Pastoral

Pastoral care at Kent College is designed to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued, respected and empowered. It is founded on relationships between students, parents, teachers, and support staff, working together to nurture and guide every student.

A dedicated pastoral team which includes our Deputy Head Pastoral, our Head of Sixth Form, Pastoral Lead, two Student Managers, our SENCO, Chaplain and our School Sister, is committed to providing personalised support to all our students. Through regular check-ins, one-to-one sessions, and group activities, we encourage open communication and trust, ensuring that every student's voice is heard and their needs are met.

The wellbeing of our students is a priority, and we promote mental health awareness and provide access to resources and counselling services, helping students to navigate challenges, build resilience, and develop essential life skills.

Beyond individual support, we create a sense of community through initiatives and events, including peer mentoring programmes, peer-led mental health projects, anti-bullying ambassadors, and community projects. By encouraging meaningful connections across the whole school and promoting positive relationships within and across year groups, students build a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom.


Pupils exhibit a sense of personal responsibility for their actions and display positive behaviour towards others, such as empathy, kindness and respect.

Pupils put into practice the Wesleyan philosophy of the school and are proud to do all the good that they can.

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Our approach

Respect

Respect forms the foundation of our community. We are inclusive and supportive, meaning every individual can be celebrated. Our students learn how to respect themselves and those around them.

Resilience

Resilience is at the heart of our pastoral approach. We know that setbacks and obstacles are a natural part of life, and we equip our students with the tools they need to bounce back stronger. Through bespoke support, mentoring, and resilience-building workshops, we instill in our students the belief in their own ability to thrive in the face of challenges.

Reliability

Reliability is a core value we encourage in our students. Students learn to be accountable and responsible in all aspects of their lives. Through our various leadership opportunities, and community projects, we empower our students to become reliable and trustworthy members of society, ready to make a positive impact both locally and globally.

Peer Support

We believe in the importance of our girls looking out for each other, and the pastoral team works closely with students to promote positive relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully, and cultivate a culture of kindness and respect. Students are encouraged to forge meaningful connections, create a network of support, and to be advocates and allies for one another.

Peer mentors, a student leadership team and ambassador programmes are used to equip students with the skills they need to build healthy relationships and support each other.

Developing Skills

A key priority is the development of social and emotional literacy skills for all students. Through a tutor programme and life skills (PSHE) curriculum, students are provided with the tools and strategies they need to develop skills which are essential for navigating the complexities of relationships, managing emotions, and making responsible decisions.

Social and emotional literacy is a lifelong journey, and students have ongoing support and guidance throughout their school life. Whether academic pressures, friendship issues, or personal challenges, students are supported through our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) programme and our shared whole school emotional literacy approach using the Zones of Regulation.

Methodist School

Kent College is one of a group of schools within the Methodist Independent Schools Trust (MIST). MIST oversees 12 independent schools and works closely with six other independent schools of Methodist foundation to provide a high quality, rounded and caring education. MIST also works with schools in the maintained sector wherever possible.

Methodist Schools are inclusive and welcoming communities where individuals are valued, good order is respected, relationships cherished and excellence in its widest sense (academic, extra-curricular and lifestyle) is pursued.

'Do all the good you can' - the opening of a prayer by our Methodist founder John Wesley - resonates deeply with us. Kent College students and staff experience community strength, non-judgmental understanding, support structures and respect.