PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS This section explains what you can do if you feel worried about something or if you think you have been unfairly treated. We can all have worries, problems and difficulties from time to time, which may be major or minor and which may affect an individual or a group. They might cause anxiety or prompt you to seek help. Many matters can normally be resolved, or sorted out to some extent, by talking to your friends, to a member of staff or by telephoning home. Your Head of House, House Tutor or Matron will always be ready to listen. The Chaplain, The Medical Centres, Sister, the School Doctor and all members of the teaching staff, including the Deputy Heads, Headteachers, VicePrincipal and Principal, are also available. You may also contact other people who are not involved in the day to day running of the School. The School Counsellor is available to everyone and is in School every day. You can drop in
during break or lunch times or you may leave a message for her by telephoning 07785 462105 or email, counsellor@ berkhamsted.com. At Castle the room is above the Bursary (BU101), at Kings it is NH209. You could also contact the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, The Civic Centre, 161 High Street, Berkhamsted, which is only a few minutes away (Tel: 01442 866930), or ‘Childline’ (Tel. 0800 1111), or Reverend Jonathan Gordon, our independent listener, who can be contacted on 01442 871 547 or revjagordon@gmail. com. What you say will be treated with confidence and information will only be shared with those who need to know if you or someone else is in danger.
help you, but it is important to understand that you may choose the people with whom you would like to speak. Your choice may depend on the circumstances and your feelings at the time. There are many problems which may cause you to be upset. It may be a problem about work, friendships, health, discrimination because of race or religion; it may be that you have been badly treated, abused or harassed (verbally, physically or sexually); it may be you feel that you have been treated unreasonably by a member of staff or that you have been bullied by another pupil. Whatever the problem, it is important to know that you need not be alone in managing the situation.
The School’s pastoral and counselling arrangements Some problems are best dealt should support you through with by individual contact your time at Berkhamsted with one person, but others and deal with most matters of may need to be dealt with concern. by several people. An adult who knows you well and in whom you have trust is often the best person to 28
