Pastoral Care

Looking after our students

Our students’ happiness is at the centre of everything we do.

The secret is being neither too systematic nor too big. At its core, class sizes can be ten or twelve, but in the Sixth Form they are more like tutorials. Children who struggle a bit more with Maths and English are quietly extracted from other lessons, to get a bit of extra help.

We know every child and every family. We are responsive to day-to-day issues which parents bring to us and we also follow how children in the school are interacting and getting along closely. Form tutors are often parents’ first port of call, and they are always on hand to ensure that every child is reaching their potential.

We have clear structures for monitoring pupil wellbeing and clear measures when disciplinary action needs to be taken. Our priority is to foster kindness and happiness, but there is no naivety or nervousness about the need for plain talking when things aren’t going quite right.

It is not always easy to instil a consciousness of health and wellbeing in children, but we believe children grow into healthy adults if they develop healthy habits of diet and exercise, supplemented by Suffolk’s finest fresh air.

We have the simplest house structure based on the bipartite nature of our school crest –  you are either a lion or a unicorn. Children from the same family always go into the same house (unless they insist otherwise!), and the house system provides a mechanism for competitions and challenges which children of different ages can participate in.

Every year group has a Head of Year and two or three form tutors to whom a smaller group of children is allocated. Parents and tutors are often in almost daily contact – the tutor is the first point of contact for little problems and questions.  

Boarding is at the core of our pastoral provision. We have wonderful house parents led by Mrs Joe Bailey and the aim is to create a home from home where children feel part of a family. Boys and girls board in the Stable Block and the Main House respectively.

Miss Rebecca Watson, Deputy Head (Pastoral) is our Designated Safeguarding Lead. She is highly experienced and supported by a team within the school, including Mrs Joe Bailey, Head of Boarding, but also from outside, by our Advisory Council team and in particular, Mr Adam Lubbock who is a full-time safeguarding consultant. The well-being and mental health of all the students at Stoke College is at the heart of the education we offer.