Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
Pupils’ Physical and Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
At St Columba’s College, we believe that pastoral care is at the heart of our community, inspired by the compassionate ethos of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Our pupils’ happiness and wellbeing are our top priorities. We take a holistic approach that blends personal attention, friendly discipline, faith-based values, and academic excellence. This helps us see the best in every student and ensures we’re always available to support their needs. Our goal is to educate both the head and the heart, nurturing confident leaders, socially responsible citizens, and all round nice humans.
Hopefully some of the subheadings below will make things clearer however we are confident that when you visit us, you’ll feel the warmth and be able to see these things first hand.
We do this through….
A Comprehensive Pastoral Framework
- Pastoral System: Every pupil in our community is known, valued, and treasured. Our dedicated staff quickly get to know each student and their families, responding to their individual academic and pastoral needs. Tutors are usually the first point of contact for parents, while subject teachers handle academic inquiries. Prep Key Stage Leads and the Senior House Team lead the pastoral teams, ensuring all pupils make progress.
- Values-Driven Care: Guided by our religious values, we prioritise the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of our pupils, fostering resilience and personal growth alongside academic success. We describe this to the students as holistic development.
- Reactive and Current Pastoral Programme: From Prep to Senior School, our tailored Pastoral Programme equips pupils with the tools to navigate modern life’s challenges, enhancing their emotional intelligence and overall wellbeing.
With excellent Mental Health and Emotional Support
- Personalised Support in the Prep School: Form Tutors build strong relationships with their pupils, guiding their development through a PSHE programme that highlights the Columban values of Courage, Courtesy, and Compassion.
- Bespoke Pastoral Programme in the Senior School: Delivered twice weekly by dedicated House Tutors, this programme covers key themes like mental health, social media use, relationships, and financial literacy.
- Extensive Support Network: Our team includes a qualified College Counsellor offering confidential support, we also have trained Sixth Form mentors who go through a rigorous training programme to upskill them. Another layer of support is our staff listener programme aimed at providing lower level pastoral support for all those who need it. They work alongside our in house Wellbeing Hub to provide resources and a safe space for pupils. We also collaborate with external organisations like ‘STEP’ to enhance our mental health provision.
Ensuring that we have high quality Medical Care
- Professional Medical Support: Our qualified nursing team provides private and discreet care in the dedicated Medical Room, ensuring pupils feel supported at all times. Individual Care Plans are developed for those with specific health needs.
- Seamless Coordination: Our nurses work closely with the pastoral team to support pupils during challenging times and transitions. Vaccination programmes and additional health services are delivered in collaboration with the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.
- This links in with our PE and Sport provision too with the PE curriculum having a focus on lifelong participation.
A Strong Sense of Community
- Fostering Belonging: Our House structure, form groups, and subject classes promote a close-knit, supportive community where pupils feel a deep sense of belonging. Inter-House competitions foster teamwork and friendly rivalry, creating an environment of camaraderie. Competitions range from sporting to baking, public speaking to chess and beyond!
- Values-Based Education: The core Columban values of Courage, Courtesy, and Compassion are ingrained throughout the curriculum and in all areas of school life, providing the moral and social grounding necessary for personal growth.
- Peer-Led Support: Systems like buddying initiatives and the Sixth Form mentoring programme allow older pupils to guide and inspire younger ones, reinforcing a culture of mutual respect and kindness. You’ll often see this during house events, especially the Eisteddfod in April where the whole school comes together for a musical and drama competition.
Fostering Leadership and Real-World Preparation
- Dynamic Pastoral Curriculum: Tailored to meet the evolving needs of students from ages 4-18, our Pastoral Programme incorporates timely topics aligned with statutory guidance in PSHE and RSE. This lays a strong foundation for personal and social wellbeing.
- Student Voice: Feedback from regular student voice meetings informs our curriculum, ensuring that pastoral education is both dynamic and relevant. This has led to the introduction of new topics in the above Pastoral Programme like First Aid and Coercive Control, empowering students to navigate real-life challenges. We pride ourselves on trying to hear from those students whose voices may be harder to hear.
- Leadership Opportunities: Pupils develop leadership skills through roles like Prefects, mentoring positions, and other responsibilities that instil confidence, accountability, and integrity.
- Economic Wellbeing: Through a robust curriculum in the Senior School, pupils learn critical life skills including career planning and financial literacy, equipping them for a bright future. Our dedicated careers advisor is able to provide impartial careers’ guidance which in turn enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options.
Encouraging and teaching how to make a Positive Impact on Society
- Commitment to Service: Pupils are encouraged to participate in charitable initiatives, including projects addressing homelessness and environmental sustainability, Eco-Schools and volunteering at local schools. This links with our SHAPE recognition.
- Holistic Development: Our pastoral framework provides pupils with a seamless progression in moral and social education from ages 4-18. By fostering continuity in themes like Anti-Bullying and Keeping Safe, we help students build and strengthen their values year on year.
- Global and Social Awareness: In thematic sessions linked to global events like Human Rights Day and Anti-Bullying Week, pupils reflect on their role in society, reinforcing empathy, tolerance, and inclusivity for a wide range of cultures. Political education is covered in these sessions too ensuring that they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.
At St Columba’s College, developing the “Head and the Heart” is not just a principle but a lived experience. This is reflected in the moral, spiritual, and social growth of our pupils, who are empowered to act with kindness, resilience, and responsibility. By nurturing leadership, social engagement, and a lifelong commitment to making a positive impact, we prepare students to thrive as individuals and make meaningful contributions to society
