Pastoral Care

Pastoral care at Alton School is woven into the fabric of every pupil’s daily life to ensure we nurture a wellbeing culture for all. Academic success has to be underpinned by attention to the individual and we are strongly committed to this. Our proactive approach enables us to strengthen our values, promote character education and secure a successful pastoral curriculum.

Part of our success is a result of encouraging open lines of communication; our opendoor policy gives students the freedom to talk whenever they feel the need to. By building a culture of openness, staff are able to support students when things are small, which can often prevent things from escalating. By offering advice, support, action or just by listening, we want students to know we are here for them and to help them.

The outstanding pastoral care at Alton School is made up of a team of teachers and additional support staff. Office staff are often the first point of contact for parents, and they will always be more than happy to point you in the right direction if required. The wider pastoral team is supported by our excellent nursing team and our dedicated School Counsellor. The daily contact with tutors and teachers allows us to be there for students, they are supported across the board.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate commented in 2017 that the quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent and they were particularly impressed with the quality of our pastoral care. As a Catholic School, we have always had a strong focus on spiritual and emotional wellbeing. We nurture our students and teach them to love and value others as well as themselves.

The Sixth Form Centre

Students have designated shared study rooms in the Sixth Form Centre. They are expected to look after this learning space and to use it for quiet study. They have access to a common room with a kitchen where they can meet other students and relax during break and lunch time or nontimetabled lessons. Students are responsible for ensuring that these are kept clean and tidy.

Sixth Form Tutors

Our tutors have lots of experience in dealing with the day to day running of the Sixth Form and the specialist areas we encounter - EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), UCAS, Careers, and Enrichment Activities. Our tutors are full-time members of staff who work closely with our students to get to know them, understand their individual needs and aspirations, and support them through their two years here. The relationships between students and the Sixth Form team differ from those in lower years as the style of learning and levels of responsibility for study and independence change significantly. Tutors are there at every step and share the celebrations as well as supporting during more challenging moments. Thanks to our size, the tutors can devote a meaningful amount of time to everyone, with regular 1:1 meetings and support available, in addition to that provided by subject specific teaching staff.

Learning Support

The learning support department is dedicated to supporting our pupils’ academic development and to co-ordinating the delivery of additional academic provision, in order to improve learning outcomes. The department encourages pupils to make the most of their personal strengths. Our aim is to help build each individual’s confidence, self esteem and ability to fulfil their potential.

The Wellbeing Hub

The Wellbeing Hub, introduced in September 2023, will help support and educate our whole community by providing access to up-to-date professional advice and practical tools, so that pupils are more equipped to deal with the pressures of growing up.

Information provided draws on the latest research from psychotherapy, psychology and neuroscience, along with Teen Tips Founder, Alicia Drummond’s experience of working as an adolescent therapist and being a mum.

Training and resources are delivered via webinars, talks and The Wellbeing Hub, a live and interactive web app which provides expert support for the whole School Community to access.

The aim is to aid staff, parents and carers in deepening their understanding of childhood and adolescence in order to create environments which promote emotional wellbeing in young people.

Parents will be provided with weekly updates in the School’s Round up, and a login so that they can access 24/7 information to help with a wide variety of topics.

Students will use PSHMEE lessons to access information so that they can gain the tools to manage their own mental health and wellbeing. This also links to careers. For more information please visit https://teentips.co.uk/wellbeing-hub/ or contact your child’s Form Tutor.