Pastoral Care

HQ sits in the heart of school.  Easily accessible to students whenever needed, it is home to our Heads of House and a team of Pastoral Assistants.  Students are able to drop in during break & lunch if they need help, guidance, support or a friendly ear.  The Calthorpe team of dedicated Pastoral Assistants can support students to navigate a myriad of issues such as friendship troubles and school concerns. 

If a student needs to contact home, HQ can assist. HQ can loan items of uniform, investigate behaviour issues and mentor students who may need a little more directed help. 

With the exception of in-year admissions, the relationship between tutor and student starts in Year 7, growing and developing throughout a student’s time in school.  During this time, tutors and students get to know each other well, with tutors often becoming a child’s main trusted adult in school.  This is a powerful and invaluable bond which underpins the sense of community and belonging that is fostered during Tutor time.  

Tutors prioritise their students’ well-being, whether integrating a new Year 7 student, cheer-leading a student’s achievement and success or motivating a Year 11 through GCSEs. In the event that a family needs to raise a concern, the tutor is the first point of contact.

In every tutor group there is a mix of students from Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 which yields many benefits for all students.  Students of all ages are often inspired by achievements or experiences of others, and the patience and kindness that may be needed by newer members of the group helps to develop their coaching and mentoring skills.

Tutor time allows the Heads of House, through their team of tutors, to host whole house assemblies, adopt fund-rising challenges, inspire friendly competition through our Friday quiz and also recognise achievements of tutees.

The time spent in Tutor Groups is one of the most important windows of time during the school day, setting the tone for the whole day. A four-weekly rotation of activities and focus areas keep the content varied and relevant, with whole House assemblies taking place twice a month.  A sample extract is shown here:

Find out more about each Head of House.

We believe in the power of education, and we aim for all young people at Calthorpe Park to have opportunities for personal development and growth. To translate The Calthorpe Way into meaningful, practical, accessible and recognisable behaviours and attitudes, we have developed a Calthorpe Character Education Programme. 

At Calthorpe Park, Character Education is embedded across our school curriculum, our bespoke ethos – The Calthorpe Way and extra-curricular activities. Tutor time provides the conduit through which our twenty core characteristics are brought to life, and we systematically teach the behaviours that we expect students to display.

Through character development and learning we allow students to grow into resilient adaptable individuals who can inspire themselves, shape their own characters and nurture their futures.

A well-designed reward framework in schools is recognised as a powerful and positive way to motivate students by celebrating effort, progress, and positive choices, not just outcomes. When students feel that their hard work and good character are noticed and valued, they are more likely to stay engaged, take pride in their learning, and challenge themselves to grow. 
Our Reward Ladder changes annually, going beyond prizes or points; it reinforces shared values and builds a culture where success is celebrated in many forms. This directly supports our school vision to inspire minds by encouraging curiosity and perseverance, shape characters by promoting responsibility, kindness, and resilience, and nurture futures by helping students develop the confidence and motivation they need to thrive both in school and beyond.