Wellbeing and belonging are at the core of the student experience

Churchie strives to be a respectful community that values, courage, integrity and faithfulness. These are the core values which are evident across the tenets of the School.

Pastoral care is fundamental to fostering a supportive and nurturing environment for students. The Senior School’s holistic approach to student wellbeing is embodied through the vertical house system, dedicated transition year and wellbeing curriculum.

House system

In the Senior School, there are nine day houses and two boarding houses, each with their own colours, crest, history and precinct. A housemaster serves as a mentor and role model, providing consistent care for each student in the house from Year 7 to Year 12. The housemaster is supported by tutor teachers who encourage and advise students daily, supporting the needs of each boy in their care and ensuring that every individual is known for who he is and the value he brings to the community.

Year 7 transition year

When students enter Year 7, Churchie offers a dedicated transition year overseen by the Head of Year 7 and nine Year 7 form teachers. We are conscious that beginning Senior School is a significant transition and have developed a programme that supports our students’ sense of belonging and equips them with the tools they will need to progress into Year 8 and beyond.

The transition from primary to secondary school is an exciting and significant one. As such, at Churchie, we specifically support boys on this journey through dedicated programmes, spaces, teachers and support staff.

Before their first year in the Senior School begins, Year 7 boys participate in a range of orientation and transition events designed to help them understand the School’s values and connect with peers and staff who will be part of their cohort. These events are established to help boys and their families feel comfortable and more confident prior to the school year beginning.

Once the school year begins, Year 7 students become part of a dedicated Year 7 Pastoral Care class, where they work with a form teacher who directly supports them throughout Year 7. We are aware that the needs of our Year 7 students differ from those of our older boys and have a dedicated session each week to focus on relevant issues for Year 7 students. Within academic classes, Year 7 teachers and additional staff support learning opportunities to challenge boys, while also allowing them to experience success.

Additionally, Year 7 takes part in a bespoke, developmentally appropriate wellbeing curriculum and Outdoor Education programme that explores the issues Year 7 students are likely to encounter in their first year of Senior School. Topics explored centre around relevant issues including emotional intelligence, managing friendships and conflict, and developing resilience to equip boys with skills they can use throughout their entire schooling journey. Student wellbeing in Year 7 is also supported by our Year 11 student mentors, who work with a small group of Year 7 students to offer advice and guidance as they move through the year. Mentoring also ensures that our Year 7 students foster positive relationships with older students, which will remain in place as they move into Year 8.

Wellbeing curriculum

The Churchie wellbeing curriculum is a tailored programme designed to suit the needs of our students from Years 7 to 12. At Churchie, everyone should feel like they belong, are safe and able to thrive. This programme delivers age-appropriate units that are adapted to meet the specific needs of the students.

The programme is centred around the four pillars of:

• wellbeing and personal growth
• character and identity
• personal development
• health and relationships.

Student wellbeing is the focus, and together, in partnership with the parent community we strive to develop authentic, genuine and respectful young men.

Supporting our wellbeing curriculum is a Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series. This involves a series of guest speakers with a focus on appropriate topics that vary from year to year. Additionally, Churchie uses SchoolTV, a wellbeing resource at your fingertips that supports parents with the challenges of modern-day parenting.

Outdoor Education

Each boy in Years 3 to 10 also takes part in a bespoke Outdoor Education programme. These programmes focus on pushing boys beyond their comfort zones and provide a holistic learning experience outside the classroom. These experiences are carefully crafted to be integrated back into the classroom and their lives outside of school.

Support services

Pastoral care in the Senior School is proactive, adaptive and responsive.  As the landscape for adolescents continues to change at an increasingly rapid pace, it is important that we as a school community ensure we provide the best possible care for all our students. As such, we regularly update our programme to incorporate societal issues and concerns as they arise. Similarly, it is also important that persistent aspects of wellbeing continue to be addressed with each cohort as they progress through their stages. Hence, we engage a range of speakers each year who speak on the same topic but always present the latest research.

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