Pastoral Care & Guidance
Our Pastoral Care Approach
We know that pupils achieve their best when they are well supported both at home and at school. Our pastoral team works closely with pupils, families and staff to provide guidance, encouragement and support throughout a pupil’s time at Holy Trinity.
Our pastoral care helps pupils to:
- Develop confidence, resilience and independence
- Build positive relationships with others
- Feel safe, valued and included
- Manage challenges and seek help when needed
- Make informed choices about their education and future
- Flourish both academically and personally
We take the time to get to know our pupils well, so that support can be responsive to their individual needs.
Our Pastoral Structure
Our pastoral care system is organised around a year-based structure, under the leadership of the Deputy Headteacher. Each year group has a dedicated Year Leader who oversees pupil progress, supports appropriate learning pathways and promotes wellbeing.
Year Leaders work closely with their Assistant Headteacher (AHT), providing clear leadership and consistent pastoral support throughout each stage of a pupil’s education.
Pastoral Leadership Team
| Area | Member of Staff |
|---|---|
| Deputy Headteacher | Mr A Cook |
| KS3 AHT Lead – Years 7–9 | Mrs Stylianou |
| Year 7 Leader | Mr C Simpson-Smith |
| Year 8 Leader | Mrs S Eves-Dann |
| Year 9 Leader | Miss S Benhamed |
| Year 10 Leader | Mr J Reeve |
| KS4 AHT Lead – Year 11 | Mr A Sheppard |
| Year 11 Leader | Mr P Hunt |
| Assistant Headteacher KS5 – Years 12/13 | Mr K Berry |
| Deputy KS5 Lead | Mrs K Jordan |
A Pastoral & Behaviour Support Manager (PBSM) is allocated to each year group to support the Year Leader and provide additional guidance to pupils.
| PBSM | Member of Staff |
|---|---|
| Y7 | TBA (Currently Mr L Watson) |
| Y8 | Miss N Nichols |
| Y9 | Mrs R Rhodes |
| Y10 | Miss A Lockton |
| Y11 | Miss J Camara |
The Sixth Form pastoral leadership structure follows a different model, reflecting the needs and increasing independence of students in Years 12 and 13.
Additional Pastoral Support
Sometimes a pupil may benefit from more intensive or specialist support. Where appropriate, this may include support from other members of our pastoral team, such as our Safeguarding Managers, Welfare Manager and School Chaplain.
Where appropriate, we may also work with external professionals and agencies to ensure that pupils and families receive the right support.
Our approach is centred on the individual pupil and on helping them feel supported, secure and able to flourish.
Who Should I Contact About My Child?
We want parents and carers to feel confident about who to contact if they have a concern about their child.
First point of contact
| Concern | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Wellbeing or general progress | Tutor |
| Progress in a specific subject | Subject Teacher |
If you have a further concern
| Concern | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Wellbeing or general progress | Pastoral & Behaviour Support Manager or Year Leader |
| Persistent concern in one subject | Leader of Learning |
If you are unsure who the most appropriate person is, our Reception team will be happy to advise you.
Houses and Our School Community
Every pupil belongs to their year group and one of our four Cathedral City Houses. Our Houses are an important part of school life and help strengthen our sense of community and belonging.
The 4 Houses are:
Canterbury
Durham
Winchester
York
Houses feature in many aspects of school life, including competitions, rewards, charity activities and community events. Each House has its own colour, represented by the stripes on students’ school ties.
Behaviour at Holy Trinity School
We have high expectations of behaviour because a positive, respectful and safe environment helps everyone to learn and flourish.
Our expectations are built around three simple principles:
Be READY
- We arrive on time.
- We are positive about learning.
- We uphold our four underpinning elements: Dignity, Community, Wisdom and Hope.
Be RESPECTFUL
- We listen.
- We are kind.
- We respect the school environment.
Keep SAFE
- We think before we act.
- We follow instructions.
- We ask for help.
These expectations help us create a school community where everyone can learn, develop positive relationships and feel a sense of belonging.
School Uniform
We ask parents and carers to support us in maintaining high standards in all matters relating to school uniform.
If you experience financial or other difficulties in obtaining school uniform, please contact your child’s Year Leader in confidence. We will always seek to support families wherever possible.
Attendance
Regular attendance is an important part of helping pupils succeed and flourish at school. If your child is absent from school, parents and carers should report the absence using the Studybugs app.
Registration is free and the app can be downloaded through the Studybugs website.
Find out more about Reporting Absence and Attendance
Please note that the school does not currently authorise holidays during term time.
Safeguarding
The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is a fundamental priority at Holy Trinity School.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and work with other agencies and initiatives at local and national level to help keep our pupils safe.
Visitors to the school are required to sign in at Reception and may be asked to provide photographic identification.