Pastoral Care statement version 1 25th August 2011 (owner ...

PASTORAL CARE
Mrs Angela Valentino, Deputy Head, is responsible for Pastoral Care. This involves
supporting all our pupils to enable them to reach their potential.
Key Stage 3 & 4 have a Senior Tutor who co-ordinates the work of individual Form
Teachers. Key Stage 5 has a Head of Sixth Form. The Deputy Head, Head of Boarding,
Senior Tutors and Head of Sixth form the Senior Pastoral Team, meeting regularly to
evaluate girls’ progress, support individuals, and discuss any causes for concern. The school
is organised on a form basis and Form Teachers are primarily responsible for the day to day
care of girls. All staff, including the School Nurses and Matrons, are responsible for the
well-being of the pupils.
The following people are responsible for these year groups in 2011-12:
KS3 Senior Tutor is Mr Kevin Anderson
Year 7 Form Teacher is Miss Charlotte Bryant
Year 8 Form Teachers are Mr Steven Flutter & Ms Iona Chan
Year 9 Form Teachers are Miss Kay Heasmer & Mr Kevin Anderson
KS4 Senior Tutor is Mr Mike Ansar-Carver
Year 10 Form Teachers are Mr Rob Mercer, Mr Richard Malewicz & Mr Jordan Cleeve
Year 11 Form Teachers are Mr Andy Roberts, Mrs Lisa Bentham & Mr Mike Ansar-Carver
Head of Sixth Form is Ms Zofia Malewicz
Year 12 Form Tutors are Mrs Linda Hopkins & Mrs Martina Johnson
Year 13 Form Tutors are Dr Eric Demoncheaux, Mr Peter Talbot & Mrs Lyndall Davey
However, it’s not just the teachers who get involved in pastoral care. There is also a wide
range of opportunities for our students to take on roles of responsibility and support one
another.
Many girls in Year 11 choose to become Peer Supporters. Each form in Years 7, 8 and 9
has Befrienders who visit regularly to offer a friendly face to the younger pupils. Joining
senior school can be a difficult adjustment, and pupils are often more ready to talk about
these issues with fellow students who have been through the same experience only a few
years ago. Every class from Years 7 to 11 also has a Form Bronze (Sixth Form student)
who meets with them during Form Time and is available to discuss any problems or
questions that the pupils have.
We also have an independent School Counsellor, Mr Kenn Baird. Appointments with Kenn
can be booked by parents through Mrs Angela Valentino. There is a nominal charge for
these counselling sessions. Counselling is a safe, supportive environment in which you can
talk about anything that is worrying you. Kenn aims to provide you with support, to help you
find solutions to your problems, and to encourage you to become more self-aware and
confident. He may just provide a listening ear or a place to let off steam or cry. Whatever
kind of support you need from Kenn will be non-judgmental and confidential, unless you tell
him something that leads her to believe that you or somebody else is at serious risk of harm.
In these cases, he may have to tell someone, but would always endeavour to let you know
first.
Pastoral Care statement version 1 25 th August 2011 (owner – Deputy Head Pastoral)

As part of their pastoral development, each form throughout the school has a timetabled
lesson every week when a programme of Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship
Education appropriate for the age group is followed. These programmes aim to give pupils
the opportunity to develop their personal effectiveness in academic work, personal and
social relationships within school and the wider community and to prepare them for life after
school.
Meetings of staff and parents to discuss general progress are held during the year on a year
group basis. Information Evenings are arranged as is appropriate to the curriculum and as
the need arises, for example, to discuss choice of GCSE subjects, entry to the Sixth Form
and Higher Education or to provide information on pastoral-related matters such as
relationships, study skills and drugs.
Parents are encouraged to contact the school whenever they wish. For day-to-day matters
the Form Teacher is the first point of contact. In the case of short-term illness, the School
Office should be telephoned on the first day of absence, and an absence note given to the
pupil’s Form Tutor on return. For more serious issues the Deputy Head/Senior Tutor/Head
of Year should be contacted.
The Headteacher, Mr Roger Clark, is available for consultation by appointment (please
contact the Head’s PA, Mrs Julia Hinde, to make an appointment. Mrs Angela Valentino
is also available each day after school (1630 – 1800, no appointment needed) and by
appointment at other times. Senior Tutors and the Head of Sixth are also available for
consultation: please contact the School Office to make appointments.
All pupils are encouraged to take an interest in their school. Our School Parliament, chaired
by the School Guardians, gives each pupil a voice in school affairs.
A close relationship with parents is fundamental to our approach. We value the rapport
which exists between staff, parents and pupils and strive to make parents feel a part of the
school. Meetings with parents to discuss general progress are held during the year.
At Battle Abbey School we endeavour to create an ethos which:
• Values each pupil for his or her own sake
• Creates a learning environment where each pupil is able to pursue his or her own
goals
• Supports pupils by the provision of committed and caring teachers
• Creates a friendly, caring and supportive atmosphere in which learning is stimulating
and empowering
We expect that parents will:
• Endorse and support the ethos of the School
• Endorse and support our code of conduct
• Support us as we work within the DCSF guidelines, avoid seeking authorisation for
holiday leave during term times and thus, in all but the most extenuating
circumstances, minimise disruption to the learning process
• Ensure punctuality and good attendance, within the constraints of the transport
system
• Work with us if there are any negative trends arising from attendance or punctuality
concerns
• Ensure your sons and daughters come to school wearing the correct school
uniform/dress code
• Support the school to ensure that the Internet, email and ICT Code of Conduct are
met
• Take an overview of homework and support sanctions if there are problems
• Attend parents’ consultation evenings
Pastoral Care statement version 1 25 th August 2011 (owner – Deputy Head Pastoral)

We expect that pupils will:
• Always try to understand and respect other people’s point of view
• Make it as easy as possible for pupils to learn and the teacher to teach
• Move calmly and sensibly about the school
• Always speak politely to everyone and be silent when required
• Keep the school clean and tidy so that it is a welcoming place
• Respect other people’s possessions
• Regard bullying as unacceptable in any circumstances
• Act with the same courtesy and consideration out of school
In no circumstances may pupils bring to school: firearms, knives or other weapons, alcohol,
illegal drugs, cigarettes. If these are found in a pupil’s possession, he or she may face
exclusion.
The rules of the school are the minimum necessary to secure a well ordered, courteous and
friendly community. If a pupil infringes the rules he or she may be detained during her lunch
break and required to carry out an appropriate task. For persistent poor behaviour or failure
to complete homework girls may receive a lunchtime departmental detention; for more
serious incidents girls may receive an after school detention or, in extreme circumstances, a
Saturday detention. Parents are informed when it is deemed necessary.
Pastoral Care statement version 1 25 th August 2011 (owner – Deputy Head Pastoral)