Pastoral Care - Caring for the Individual

 

Pastoral care is one of Kent College's priorities as we firmly believe that if a girl is happy and confident socially, she will do well in her academic studies.

 

 

All girls joining Kent College in Year 7 are invited in to meet their new classmates late in the summer term of Year 6 so that they are able to begin the process of getting to know each other through an afternoon of games and activities.

 

In early September, we have a two day ICT induction course for all Year 7 students, which enables them to make firm friends and begin to find their way around the school site, as well as brushing up on their ICT skills.

 

 

Each girl is under the care of a form tutor who, along with her housemistress in the case of a boarder, would be the first port of call for any parents with a query or concern. Form tutors monitor each girl's progress academically and are on hand to offer advice and guidance on a range of issues including organisation, friendships and option choices at GCSE and A level.

 

If there are any concerns over any aspect of your daughter's progress her form tutor or housemistress will make contact with you to discuss the best way for school and home to work together to solve the problem.

 

 

Form tutors also keep a close eye on each student's participation in extra curricular activities to help girls to appreciate the need for a healthy balance in their school life. Each year-group has time allocated for events that link to the curriculum but also promote team spirit and help to develop inter-personal skills.

 

Year 7 girls enjoy a four day activity holiday, Year 8 have an activity day following the summer examinations, Year 9 have a Forensics day with the Science department investigating a crime scene, Year 10 have four days in the Isle of Wight enjoying various watersports, and both Year 11 and the Sixth Form organise annual Balls. There is also a Key Stage 3 disco to which boys from local schools are invited.

 

 

Our pastoral care seeks to foster the sense of community spirit that Kent College is known for. Each week there are assemblies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday where the whole of the Senior School meet together. These are led by either the Headmistress, the school Chaplain, senior members of staff or form groups and offer a varity of though-provoking presentations. On Tuesdays, each form has an extended form period where tutors have time to discuss grades or reports, prepare for assembles or fundraising activities or simply to chat together about issues that are important to the girls.

 

 

Each girl is a member of one of our three house teams- Celts, Danes or Saxons. House assemblies are held on alternate Thursdays and give girls from different year groups the chance to get to know each other and work as a team to earn their house points from various events, in addition to those awarded by academic staff. Each house elects two 'Heads of House' from the Sixth Form and this generates a spirit of competitive, yet friendly, rivalry.

 

 

Divisional meetings are held on a weekly basis and enables form tutors to work together on issues of concern relating to their particular year group. The Pastoral Leadership Team meet fortnightly and work closely together to provide support for individual girls and to ensure the routines and procedures of the school day work effectively.

 

In addition to the Pastoral Leadership Team, we have trained medical staff on site during the academic day and the girls may speak with an independent counsellor if they feel there are personal issues that she could help them deal with. Our Chaplain is also available to speak with students at any time.