Pastoral Care

At Palmers Green High School we care for the physical and emotional well-being of every girl. We aim to provide a supportive environment where each pupil can develop as a unique person and adopt a positive attitude to health, fitness and self-image. It is essential for every pupil to feel that they are an important part of the community able to contribute to the life of the school. Each pupil’s happiness is important to members of staff and to other pupils.
Being part of the Palmers Green High School community involves learning to respect others and to live alongside people holding different opinions.

Class Teachers in the Lower School and Form Tutors in the Senior School, who work closely with the Deputy Head, are the first point of pastoral contact and are readily available to talk to both pupils and parents. Alongside a supportive PSHEE programme of study, Form Time across the whole School provides excellent opportunities for group discussion, where pupils can talk about a wide range of topics and current affairs not connected to academic work. There are also plenty of opportunities during the school day when pupils can arrange to have a private word with a member of staff of their choice.

A robust pastoral programme, overseen by the Head and Deputy Head, ensures that every pupil is known as an individual and given every opportunity to thrive. Important elements of this include:

• Weekly pastoral meetings, which are held for each year group, where every pupil is discussed.
• A PSHEE curriculum from Year 1 – Year 11, which has been designed to promote positive relationships and to develop kindness, tolerance and respect for others.
• Special sessions and workshops, which take place with pupils before key transitions, such as from Nursery to Reception, Preps to Juniors and towards the end of Year 6 to address any concerns that pupils may have.
• In Year 7, a thinking skills programme helps to develop communication skills, critical evaluation and improve self-expression. Our excellent Mentor Scheme pairs a Year 7 pupil with one from Year 10, helping the transition to secondary school and providing peer support and advice.
• A Mental Toughness programme in Year 8, which builds resilience and coping strategies and develops pupils’ target setting skills.
• Regular pupil progress meetings.