Young people thrive when they feel safe, supported and genuinely understood. At Hollygirt, pastoral care isn’t a separate programme or something reserved for difficult days. It’s woven into everyday school life - in the morning welcome, the quiet check-in and the teacher who notices when something doesn’t feel quite right.

Because we’re small, no pupil becomes lost in the crowd. Strong relationships help us recognise when a child needs encouragement, a new challenge or simply some time and space to reset.

Someone to turn to, every day

Every pupil has a form tutor who checks in with them daily, providing a familiar face and a steady source of encouragement. They’re also supported by a Head of Key Stage or Head of Year, each of whom is a fully trained Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

This close network means support can begin early. We work in partnership with families, listen carefully and respond to the individual child - not just the situation in front of us.

Our age-appropriate pastoral programmes also help pupils understand and navigate the pressures of modern life with growing confidence, maturity and self-awareness.

Confidence grows through connection

Our vertical House system brings pupils from different year groups together for challenges, leadership opportunities and activities connected to Fundamental British Values, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and events in the wider world.

House points recognise more than academic achievement. They celebrate effort, kindness, contribution and character - the everyday choices that help our community flourish.

Our Top & Tail Prefect team brings together pupils from Years 6 and 11, creating opportunities for mentoring and showing that leadership is shaped by character, not simply age.

Space to pause, play and belong

Wellbeing can be found in small moments: a game of chess, time outdoors, a creative club or a calm place to eat lunch.

Our green spaces feel like an extended back garden, with room to play, talk and recharge. Half-termly mini-games, including chess and mini-golf, bring pupils together, while clubs such as art, chess and yoga offer time to explore interests and build friendships.

Pupils who prefer a quieter lunchtime can use our calm dining space. A dedicated wellbeing room also provides somewhere to pause, reset and feel ready to return to learning.

Balanced hot lunches -including vegetarian and vegan choices -support healthy routines throughout the school day.

Support that meets the individual

Sometimes, a child needs a little more help to understand what they’re feeling. Our in-house ELSA provision offers additional emotional-literacy support, helping pupils build self-awareness, confidence and practical coping strategies.

Our approach to behaviour is relational and restorative. We help pupils understand the impact of their choices, repair relationships and learn from what happened. The focus isn’t simply on consequences, but on reflection and growth.

We also support parents through the teenage years with a programme of talks offering practical insight, guidance and reassurance at each stage.

Growing beyond the classroom

Character develops through experience. Volunteering opportunities, including support for St Ann’s Advice Centre, help pupils grow in empathy and responsibility. Pupils can also complete their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, building independence, perseverance and teamwork.

Regular Drive Time concerts and showcases give pupils the chance to perform in an encouraging environment. Carefully chosen trips create memorable shared experiences, while friendly sporting fixtures help pupils discover what it means to contribute to a team, respond to setbacks and keep going.

In Year 10, every pupil completes a week of work experience, taking an important step towards greater independence and a clearer sense of what their future might hold.

At Hollygirt, pastoral care begins with being known—but it leads somewhere bigger: towards young people with the confidence, character and resilience to find their own way forward.