Pastoral care

No topic is as important in school choice as pastoral care. In this chapter, Matthew explains why wellbeing and the happiness of pupils is what matters most, despite the fact that many schools promote their academic excellence as front and centre. Without the right pastoral care environment, you will not have happy children wanting to succeed.

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The single most important aspect of any school is its pastoral care provision. Whilst many schools will promote their academic excellence as front and centre, it's actually pastoral care – the wellbeing and happiness of pupils – which matters most.

For parents, it is hard to quantitatively assess pastoral care as you cannot see a set of results data, unlike exams, or scan through a list of recent sporting successes, when evaluating extracurricular provision. But what you can do is examine the school's commitment to pastoral care and evaluate how this is embedded – both in the school's ethos and its day-to-day activities.

When you visit a school, if you like the staff you meet, are impressed by the pupils and their attitude and character, and feel that it's a supportive and inclusive community, you are witnessing first-hand the results of its pastoral care provision. Pastoral care really consists of two aspects, which are intertwined and mutually...

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Disclaimer: Independent education has a wide range of views and the use of quotations does not imply that these contributors share the same views as the author. The views and opinions of the author may also not necessarily be shared by all schools mentioned in this book. The author and publishers do not warrant, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that the contents are error-free and shall not be liable for any loss, however arising, as a result of the information contained in this book.

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