage who works in Client Services is the contact under these circumstances.

Our staff are committed to ensuring that everyone within the College behaves in a manner that shows mutual respect to all. Consequently, inappropriate behaviour towards peers or staff, including bullying in any form is not tolerated at the College. If a student’s behaviour becomes a concern across a range of subjects or if they are involved in a more serious incident the level of support offered will escalate to the second stage of our pastoral support. The College will support students and also encourage them to engage further by attending extra-curricular activities as well as trips and visits. It may be necessary to look at other avenues of support, for example, an external mentor and implementation of a Pastoral Support Plan (PSP). During this stage, the College may make a referral to external agencies to provide further support for the students and family. If students do not respond to the support during Stage 2, they could be at risk of being excluded for a period of time and escalation to Stage 3. However, it is our hope that during this stage, students will respond to the support put in place. Please read our Exclusion Policy for further details.

It is likely that students on the third stage of pastoral support would have been excluded for a period of time. This may be as a result of a serious incident, such as abuse towards a member of staff or peer, or when a student has failed to improve their behaviour at Stage 2. If not already written, a Pastoral Support Plan will be created and circulated which will outline the strategies to be used by teachers, parents/guardians and the student. If external agencies have not been involved so far, the College will look to support the student further with involvement from the Local Authority, e.g. Early Help/Social Services, Youth Offending Service (YOS).

If students fail to respond to the extensive support from the three previous stages and poor behaviour continues, the Executive Principal will seriously consider permanent exclusion. All forms of support will have been exhausted for students at stage four of the pastoral stages. At this stage, a Client Services Adviser will prepare the necessary paperwork for the permanent exclusion hearing if appropriate. The investigating officer (a senior member of College staff) will usually present the case to a panel of College Governors explaining the Executive Principal’s decision to permanently exclude. It is at this point students reach the fifth and final stage of the pastoral stages. The panel of Governors will consider the evidence presented and write to the parent/guardians informing them formally of the outcome.

It is important to note that a single serious incident may override the stages system which may result in permanent exclusion as a result of that single issue.

Client Services is the heart of the College pastoral care and the central hub where students can go should they have any concerns or worries. The Client Services team are all experienced in supporting students, whether their needs are medical, welfare or behavioural.

The team will take on the role of key worker for individuals whose behaviour is preventing them and others from being able to work well in lessons or at other times during the day. A key worker becomes the single point of contact for a student. They will meet with students every day to review their progress and ensure that the additional support for students is making a difference. Key workers work closely with home and teachers to ensure that there is a coherent approach to supporting students with the aim over a period of 6 to 12 weeks of gradually reducing the support needed as behaviour and progress improves. The key workers will put in place a range of bespoke support to address issues which is likely to include a Pastoral Support Plan (PSP) which offers further support to students by advising teachers and parents of the best approach to support them. They are also able to access additional support including offering cognitive behaviour support (thinking about how you behave and how to modify your response), mentors, and when necessary external support through social services or other agencies.