‘The importance of belonging at school’ from Pastoral Head, Mr Marshall

Pastoral Matters – Andrew Marshall, Deputy Head Pastoral 

Our Amazing Bus Drivers   

June 2024

I recently spoke with the parents of a relatively new pupil to Ballard. The first thing they commented on was the amazing work of the bus driver who transported their son to and from school and made them feel settled and part of the school community.   

The relationships we cultivate with pupils are the most powerful tool we have to create a sense of belonging… our bus drivers do a fabulous job at developing these relationships. We can’t underestimate the important role of our bus drivers as they see our pupils at the bookends of the day. Dr Bruce Perry, in his book ‘The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook’ says, “Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love. People, not programmes, change people.”   

Belonging is a fundamental human need. We are all searching for a sense of connection with the people and places in our lives. Our pupils are no different, so it’s crucial to ensure all aspects of our school day foster a sense of belonging.   

When pupils have a strong sense of belonging, they are more likely to be engaged in school and to perform well academically. Recent research shows nationally that only 62% of 11–16-year-olds feel connected to others at school.   

On a national scale, there’s simply no time to waste; we must make our schools welcoming, safe spaces for young people. If not, the impact will be very damaging to our young generation’s mental health.   

I know our bus drivers work hard to build trusting relationships with pupils to create a culture of belonging. Trust is the cornerstone of belonging. Our pupils need us to be accessible, dependable, and trustworthy. When pupils trust us, they’ll be more willing to be honest about their struggles and help us stay in tune with what’s happening in their lives.   

A Ballard shout out to our Bus Driver Team…you make a difference.