Pastoral Care & Pupil Well-Being
Structures and procedures have been developed which will encourage all pupils to fulfil their potential, promoting positive attitudes to learning within a caring and supportive environment. We believe that no child can learn successfully when worried or unhappy. We therefore aim to provide a calm, ordered and caring environment in which learning can take place and in which the pupils feel valued members of the school community.
‘‘Staff, pupils and parents are exceptionally positive about all aspects of the school. The pastoral care of pupils is excellent” (Ofsted 2016)
“ Pupils’ personal development is a jewel in the crown of this school. The promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is demonstrated through high-quality art, drama, music, sport, as well as pupil ‘s tolerance and empathy” (Ofsted 2016)
We aim through the school’s ethos, curriculum and activities to help all pupils to:
- develop as a whole person
- enhance their confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem and sense of individual purpose
- develop personal moral values and positive attitudes, and acquire knowledge, skills and understanding, for life and work
- think independently, rationally and creatively and to enquire and question constructively
- be inspired towards a lifelong enthusiasm for further learning
- apply themselves to tasks, working alone and with others
- gain an understanding of the world in which we live and a concern for the environment
- appreciate human achievements and aspirations
- become co-operating and contributing members of school and society, prepared to take and accept responsibility
- develop sensitivity, respect and tolerance towards others
- benefit from and contribute to the development of equal opportunities
- be happy at school and to succeed to the best of their abilities, academically, spiritually and physically
The system of Pastoral Care at BHGS aims:
- to ensure that all pupils make a smooth and successful transition from their previous schools
- to enable pupils to feel happy, safe and secure at school
- to work closely with parents / carers to provide maximum support for their children
- to ensure that the school ethos and atmosphere allow pupils to make the most of all opportunities, study and learn effectively, use their abilities and develop their skills
- to assist pupils to develop self-awareness, self-confidence and self-reliance
- to make pupils aware of themselves as members of both local and international communities, whether at home, at school, at work or at leisure and to encourage them to develop a sense of responsibility towards the needs of others
- to enable pupils to make informed choices and decisions about their future lives.
Form Tutors and Year Teams
During their time in school, pupils are in the overall care of Form Tutors and Heads of Year. Each pupil becomes part of a Tutor Group in Year 7, a form with which they will remain throughout their school career until they reach the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13). They will spend their first year in the care of a specialist Year 7 tutor and Head of Year 7.
Their increasing maturity is marked by a potential change of Form Tutor in Year 8 and again in the Sixth Form. From Year 8 onwards, the Head of Year remains with the year group for 2 years and the Form Tutor remains with the pupils through to Year 11. Form Tutors and Heads of Year thus get to know pupils as individuals and are able to advise and guide them at each stage of their school career.
Pupils meet with their Form Tutor for a daily registration or assembly. There are also Form Periods in which a range of activities are carried out to support their well-being and learning. These may include whole year assemblies, peer mentoring, private study and structured class discussion. Heads of Year are also readily available during the school day to assist pupils when problems or queries arise.
A list of the Form Tutors for 2018-19 can be downloaded here:
Heads of Year (including Sixth Form) for 2018-2019
Deputy Headteacher – Mr A Dudley
Assistant Headteacher – Dr Venz (Languages)
Assistant Headteacher – Mrs M Jackson (Health)
Assistant Headteacher – Mr H Pandya (Humanities)
Head of Year 7 – Miss K Parkin
Head of Year 8 – Miss S Lawrence
Head of Year 9 – Mrs S Alliott
Head of Year 10 – Ms D Graves
Head of Year 11 – Mrs M Dayton
Head of Sixth Form – Mrs E James
Assistant Heads of Sixth Form – Mr J Kench & Ms C McLeman
In the Sixth Form students are placed with a Personal Tutor, retaining the same tutor throughout their courses. The tutors work closely with the pupils providing assistance and guidance where needed.
All teaching staff are members of Year Teams, either as tutors or as attached staff. Year teams meet regularly through the year to discuss pastoral issues. The work of the Year teams is overseen by Mr A Dudley (Deputy Headteacher).
Members of the Senior Leadership Team maintain a pastoral overview of the behaviour and learning of pupils, with one member of the Senior Leadership Team linked specifically to each year group.
Communication & Support
We work closely with parents / carers and encourage you to contact the school as soon as a problem arises. In most instances initial contact should be made via your daughter’s Form Tutor. Consultation takes place both at evenings organised for each year group and at other times, by arrangement, whenever it is appropriate or necessary. Meetings with teachers can be arranged rapidly and telephone discussions can usually take place on the day a contact is made. Parents are welcome at BHGS but we do request that you make an appointment if you would like a meeting with a member of the pastoral team or a specific teacher.
The school also provides additional support for individual pupils through such mechanisms as peer and academic mentoring, whilst also working with external agencies including The Park Education Support Centre and YC Hertfordshire.
The Head of Pastoral Care / Inclusion, Mr A Dudley, is available to discuss matters of a pastoral nature and offer support and guidance to pupils, parents/carers, and to support and coordinate the work of members of the pastoral staff.
Mr Dudley is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead with responsibility for Child Protection and Safeguarding Children. Mrs Jackson is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Pupil Well-Being
At BHGS, we take the welfare of our pupils very seriously. BHGS commissions the services of a school counsellor. Pupils must be referred by their Head of Year, SENDCO or a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team to access this service and there is usually a waiting list. Please see below for further details about our counsellor.
Counsellor – Natalie Laidler
Behaviour Support – Sue Fisher
Our highly valued Pupil Support Centre if managed by Mrs Sue Fisher where pupils can find respite in times of need and get individualised support from their Head of Year if required.
Impartial Advice & Guidance – Lucy Osman
Lucy works for YC Hertfordshire. In her role as BHGS’s YC Herts Personal Adviser, she is qualified to offer impartial advice to pupils and students from Years 8 to 13 on matters relating to educational and career pathways and she is also able to access support from YC Herts advisers on matters such as sexual health, homelessness and substance misuse.
