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At King’s Worcester we understand that happiness derives from feeling valued as an individual, and from being allowed to grow and make mistakes in a safe and supportive environment. The well-being of our pupils is at the heart of pastoral care at King’s Worcester. We have compassionate school community where each pupil is given a voice, a place, and a purpose.
Across the foundation... the school culture is one that values kindness, respect, inclusion and equality.
Our vision for pastoral care is simple and aligns with the King’s Foundation vision: for our pupils to be curious, caring and confident. Our pastoral care is always evolving to ensure that it always provides a nurturing approach, fully integrated and interwoven into the fabric of teaching and learning in the school.
Our extensive pastoral offering ensures that pupils are supported at every step of their life at King’s:
Our dedicated and experienced staff are committed to offering help, support, and guidance to every member of our community. It is the depth of relationships within the school that makes the pastoral care at King’s so special. Engagement and proactive communication between the school and parents and guardians is welcomed and encouraged to ensure that we work in partnership with King’s families.
Pastoral leaders create a supportive environment where students feel valued, safe and empowered to succeed academically, socially and emotionally.
Pastoral Care Structure
At the heart of our pastoral system lies a unique structure of entry into the Lower Years in Years 7 or 8, followed by a well-planned transition into life in one of our eight Houses from Year 9 (which we call Lower Remove) as pupils head into the Middle Years, until the end of their King’s career at school in the Sixth Form.
The Lower Years
Entering the Lower Years is an exciting start to life in the Senior School and one that offers our pupils the opportunity to follow their passions, to develop their interests, and to begin their journey through adolescence in a caring setting. The Lower Years are led and organised by the Head and Assistant Head of Lower Years, Mr Richard Chapman and Mrs Rachael Worth.
Pastoral care in the first two years is focused on the Form group, and the Tutor is a vital component in ensuring that pupils are happy, well-adjusted, and lead balanced and committed lives within school. Tutors meet with pupils daily and are the first port of call for pragmatic, pastoral, and academic matters. Tutors develop excellent relationships with their Forms and encourage pupils to make the most of their time at King’s. The Form group is the focal point for our Years 7 and 8 pupils as the majority of curriculum lessons are taught in these groups.
We place great importance on the early stages of our pupils’ time at King’s Worcester and the settling-in process begins before term starts with induction days and taster sessions. Upon arriving at King’s, pupils are given time to get to know the school, their Form group, and the Lower Years Team, so that they can feel valued as part of the wider school community.
Our House System
A House at King’s is made up of between fifteen and twenty pupils from each of Year 9 to Year 13 (Upper Sixth). It is led by a Head of House, whose role is to oversee the well-being and progress of all members of the House, as well as providing opportunities for pupils to forge supportive relationships with other members of the school outside their own year group. Tutors each take responsibility for a year within the House, reviewing the pupils’ day-to-day academic and personal development as well as their engagement with school life. The Houses engender a sense of belonging, loyalty, and care for others.
Pupils register in the House each morning with their Tutor and time each week is spent together as a Tutor group and House group, which helps to create a close-knit community and fosters a sense of value and place within the wider school.
Pastoral Care Pillars
The Health Centre
The school employs fully-qualified nurses in the Health Centre throughout the working week. The nurses can offer advice on health, emotional concerns, and other personal matters and they are also on hand if a pupil is unwell or sustains an injury during the course of the school day.
Counselling
Counselling is available to any pupil in the Senior School. Most of the time pupils can discuss concerns, difficulties or problems with family, friends or school staff. That said, there may be times when a pupil would find talking to someone independent helpful. We recognise that it is important for pupils to have the opportunity to speak to a counsellor who is trained to help pupils to express their thoughts and feelings, gain insight and explore strategies to help them manage themselves, their relationships, concerns or challenges more effectively.
Peer Support
The Peer Mentoring scheme is run to support and encourage pupils throughout the school to develop their confidence, relationships, and resilience.
Our Sixth Form Peer Mentors complete an application process before attending training that covers aspects such as confidentiality, safeguarding, and active listening.
Peer Supporters Mentors run a number of activities, including one-to-one mentoring, Form or House mentoring and lunchtime drop-in sessions.
The School Chaplain
The School Chaplain, Rev Dr. Dorsett, oversees the religious life of the school. He presides over many of the school services in the cathedral as well as delivering Spiritual Literacy Sessions. Dr. Dorsett is available for all aspects of care and support. Pupils are encouraged to seek help and advice from members of the school community whom they trust and with whom they feel they can talk.
Learning Skills
Learning Skills support can be offered for those who have specific learning difficulties or who face problems with organisation and time management. Pupils can obtain assistance with their subject work or be offered support to help them develop in areas that will enhance their work in the classroom.
Personal, Social, and Health Education
The aim of PSHE at King’s Worcester is to allow pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to live a happy and healthy life in today’s world. The programme is designed to challenge pupils with aspects of moral and social responsibility at each stage of their development so as to offer an environment in which to discuss issues affecting both adolescents and also those in the wider community.
ISI Report November 2024: Throughout the school, effective PSHE supports pupils in developing trusting relationships with staff and their peers.
PSHE at King’s helps pupils to realise the nature and consequences of discrimination, teasing, bullying and aggressive behaviours (including cyber-bullying), use of prejudice-based language, and also how to respond and ask for help. It also aims to support pupils to make responsible, informed decisions related to drugs, alcohol, and consent, to understand the causes, implications and sources of help for mental and physical health problems, and to guide them in their career planning and financial future. It is integral with equipping our pupils for what lies ahead, and to encourage balance and confidence in line with the school’s values.
This course is central to all aspects of school life – its thinking, planning, teaching, and organisation – and as such has a positive influence on pupils’ learning and relationships throughout the whole school community.
It is the role of PSHE at King’s to enable pupils to flourish in their adult life, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences. It is about helping our pupils to make positive, informed decisions, and keeping them safe and healthy.
External Speakers
Our PSHE programme is enhanced by an exciting range of external speakers to focus on specialist topics. Recent guests have included:
- Andrew Wright (Oxford Life Skills): Personal Communication
- Laura White (It Happens): Relationships and Sex Education
- Dave Parvin and Chip Somers: Drugs and Alcohol
- Karl Hopwood: eSafety
- Dick Moore: Mental Health
- Dr Charlie Easmon/Alicia Drummond/Roots Psychology Group: Mental Health