Prep School pastoral care

A multi-faceted approach
to pastoral care

Each Prep School student is a member of a class whose teacher is the chief pastoral carer for that class.

Pastoral care teaching is both programmed and taught in response to evolving contexts within the class group. Class teachers are supported in their pastoral role by a Housemaster and by the Head and Deputy Heads of Preparatory School, the Prep School Dean of Academics, an Educational Psychologist, a Prep School Guidance Counsellor and the Prep School Lay Chaplain, all of whom work with teachers, students, parents and, at times, other agencies to provide pastoral care for the students. Support in the Prep School usually includes personal, spiritual and emotional support.

Prep School Houses

Upon joining Churchie, all boys in Reception to Year 6 are assigned to one of four Prep School houses, each named after bands of Norsemen associated with the ‘Viking’ invaders of the British Isles: Angles (blue), Danes (green), Jutes (yellow) and Saxons (red). Each house develops its own community and culture, with boys taking pride in the achievements of their house.

Under a vertical house system, boys in Years 3 to 6 gather regularly for house meetings, led by four dedicated Prep School Housemasters. These housemasters are jointly responsible for the personal, spiritual and service development of each boy, along with his core teacher. They act as an additional point of contact for boys in their journey through the Prep School.

House meetings provide a forum for pastoral care programmes to be implemented, equipping boys with the necessary skills needed to confidently navigate their time through their school years and beyond. The house meetings allow boys to get to know their peers in other year levels as they participate in a range of structured activities. They also provide an opportunity for older boys to act as mentors and role models for younger students. Boys have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, engage in service learning and be supported with their spiritual development.

In addition to supporting the social and emotional development of students, houses play a pivotal role in fostering school spirit. Boys continue to participate in a range of interhouse activities and competitions, where they learn, grow and compete alongside one another. By participating in these activities, boys improve their self-confidence, teamwork and social skills. They also develop good character and respect for friendly and healthy competition.

Outdoor Education

An outdoor education programme for boys in Years 3 to 6 helps the students develop independence, responsibility, collaboration, relationships and resilience.

The outdoor education camps provide students with an opportunity to participate physically in activities they may not have encountered before, such as high ropes courses, bushwalking and canoeing. Building self-confidence is an important facet of the programme, with each activity providing a new challenge and opportunity to face their fears, learn from setbacks and ultimately achieve success.

Boys also develop a sense of independence as they learn to manage themselves and complete tasks they may not do at home while on camp.

IB Primary Years Programme

As an IB World School delivering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), each year level studies a unit of inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme of ‘Who we are’. This transdisciplinary theme is an investigation into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; and what it means to be human. This focus is integral to our pastoral care approach in the Prep School, which also incorporates the IB learner profile and PYP attitudes.