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Pastoral

What do we mean by “pastoral care?”

Very often pastoral care in schools is associated with reactive safeguarding, dealing with behaviour and issuing sanctions, of course, this reactive approach is common in many schools and has its place at Ballard from time to time. However, in order for our pupils to achieve their best academically, to flourish into well-rounded young adults, and to have a sense of wellbeing and happiness in school, we can’t just rely on reactive pastoral care. At Ballard, we understand the importance of Proactive Pastoral Care (PPC) to achieve such outcomes for our pupils.

At Ballard, well-being is embedded within our culture. The Ballard Family is a welcoming community everyone is accepted and School is a positive place to be. This familial bond, a sense of belonging and culture of acceptance underpins everything we do.

Our pastoral team consists of all our Heads and Deputy Heads of Sections, SENCO, Pastoral Support Assistants, school nurses and PSHE lead, overseen by our Deputy Head Pastoral, are all DSL trained. We have a dedicated wellbeing room with three trained ELSA providers, ensuring that we offer excellent support to all who need it.

The school has two dedicated, part-time, registered nurses, who work from a well-equipped medical room.

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)
SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development)
Proactive Pastoral Care

We are delighted to have been recognised for our pastoral strength with a number of nominations for Well-being Awards. Watch our supporting video:

PUPIL VOICE & MENTORING
PUPIL WELLBEING
FUNDRAISING & CAMPAIGNING
CONNECTING WITH NATURE

A major cornerstone of our pastoral support is a very simple one, too often overlooked; listening. From the youngest age, our pupils are listened to. Our inclusive, holistic education allows all pupils to take part and give input.

Our School Council (with a representative for each class from Year 3 to Year 11) and regular pupil questionnaires allow pupils a more formal opportunity to impart their views on school life and impact our School Development. One idea, from our Lower Prep Eco committee, to introduce healthier snacks was debated by the School Council and voted on by sector, with senior school pupils retaining their biscuits and Prep School pupils preferring the healthier options.

Mentoring opportunities are also key with older pupils guiding and helping younger pupils from Pre-Prep to alumni. Whether it’s: helping pupils read; working with them on fundraising opportunities; passing on their sports and arts experiences whilst supporting them in matches and productions, there are many mentoring opportunities at Ballard. Not only does this reinforce our family values but also helps both mentor and mentee learn important life skills.

Putting the pupil at the centre of everything we do ensures that their wellbeing is fundamental to their time at Ballard. Our focus is on the individual at the very start of our admissions process right up to our GCSE celebration dinner and often beyond as many alumni come back to Ballard regularly.

Regular exercise is also crucial to wellbeing and our pupils have an array of opportunities with our “sports for all” philosophy; yoga, dance and expressive arts lessons as well as a large selection of co-curricular activities are available.

Form time is key and tutors are selected for their age group experience. We have specialist teams of form tutors who work with specific age groups throughout the School. Our Heads of Section are very visible and know each and every child well; as do our Headmaster and Deputies. We make sure that each transition between school sectors is managed smoothly and sympathetically.

Form times are also times for debate and reading (DEAR), which are important for wellbeing. At Ballard, both reading and music are an essential part of our holistic approach to education. With three tailored libraries and a number of music rooms, we encourage reading and music creation, as well as appreciation, throughout the school.

The Ballard Family is incredibly generous and we have many school, House and individual fundraising activities throughout the year. Annual events include Harvest collections for our local foodbank, supporting our local hospice, Oakhaven, with their Santa Dash; Red Nose Day; a community Christmas Concert for local care homes. We also select charities each year to come into school and talk to our pupils about what they do before we create a fundraising programme to raise funds for them.

We also recognise and support a number of campaigns including Odd Socks Day during our anti-bullying week, mental health awareness week, Black History Month, International Women’s Day… to name a few. Our Eco Committee also drive our green policies at school, helping to shape a better future.

All these things help create an ethos of upstanding and acceptance, but also help those who are involved feel more connected and positive.

At Ballard, we believe that connecting with nature is essential for wellbeing, learning, and personal growth. Our pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities to engage with the natural world every day – something that’s more important than ever in today’s fast-paced, digital world.

We make the most of our stunning 34-acre site through activities such as Forest School, Beach School, and regular nature walks, encouraging pupils to explore, play, and learn outdoors. Our commitment to outdoor learning means that subjects like Science, Maths, English, and Geography are often taught outside, helping pupils to feel more grounded, focused, and inspired.

Our grounds are home to a rich variety of ecosystems, including a Victorian Water Garden, bluebell woods, a woodland stream, grasslands, and wildflower meadows. These natural spaces provide immersive learning experiences and moments of calm and reflection.

We also care for our ‘Ballard bees’ and our younger pupils enjoy hands-on experiences such as hatching chicks and watching caterpillars transform into butterflies. These moments foster curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for the environment.

Our nature-connected approach to education has been recognised nationally – we were proud to be shortlisted for the inaugural Wilder Awards, celebrating schools that champion wildlife and sustainability.

At Ballard, connecting with nature isn’t just a theme – it’s a way of life that supports mental health, builds resilience, and nurtures a lifelong love of the outdoors.

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