We all want school life to be happy and harmonious but we are realistic enough to know that this may not always be the case for everyone, all the time. Clayesmore is well known and admired for our pastoral care and support. We recognise that young adults can go through ups and downs with friends, school work, home life and just the trials and tribulations of growing up. We have a huge amount of experience, gained over many years, to be able to support students in every challenge they may face.
Our staff are approachable and kind, they listen and don't judge and they are solutions-oriented. Communication channels with parents are also open and honest and we always want to discuss concerns you, or we, may have about students.
Working in tandem with our pastoral care is our Health and Wellbeing Centre. Not only do our team of nurses and health care staff look after physical ailments but we ensure we address any mental health issues as well, senstively and confidentially.
We want all Clayesmore students to have the happiest and healthiest time at school and are committed to ensuring we provide a supportive, nurturing environment backed up by a professional approach to enable this to happen.
Everyone's Invited
According to the 'Everyone's Invited' website, "rape culture" is when attitudes, behaviours and beliefs in society have the effect of normalising and trivialising sexual violence. This culture includes misogyny, rape jokes, sexual harassment, online sexual abuse (upskirting, non-consensual sharing of intimate photos, cyberflashing), and sexual coercion. When behaviours such as these are normalised this can act as a gateway to more extreme acts such as sexual assault and rape.
At Clayesmore, we take our responsibility for our young people extremely seriously. We have a zero tolerance attitude to any form of sexual misconduct whether through physical or online means. Our Pastoral heads regularly discuss the philosophies of 'Everyone's Invited' and the 'Me Too' social movements with our students to enlighten and empower them about sexual misconduct. We provide platforms for discussion around healthy relationships and awareness of behaviours which are unacceptable.
Young adults should neither be victims nor perpetrators of inappropriate sexual behaviour and at Clayesmore we are transparent and frank about these issues. We encourage open debate coupled with more formal lectures so that every student is well informed and feels they have a voice to express concerns.
It is easy to hide away from a topic which is often hard to discuss but 'rape culture' impacts all sections of society and providing true and effective pastoral care means we can't shy away from difficult issues.
Everyone's Invited
BBC Panorama
Pastoral and Safeguarding Statement
Pastoral
We have pastoral care at the very heart of our school and, whether boarding or day, all children at Clayesmore benefit from our friendly, caring and positive atmosphere.
We are a small enough school that everyone is known as an individual and the supportive environment in our five boarding houses helps to create a strong community spirit. Houseparents, their assistants and matrons know their charges very well indeed and they work together to support students through the challenges of day to day life, helping them develop their own strategies to negotiate the sometimes turbulent teenage years.
Our Health and Wellbeing Centre, our counsellors and our Chaplain are also a central part of our pastoral team, providing physical and emotional support to all who need it. This care is complemented by academic tutors, TLC staff, sports coaches and music teachers
The students’ voice is important to us and the various forums that allow them to express their views (for example, house and school councils and student committees) help to inform our pastoral care.
Safeguarding
Clayesmore School fully recognises our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in our care, and that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Our practice follows the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education and encompasses the following principles:
To protect children from harm
To prevent impairment of children’s health and development
To ensure that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care thus enabling those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully
To treat the interests of our children as paramount
To consider at all times the best interests of the child
Anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare, including if there is a concern that the child is suffering significant harm or is likely to do so, should make a referral to our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – unless an allegation is against them or another member of staff, when the Head must be informed. In all cases the guidelines laid down by the DfE must be followed. Please also refer to Clayesmore School’s Safeguarding Policy.
Mrs SarahJane Newland
Deputy Head, Pastoral
