Pastoral Care
SCIE provides pastoral care to ensure the holistic development and wellbeing of our students. We encourage open communication between students, parents and teachers thereby creating a nurturing learning community. There are five key aspects of pastoral care: form teachers, mentoring, PSHE lessons, monitoring of academic worries, and the residential environment.
1. Form Teachers
Head of Years together with our form teachers are the pillars of support for our students. Form teachers play a vital role in providing individualized care and guidance for their students. Together they monitor academic progress and act as mentors and role models. By establishing a teacher-student relationship, form teachers create a safe space where students can discuss their concerns, seek advice, and receive support when needed. Regular pastoral time and morning registration allows both teachers and students an opportunity for one-to-one interaction to ensure that students have a reliable adult who knows and understands them.
2. Mentoring Time
Mentoring time is built into our pastoral timetable to help our students thrive. Mentoring complements the support provided by form teachers by offering additional guidance and encouragement. We also have academic mentors throughout the school, and they act as role models and provide academic and personal support in varying subjects. Through regular meetings, the form teachers help students to set goals, develop study skills, and navigate challenges which could be both school and home related. Mentoring fosters a sense of belonging in their homeroom and school, which boosts student confidence and enhances their social and emotional wellbeing. This in turn empowers our students to thrive both academically and personally.
3. PSHE
PSHE lessons nurture life skills and resilience. SCIE recognizes the importance of education and how it goes beyond the classroom. Through the PSHE curriculum, we equip our students with essential life skills, this in turn empowers them to make informed decisions, such as healthy relationships and navigate challenges that they may experience in both their academic and personal lives so that they are prepared for a successful future.
4. SENCO
Also, as part of the pastoral system, SCIE monitors students’ academic worries and provides interventions to support their success. We have a dedicated SENCO coordinator who also meets with students and writes individual learning plans that are provided to their teachers for learning in the classrooms. We also understand that academic worries can be a stress for students and have counsellors who can meet with them.
5. Residential Support
SCIE’s commitment to pastoral care extends beyond the classroom and into our residential environment. SCIE knows that students living in the residence require support and a nurturing environment as away from home. Our residence staff are trained in safeguarding and wellbeing, and this provides a safe and inclusive living environment. Residence tutors conduct regular check-ins and organize activities to foster a sense of belonging and create a “home away from home” experience which promotes all round development for our students and overall wellbeing.
