Mental Health Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to reiterate important messages about how we can take care of our mental health, but it should not be used as a tick box activity for teachers. Instead outstanding pastoral care, with a focus on mental health should be constantly at the heart of any great school. It may be stating the obvious to say that a child cannot learn to the best of their ability if they are not happy, cared for and nurtured. We spoke to Sophie Baber, Headteacher at Brookham School in Hampshire to understand how mental health underpins everything they do at Highfield and Brookham Schools.

“Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the top three considerations when choosing a school, as identified

by our 2020 parent, is well-being and pastoral care.

Outstanding pastoral care often appears relatively effortless. With a relaxed yet respectful air

surrounding the relationships between staff and children, everything looks easy and natural;

however, rather like speaking a language fluently or driving a car, one should not be lulled into

thinking that it all just happens and is somehow innate. Quality pastoral provision is far from

simplistic, nor can it rely on or rest with one or two individual members of staff.

In this respect, all the children at Highfield and Brookham benefit from our boarding provision.

Though many will pass through the schools without ever boarding a single night, this aspect of the

school’s life adds an additional facet to our pastoral responsibility. We truly understand what it

means to be in loco parentis and we take that responsibility very seriously indeed. We know that

parents recognise the pastoral care as a strength at Highfield and Brookham Schools, which is of

course incredibly pleasing.

From the moment children join us in nursery, the systems under pinning the pastoral care are

complex. First to note is that every staff meeting and INSET day starts by discussing safeguarding and

pastoral provision, or provides training in these areas. This ongoing investment in staff and central

focus ensures a collective understanding that this element of our role is at the forefront of

everything that we do. It sets the tone for our day to day efforts. Though there are a number of

colleagues specifically dedicated to the pastoral care of all our children, such as our Safe Guarding

Leads, School Councillor and the Emotional Literacy Support Assistants, all staff play a pivotal role in

ensuring outstanding support and care for the children.

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

To realise this whole-school aim, a significant amount of time and energy is allocated to the

communication of pastoral information. The daily conversations between staff are vital, but are only

the tip of the iceberg: weekly pastoral meetings take place at both schools, ensuring a constant flow

of information between teaching assistants, class teachers or form tutors, boarding staff, nurses,

Heads of Year and the Senior Leaders. Every conversation, every detail is recorded using our

safeguarding, pastoral and wellbeing tracking systems. Through this interconnection, everyone who

needs to know is kept constantly informed, with the aim that every child is support in a manner that

is appropriate to them.

Children are nothing if not just. They expected everyone to be treated fairly and as a result, a

consistent, coherent, whole-school approach is paramount; however, this must be put alongside

recognising each child as an individual. Children must be known and understood, with their multiple

influences recognised to ensure effective and supportive relationships. Every child has their own

special talents or interests, whether they are doing magic tricks, growing vegetables, playing sport or

a musical instrument, climbing trees, caring for pets or a passion for fashion, I could go on - a

community, day and boarding, ensures there is the time and space for these interests to be

expressed, recognised and celebrated.

It is so important that children recognise that they are surrounded by adults who are invested in

them, who will look after them, listen to them, commiserate with them, people who will laugh with

them and delight in their achievements, no matter how big or small.

When this is the case, respect is built and trust develops and children have the confidence to share

their thoughts and problems knowing that they will be heard and acted upon in a meaningful and

supportive manner. That does not mean that the children and adults will always agree- we don’t

have to, as long as the children understand that our response is predicated by the desire to care and

nurture them as an individual.

At Highfield and Brookham Schools we are blessed to work alongside colleagues who are extremely

dedicated and committed, who see building strong relationships with pupils through kindness, care

and patience as fundamental to unlocking every individual’s potential. The stringent systems must

be in place, but it all comes back to relationships, with children at the centre of everything we do.”

Highfield and Brookham Schools are a truly independent Nursery, Pre-prep and Prep school with day

and boarding options in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Set within 175 acres of

stunning grounds, they are located an hour from London, on the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and

West Sussex. Highfield and Brookham Schools achieve excellent academic results and feed the top

senior schools in the country. “

Find out more at Highfield & Brookham Schools | Nursery, Pre-prep & Prep (highfieldschool.org.uk)