Wellbeing and Pastoral Care
Wellbeing, Pastoral and Community Care is a priority at King Alfred’s Academy as we believe that a successful education starts with a strong partnership between the school, students and parents.
To support our students, we have an Inclusion Hub on both Centre and West Sites, which house a comprehensive pastoral team who ensure that pastoral support is at the forefront of everything we do. Key to this work are our Student Managers and Heads of Year, who are the key points of contact for parents and carers and who typically stay with their year groups as they progress from Year 7 to 11.
The Pastoral Team
|
Head of Pastoral Support |
Mrs Martin |
|
Head of Year 7 |
Ms Cole |
|
Student Manager of Year 7 |
Mrs Hall |
|
Head of Year 8 |
Mr Alman |
|
Student Manager of Year 8 |
Miss Clare |
|
Head of Year 9 |
Mr Shaw |
|
Student Manager of Year 9 |
Mrs Underwood |
|
Head of Year 10 |
Mr Jones |
|
Student Manager of Year 10 |
Mrs Buckingham |
|
Head of Year 11 |
Mr Sheppard |
|
Student Manager of Year 11 |
Mrs Cross |
|
Head of Sixth Form |
Mr Hogan |
|
Deputy Head of Sixth Form |
Mr Johnson |
|
Student Manager of Year 12/13 |
Ms Smith |
It is important that students know we are there for them when support and advice is needed and the core values of Respect, Responsibility and Tolerance are driven through everything we do. Ultimately, this means that our students feel safe and happy at school.
Education and support are also afforded to students via weekly assemblies, tutorial sessions and Personal Development (PSHCE) sessions which address issues relevant to health and wellbeing.
We have also created a useful booklet entitled “Promoting Positive Mental Health” which has been compiled with the help of parents; The Educational Psychology Service; Public Health Oxford; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Oxford); The King Alfred’s Academy Counselling Services and academy staff – download it from the bottom of this page.
Anti Bullying
Our Anti-Bullying Policy is available to view on our Policies page.
Reporting concerns: Our Heads of Year oversee our anti-bullying policy. If you have any concerns surrounding bullying, please pass this information to your child's Head or Year via the Enquiries contact form or, in writing, to any of the Site Offices marked ‘Confidential – Student Wellbeing Concern’.
Community Events
To support our parents, we deliver successful Community Wellbeing Events throughout the year, covering topics such as ‘how to have difficult conversations with teenagers’ and ‘dealing with anxiety in children’. We work collaboratively with outside agencies and professionals to ensure our parents are both supported and empowered to support their child/ren.
We also provide guidance on how to support positive mental health and offer a ‘signposting service’ which enables parents to feel confident in supporting their children.
Young Carers
Supporting Young Carers at King Alfred's Academy
What is a Young Carer? A young carer is someone under 18 years of age who helps care for a family member either mentally or physically. It can include, but is not exclusive to:
- A physical disability
- A mental disability
- A problem with alcohol or drugs
A young carer may help with general day-to-day tasks such as cooking, shopping, looking after siblings and/or offering emotional support
How can being a Young Carer affect you? A young carer holds a lot of responsibility and therefore can find themselves tired and stressed. They can also find it difficult to focus at school, complete homework and make time for their friends
How can we support Young Carers at King Alfred’s? At King Alfred’s Academy we want to make sure every young carer feels listened to and understood. If you are a young carer, there is lots of help and support available via:
- Your Student Manager, who can help with any worries you may have about friendships, family etc.
- Your Tutor, who can help with any generic concerns around lessons/learning
- Your Head of Year, who can help with any concerns around homework, attendance, uniform etc.
What should I do if I am a Young Carer? If you think you might be a young carer or know someone who might be a young carer, it is important you talk to an adult at school.
Your designated Young Carers Leads are:
Mrs Hall – Year 7
Miss Clare – Year 8
Mrs Underwood – Year 9
Mrs Buckingham – Year 10
Mrs Cross – Year 11
Miss Smith – Year 12/13
Useful support: · Be Free Young Carers · Young Minds – https://www.youngminds.org.uk · Childline – [0800 1111] or https://www.childline.org.uk
· The Children’s Society – Young Carers – https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/young-people/young-carers