At Pilgrims’ Pastoral Care is everyone’s responsibility  

Your son’s tutor will check in with him every morning before lessons, offering a chance for boys to talk about anything that might be worrying them.  

We are a STEER Champion School for Wellbeing and recognised as ‘Great for Pastoral Care’ in The Week’s Independent Schools Guide.  

Tutors take great care to make sure boys have a healthy balance of study and additional activities.  While tracking academic progress is a given, we keep a close eye on all boys and will also get in touch if we have any concerns. 

Lower and Middle Prep Tutors 

Lower Prep boys’ tutors meet regularly with the pastoral and academic coordinators to share information about the boys. This holistic approach makes sure that the whole picture is seen, and shared.  Lower Prep boys also have time set aside each week for a pastoral focus with their tutor. 

Upper Prep Tutor Groups 

From Year 6, your son will join a tutor group which typically consists of ten to twelve boys from Years 6, 7 and 8, under the guidance of a tutor. He stays in this group, with the same tutor, until it is time to move to senior school.  It means your son establishes a strong rapport with a trusted adult over the three years, and the tutor really gets to know your child.  

Boys thrive with this continuity of care as well as benefit from the daily interaction with boys from different year groups.   It means we can give you an invaluable insight into your son when discussing his progress and when it comes to choosing a senior school. 

Tutor Group Football

Boys are very loyal to their tutors and fellow tutees. The annual tutor group football competition, held in the last week of the academic year, demonstrates the bonds formed; with a smattering of friendly rivalry between groups, of course.  

 

WELLBEING 

Resilience’ and ‘mindfulness’ might sound like buzz words, but at Pilgrims’ they have real meaning. By teaching our boys how to look after their physical and mental health, and how to communicate thoughts and feelings, we help them to become more confident and at ease with their place in the world. 

Every staff member at Pilgrims’ has an important role in the well-being of each boy. Boys each have a tutor, whom they see every day and who forms a strong link with their tutee and his parents. In the ‘Hub’, there is a team of nurses with oversight of the boys’ mental and physical health. We have specialist staff, such as the Director of Wellbeing, to help individuals when needed and to develop a programme of health-related activities. Importantly, Pilgrims’ boys are taught to be supportive of one another, thoughtful and kind. 

Parents feel that all staff really know their children. They recognise that pastoral care is very strong. Parents feel that the school is especially nurturing.

Lessons in PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) give boys time to learn about resilience, physical and mental health, and being part of a community.  

We also have the very popular ‘Group’ run by our specially trained nurse, Nikki. It’s an informal weekly gathering for boys in Year 7, to chat, share thoughts, feelings, and any worries. It is highly valued and respected by our boys.   

Once a week the school day ends with ‘Reflection’, a form of mindfulness and meditation, when the class and teacher are silent for ten minutes. The boys are guided to think of ways in which they might use these moments to be still and to reflect.  

Parents are often invited to discussion groups arranged by the Director of Wellbeing, many of which include helpful insights from an external speaker. 

Wellbeing Matters 

Read our weekly Wellbeing Matters articles from our Director of Wellbeing, Craig Cuyler.