Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
The wellbeing of our students is of the utmost importance to us at Berkhamsted.
We provide a safe, confidential and supportive environment in which our students can feel secure, enabling them to grow to achieve their full potential.
Our proactive wellbeing strategy helps keep our students well, detects early signs of potential problems and supports any student who is experiencing pastoral difficulties.
We believe that collaboration between our students, parents and staff is crucial for our students to flourish. We will always speak the truth kindly to parents and to listen to parents in return.
We are here to help our students work through the difficulties of teenage life and develop coping strategies to prepare them for their future, developing into resilient, independent, young adults who have a sense of purpose and compassion.
Our dedicated Wellbeing team is led by our Deputy Head of Pupil Wellbeing. The team includes nurses, counsellors and coaches as well as chaplaincy staff, who support our teaching staff in their pastoral roles.
Our medical centre is accessible during the school day and our medical officer has a special responsibility for our boarders. Our qualified counsellors are available for confidential counselling.
Pastoral Care
Our aim at Berkhamsted Sixth is to instill our students with a strong sense of discipline and accountability within a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We recognise that every student is an individual with differing needs, worries, motivations and aspirations. It is only by listening and getting to know our students that we can help them realise their dreams and be the person they want to be.
We encourage our students to take responsibility for their self-discipline, adhering to our school rules and Code of Conduct.
We believe our students develop by taking responsibility for their mistakes as and when they make them, rather than adopting a culture of blaming others or seeking excuses.
We do not expect them to be perfect, but we do expect them to be willing to acknowledge when they have made poor choices and to be prepared to learn from them for the future.
Everyday discipline at Berkhamsted falls within the remit of our school staff, supported by the Heads of Houses. Any serious breaches of discipline are dealt with by the Deputy Heads or Heads in consultation with the Heads of Houses. We work with parents and rely on their support in guiding students through their Sixth Form years.
Listen to our podcast
Listen to our podcast with Tracey Evans, Chief People Officer and Dr Kathy Weston from TooledUp education who help to provide the latest research for supporting children both to the school and to parents.
Chaplaincy
Our Christian foundation was established when our School was founded in 1541 and the foundation remains as much a part of school life and tradition as it was 477 years ago.
We have two school chapels and two full-time chaplaincy staff who provide pastoral care and support to our students through lunchtime drop-in clubs, extra-curricular Christian Unions and the opportunity to take Confirmation classes.
All Berkhamsted students attend one chapel service each week, which are Christian in their focus but still accessible to those of other faiths and none.
Christmas, Easter and Remembrance Day are marked with special services and there is a half termly after-school communion service, which is open to anyone in the school community.
We believe that social action and spiritual development are vital to the development of our students, enabling them to become well-rounded individuals with a strong community focus and sense of compassion.
We aim to raise questions, stimulate our students with debate and provide them with opportunities to contribute and reflect.
Space to reflect
Our Chaplin considers in this podcast the opportunity that is provided to support pupils with their spiritual development
