Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care is regarded as a central part of the St. Peter’s school ethos; our pupils are valued for who they are, not just for what they can do.
At St. Peter’s we want every pupil to feel a strong sense of belonging, to feel happy, to thrive and achieve their full potential. We believe in taking time to care for the whole child, to nurture their academic progress, to promote their emotional wellbeing, their spiritual and cultural development.
From the time a pupil first makes contact with St. Peter’s it is important to us to help them feel a valued part of the school community and to allow them to feel settled as quickly as possible. A transition programme is carefully planned; this includes a day visit to St. Peter’s in the term prior to joining the school, when children can meet their tutor and experience the daily routine at the school.
Staff from St. Peter’s are also available to visit other schools to meet with pupils and parents. We believe that it is vital to establish and maintain an appropriate relationship with every parent, so that together we can help to prepare the pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
When a pupil arrives at St. Peter’s they are placed in a Form group. Form tutors meet with their group on a daily basis for registration; in addition they have a formally timetabled weekly slot as well as informal opportunities for meetings. Form tutors are the first port of call for parents with any issues which might affect learning and the wellbeing of their child.
The tutor helps to deliver the personal, social, health and citizenship programme (PSHCE) providing a reinforcing structure designed to look after the personal and social well-being of each pupil. The St. Peter’s PSHCE programme is designed to give pupils the skills and attitudes needed for handling the pressures of youth and modern life. The programme is delivered over a range of activities and experiences at the school.
Each pupil is allocated to a House Team; Bader, Churchill, Nelson and Nightingale. The House system provides rich opportunities for pupil leadership and participation in internal competitions. House teams compete on the field of sports as well as for the House Points Cup competition awarded for commitment to school life.
A wide range of clubs and activities and a number of committees and action groups are open to the pupils. After-School Clubs and Activities take place on a daily basis. Pupils have the opportunity to be elected to positions on the School Council and the Eco-Awareness Group. We encourage all our children to take part in the rich experiences of school life.
An important pastoral role is also fulfilled by the school Medical Team, and community nurses who visit the school, whose knowledge of the pupils is often gained in a different context from that of the teaching staff.
At St. Peter’s we see that it is the responsibility of all staff to work in partnership with our pupils and parents so that each child develops to be the best that he or she can.