EDUCATION
inextricably linked. Where a pupil may previously have been judged as lazy or inattentive, educators are now more likely to question which learning style is most effective for that individual, or if there are external influences at home that may be impeding their performance. “As a sector, we’ve come a long way in understanding that strong pastoral care enables pupils to meet their academic targets and is no longer a sideline to academic progress,” shares Lizzie Alexander, deputy head of pastoral at Gresham’s. When catering to student wellbeing, a one-size-fits-all approach is futile; effective care comes from knowing the individual concerns of those needing support. This is where the small class sizes of private schools have the advantage. “We are extremely fortunate to be able to dedicate time to unpacking whatever issues a child might bring with them to school when we only have roughly 15 pupils in a class, compared to a state school that typically deals with twice that amount,” says Sancton Wood’s principal Richard Settle. He is quick to acknowledge the fantastic work that state schools are doing in this area under such significant pressure. At the Cambridge International School (CIS), the small class and school structure forms the basis of its pastoral support system. “Because we know the children and their families so well, we can quickly identify and provide support,” remarks
ROLE MODEL For King’s Ely (right), all staff should be prepared to go above and beyond when safeguarding
CARE IN ACTION Gresham’s (inset) and The Leys (left) both encourage a proactive approaches to pastoral care
56 JANUARY 2024 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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