Student Services

Pastoral Care at Wollaston School

At Wollaston School we are proud of our pastoral care and ensure that our pastoral practice has the child at the centre of what we do. Everyone at Wollaston School has a pastoral role, however we also have a dedicated Pastoral Support Team who are experienced and skilled and a key point of contact for students when they require academic and pastoral support.

Form Tutors

First port of call for students with any issues or concern regarding their wellbeing or that of a friend is their form tutor. Students should feel free to approach them with any concern they have, whether it be regarding wellbeing, academic issues, relationships with other students, issues at home or any other issue.

Our Pastoral Support Team

Students can be assured that they will find our Pastoral Support Team friendly and approachable and when not out and about around school they can be found in the Pastoral Support Centre. Students who need to speak to a member of staff about any worries, issues or concerns they may have should visit the Pastoral Support Centre to make an appointment with one of our team. Our Pastoral Support Team work closely with form tutors, heads of year, class teachers, parents and carers to help ensure the best outcome for students pastorally and academically.

Who’s Who on the Pastoral Support Team

Student Services Reception

The Student Services Reception is located in the Pastoral Support Centre and is managed by Mrs Halliday: students should visit Student Services Reception if they need help with any of the following:

• to make an appointment to see one of our pastoral team.
• to sign out of school for an appointment
• for lost property
• lockers
• general student enquiries.

Heads of Year

Wollaston heads of year take pride in ensuring that all students receive exceptional pastoral care. They support and challenge all students in equal measure to achieve the very best outcomes and develop characteristics that will help them to succeed in adult life.

• Year 7: Mr Smyth
• Year 8: Miss Yeoman
• Year 9: Mr Atherton
• Year 10: Mr Logan
• Year 11: Mr Jackson

Student Support Team

Mrs Burgess: Student Support Officer

Mrs Weir-Smith: Student Support Officer

Mrs Cootes: student support for well-being

Mrs Ratledge: student support for safeguarding and early help

Mrs Martin: student support for attendance

Mrs Steadman: first aid and medical needs

Mrs Elmes: Head of Behaviour and Attendance

How to Get Help from the Pastoral Support Team

• Students have daily access to their form tutor during the form period.
• Appointments to see a head of year or a student support officer can be made by visiting Mrs Halliday in the pastoral support centre before school starts, at breaktime or lunchtime, or after school.
• Students can also use the Worried at Wollaston QR codes that are around the school to request an appointment.
• Students can email [email protected]
• For any concerns regarding any issues regarding discrimination are classed as protected characteristics by the Equalities Act 2010, students can email [email protected]
• The list of protected characteristics as defined by the Equalities Act 2010 are listed below:
  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race – this includes ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality
  • religion or belief – this includes lack of belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation.
• Useful links to external services for parents seeking additional support can be found HERE

Anti-Bullying at Wollaston School

At Wollaston School we take pride in the inclusivity of our community. We believe in establishing and maintaining a positive learning culture where everyone has the right to feel safe, enjoy their learning, achieve to the best of their ability and be treated with respect. We recognise that individuals and groups feel safe they will do their best work.

Therefore, everyone in our community has the responsibility for their own behaviour, to safeguard the rights of other people and to treat others with respect, dignity and consideration. Our anti-bullying policy underpins the rights and responsibilities which are at the core of our beliefs as a school. Please find our Anti-bullying Policy HERE.

Bullying, intimidation and harassment of any member of our community are examples of unacceptable behaviour and as such reference is made to these kinds of behaviours in our Behaviour Policy (found HERE) and our E-safety Policy (found HERE).

Wollaston School will take measures to prevent all forms of bullying during school time and during off-site activities including online safety. Staff, students and parents have a responsibility to report bullying as soon as possible.

What is Bullying?

Not all situations where young people find themselves in conflict or difficulties with relationships can be understood as bullying. These situations can be defined as ‘relational conflict’. These situations are characterised by a balance of power within a relationship, remorse felt by individuals for hurt or harm and a willingness to make things right. Not all conflict leads to bullying, however, negative feelings and actions that are left unchecked without adult intervention can often lead to more persistent and complex situations. That is why at Wollaston School our we are proud of the way that our students access our student support team to help them resolve any relational conflicts that they feel unable to resolve amicably themselves. This allows for any situations that arise to be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

In the 2017 Department for Education Guidance: Preventing and tackling bullying: Advice for head teachers, staff and governing bodies bullying is defined as: Behaviour by an individual or group, repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally. Often bullying involves an imbalance of power within a relationship with little remorse and little inclination to make things right. On the rare occasions that bullying does occur we have a very clear process of how we will help to stop the bullying behaviours and provide support to all parties involved.

Preventing Bullying at Wollaston School

‘A school’s response to bullying should not start at the point at which a child has been bullied. The best schools develop a more sophisticated approach in which school staff proactively gather intelligence about issues between pupils which might provoke conflict and develop strategies to prevent bullying occurring in the first place.’

(Department for Education – Preventing and tackling bullying, July 2017)

At Wollaston we are a school led by our values of kindness, community and ambition. We take a persistent approach throughout the school year to foster these values in our students. As such we use a variety of educational activities and experiences to ensure that all students are encouraged to demonstrate positive relationships as individuals and as part of our wider community. Some of these activities and experiences are listed below:

• Bullying is addressed through the PSHE programme and is aligned with the standards of the PSHE Association.
• The Form Time and Assembly programmes reinforce British Values and the ethos of the school.
• Anti-bullying week is dedicated to raising awareness of bullying and reminding staff and students of their responsibilities to report it.
• Duty staff have been trained to be vigilant and to watch and listen for any bullying type behaviours, no matter how small.
• Duty points have been carefully considered to ensure there are no ‘dead spaces’ where bullying can take place undisturbed.
• Seating plans in lessons are carefully considered using any relevant information about the relationships between specific pupils.
• The School Council regularly considers new ways to prevent bullying through their whole school projects.
• External speakers raise awareness of issues such as racism and homophobia.
• Posters around the school emphasise the importance of diversity in the school community.
• We have a Wollaston Diversity Group who meet weekly.
• Working with the wider community such as the police/children’s services where bullying is particularly serious or persistent to send a strong message that bullying is unacceptable within our school.

How Wollaston School Manages Incidents of Bullying

It is vitally important that if, as a parent, you feel your child has experienced bullying that you inform the school immediately. In these cases, please contact the relevant head of year directly.

All members of staff are responsible for dealing with issues of bullying which they witness or that are reported to them by any pupil, parent or carer, and will seek support from heads of year or senior leaders as required.

Once the school is informed of a bullying situation the following actions will be taken:

• Issues will be dealt with quickly including the collection of statements. This includes those involved and any identified witnesses.
• Parents and carers will be informed as necessary, and they may be asked to attend a meeting to discuss the problem.
• If necessary (and appropriate), the police and/or external agencies will be consulted e.g. for incidents involving indecent images or threats through social media, assault or potential hate crimes.
• A serious attempt will be made to help the bully change their behaviour with a clear support plan in place, documented for parents and pupils and reviewed appropriately. This may include pastoral monitoring, restorative justice, bespoke training e.g., anger management, peer mentoring or professional intervention.
• Support will be made available for both the victim and the aggressor following the issues. This may include support sessions, educational sessions, wellbeing, or counselling sessions.

Advice for Parents and Carers

Being the parent of a child who is being bullied and being the parent of a child who is displaying bullying behaviours can be incredibly difficult as it can be both traumatic and emotionally draining.

As a school we will always seek to support all parties involved however there are external agencies who can also provide you with valuable information to help you to support your child. These can be found listed below:

• Kidscape have a ‘Parents Advice Line’. Click HERE for further information.
• Family Lives have a confidential helpline for parents. Click HERE for further information.
• The NSPCC has excellent advice for parents and carers on how to keep your child safe from bullying. Click HERE
• The Department for Education has advice for parents and carers on cyberbullying. Click HERE for this information.