In St Mary’s the pastoral system is used to care for the welfare of the girls and it is designed to enable us to keep close contact with each individual girl. Form teachers act as tutors for the class. In this capacity they are timetabled for six periods per week (five 15 minute classes and one 45 minute class) to cover a programme of personal and social development and to deal with any particular problems arising in class. Each year group has a Head of Year who will meet the Form Teachers from each class frequently whilst a full pastoral meeting of all form teachers involved in a Year Group will be held at least twice each term. The Year Heads and the Behaviour Management Coordinator work together to address the needs of pupils with particular needs and each year the Children Order Team is invited into the school to deliver short courses on self esteem and team building to target groups. All teachers have the responsibility for promoting and implementing the aims of the Pastoral Care Policy. This means that all teachers need to have a caring commitment to guide and advise pupils, either formally or informally, on personal, educational and vocational matters. If this process is carried out, then the pastoral dimension should permeate all activities and aspects of school life.

A senior teacher has overall responsibility for the pastoral dimension in the school. This teacher is supported by the Year Heads, Form Teachers and Senior Management Team. The Year Heads are time-tabled to meet on a regular basis to organise, monitor, evaluate and review the pastoral programmes. During the pastoral care class there is sufficient flexibility in the timetable to allow the form teacher or year head to speak to an individual pupil. Contact with parents is promoted and maintained by the Form Teacher, Year Head, Head of Pastoral Care, Vice Principal and Principal.

Essentially the role of the year head and form teacher is to convey to children, through his/her attitude and example, the Christian ethos and educational purpose of the school which aims to:
develop each child intellectually, spiritually, socially, physically and emotionally;
prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life;
provide a caring, supportive environment in which each pupil feels valued;
enhance the opportunity for learning for each pupil.

The following guidelines specify the main elements in the role of the Form Teacher and Year Head in St Mary’s.
 

Role of the Year Head

 Ensure that there are regular meetings with the Form teachers and write up the minutes of same;
 Co-ordinate all information received from subject teachers, form teachers etc and take action where necessary;
 Establish a good working relationship with the pupils in the year group providing encouragement, support and guidance where needed. If necessary arrange meetings with outside agencies e.g. EWO, school doctor/nurse, social worker;
 Monitor the academic progress of pupils taking action where necessary;
 Be responsible, in conjunction with form teachers for class transfers;
 Write to parents on matters regarding the pupils’ school life – information bulletins;
 Arrange meetings with parents when necessary to discuss the welfare and general problems arising with any particular child in the year group;
 Meet regularly with other Year Heads to review the Pastoral Care Programme;
 Take responsibility for Year Assembly, Parents’ Evenings and other year group activities;
 Try to have a short interview with all pupils in the year group at sometime during the school year.

Duties of Year Heads

 Supporting the form teachers of their year group in implementing the pastoral programme;
 Acting as a substitute for the caring parent in relation to the girls in the year group;
 Setting and insisting on standards of behaviour, watching for changes in attitude, of caring and concern for individual pupils, classes and the year group as a whole;
 Fostering a healthy regard for work and learning;
 Monitoring the Pastoral Care Programme;
 Operating the report system;
 Operating the Merit System and recording information given by subject teachers and form teachers;
 Disseminating information;
 Ensuring acceptable standards of uniform and appearance;
 Stressing the importance of adhering to school rules and standards of behaviour;
 Acting as a link between pupils, parents, Head of Department and Subject Teachers;
 Meeting with EWO and other agencies regarding pupil welfare.
 

Role of the Form Teacher

 Establish a good working relationship with individual pupils and the class as a whole providing encouragement, support and guidance where needed;
 Encourage self discipline in the pupils' attitude to parents, teachers and peers,
 Develop self esteem in the pupil and a feeling of her individual worth standard of moral and social development
 Transmit Christian values and ethos of the school and an awareness of the needs of others.
 Act as a linking agent between pupil and other members of staff.
 Gain the confidence and respect of pupils.
 Establish good working relationships with other colleagues.
 Carry out administrative duties efficiently.

Duties of Form Teachers

 Acting as a substitute for the caring parent;
 Setting and insisting on standards of behaviour, watching for changes in attitude, of caring and concern for individual pupils and the class as a whole;
 Creating a pleasant atmosphere and physical environment for the form class;
 Fostering a healthy regard for work and learning;
 Being aware of the needs and interests of individual pupils;
 Following the Pastoral Care Programme;
 Operating the report system;
 Operating the Merit System.
 Standing with the class at Assembly and leading the class to the form room;
 Marking the Roll, collecting absence notes, checking that pupils are following correct  timetable;
 Disseminating information, ensuring that class knows of any changes to the normal routine;
 Ensuring acceptable standards of uniform and appearance;
 Stressing the importance of adhering to school rules and standards of behaviour;
 Acting as a link between the pupil and Head of Year, Head of Department and Subject Teachers.

If the nature of the pupil’s individual educational or pastoral needs or problems is beyond the scope of the form teacher then the appropriate referral route should be employed.
 

Implementation

Evidence of the implementation of the Pastoral Care Programme is to be found in:
 The content of planned lessons which are used by the form teachers;
 The content of the Scheme of  Work for Religious Education;
 The organisation and implementation of the Educational Themes;
 The allocation of time and resources to teachers and pupils for the implementation of the programme;
 The links with parents, the community and local industry;
 The careers Guidance Programme.

Monitoring, Evaluating and Reviewing the Pastoral Care Programme

Overall responsibility for this, lies with the Head of Pastoral Care, the Year Heads and Form Teachers. There is timetable provision for the Head of Pastoral Care to meet and to keep the programme under review at all times.

Cross Reference with:

Aims and Objectives of the School  Discipline Policy 
Child Protection Policy   Policy on Bullying
Induction Policy    Special Needs Policy
Staff Development Policy