Pastoral care

YEAR 7

We know that moving to Year 7 is a big change, even if you are currently at Highgate Junior School. So, we try hard to ensure your transition to secondary school is smooth and stress-free.

Once you’ve got your place at Highgate we invite you to a series of events that help you get to know our Senior School and your new classmates. Usually, these include: an afternoon of activities and a tour of ‘Top Site’, where most of your lessons will be; an information evening for your parents/carers; and a barbeque for new pupils and parents/carers. Just before term starts in September, we take all our new Year 7s to an outward-bound centre to do activities like jet skiing, paddle boarding, laser quest and high(ish) ropes. Together, these give everyone a chance to start making new friends.

FORM GROUPS

The pastoral structure in Lower School is designed to ease the transition from primary. Pupils in Years 7 and 8 are placed in a form class – eight classes are in both years, with no more than 24 pupils in each, assembled horizontally as a year group. You spend almost all of your lessons with your form.

We take great care choosing who goes into each form, making sure we get a balance of boys and girls, plus people new to Highgate and those already here. Your form tutor is an excellent person to talk to for support as well as the Head of Year, who acts as the point of contact for parents, providing a full picture of each child’s welfare and development.

YEARS 9-11

When you move into Year 9, you are placed into one of our 12 houses, where you will remain until the end of your time at Highgate. You join a tutor group of around 16 pupils drawn from different Year 8 forms, whom you will meet twice a week. Your Head of House will be your regular contact for support on anything you need to discuss.

The House system provides a smaller community feel, where you can build friendships, take part in a variety of events, and hopefully make some great memories. Every week the whole house attends a House Meeting enabling pupils to build relationships across the year groups. House competitions run throughout the year, providing a wealth of opportunity for involvement and achievement. From fives to cross-country, debating to drama: pupils are regularly able to experience competitiveness that is positive, friendly and inclusive.

WELLBEING

All staff urge pupils on with care and sensitivity, guided by a specialist pastoral and wellbeing team who provide additional support where needed. The Head of Pupil Wellbeing works closely with our Clinical Mental Health Lead and oversees three wellbeing practitioners, a team of counsellors, and our School Nurses, to cater for a range of therapeutic needs. Our Learning Support team attends to children’s individual learning needs.

Time is set aside each week for co-curricular activities, providing time away from studies to explore personal interests and make new friends. Our wide programme of activities enables pupils to have fun, whilst developing personal qualities such as self-motivation, collaboration and leadership.

Download our Pastoral & Wellbeing Brochure

“Pastoral care systems and the wellbeing arrangements support the development of pupils’ self-esteem and confidence“

ISI Inspection Report 2024