Achieving individual potential
At The Abbey School, pastoral care is central to our thinking and we offer a very high standard of care for our students. The welfare of each individual in the school community is of the greatest importance and all members of the school are expected to act with due consideration and respect for each other. We believe that each of our pupils should feel individually valued and listened to if they are to thrive.
A well-established system of form tutors and Heads of Year, supported by the Director of Pastoral Support, the Deputy Head and the Headmistress, supervises and monitors each girl as she progresses through the school. In the Sixth Form girls belong to a small tutor group which enables staff to offer the extra support needed to check the progress of their work, discuss university applications etc. Appropriate policies, including anti-bullying, positive behaviour and discipline, are in place and the school operates an ‘open door’ policy of access for parents to discuss any problems which may arise.
The culture we promote throughout our school is one of tolerance, openness, responsibility and mutual respect. These values are presented in assemblies usually led by our senior staff but also by the girls themselves. The School Council is made up of girls from every year in the school and at their regular meetings they discuss issues which affect everyone in the community. Our girls raise a great deal of money for a variety of charities and the Charity Committee has organised many fundraising events including the very popular Balloon days.
The Nurse
The Medical room is well equipped and is open throughout the school day. Our full-time nurse provides First Aid care for any sick or injured girls, takes responsibility for any prescribed medicines brought into school by pupils and keeps appropriate records. She also delivers Skills For Life lessons on health issues to girls throughout the school and is an important ‘listening ear’.
Raising self-esteem
There are many other opportunities for social integration, raising self-esteem and self-awareness, all important aspects of girls’ development. The House Reward scheme is a way for girls to gain House points for their hard work which never goes unrewarded or unnoticed. The ROSA stickers are given for any special achievement and these too add to the House point scores. Abbey postcards are sent to the older girls in recognition of their outstanding achievements. In UV, an Academic Mentoring scheme is in place offering support for girls who need a little extra help to reach their potential at GCSE.
Parents
We are keen to support parents and offer help and advice on raising their teenagers. Parents are invited into school at least twice a year and regular parents’ talks cover a wide range of topics. Recent guest speakers include Diana Sharp, a psychotherapist with experience treating and preventing self harm and anorexia; Dr JoAnn Deak was most informative about girls’ education and the importance of single sex education; Karen Richardson talked about drugs, what to look out for, how to help teenagers who are taking drugs, where to go for support etc.