Pastoral Care

A friendly and caring community

Outstanding pastoral care is at the heart of the King’s School: we know that all our pupils have enormous potential and our staff are committed to providing an environment in which every single pupil will flourish.

The priority at King’s is that children should be happy at school.  Respect and good manners set the tone for good behaviour. We are unashamed about expecting the highest standards in academic work and behaviour, but our friendly approach and focus on each individual’s wellbeing mean that pupils learn in a calm and supportive atmosphere.

There is a strong sense of community, aided by our Prefect system, House system and peer support networks. These also help children to develop confidence and give them responsibility. Pupil voice is encouraged through our School Council and we also have the expertise of a team of school nurses.

an emotionally healthy school

We pride ourselves on being an emotionally healthy school: we are in tune with our pupil and parent body, endeavouring to build close relationships built upon trust. We strive for pastoral excellence and emotional wellbeing for all. We place positive relationships at the heart of our school. We aim to create a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and safe, where everyone feels they have a voice.

an INCLUSIVE school

King's is a place where everyone can feel welcome. Hear from some of our pupils talking about Inclusion:

INCLUSION2024

Small classes and strong relationships

We know that young people only have one chance at education. We are very proud of our bespoke tracking systems and good communication with parents that help children thrive. Our small classes and, importantly, small year groups sizes, allow strong relationships between pupils and staff - a real strength of the school. The size of year groups is such that no pupil can go unnoticed or ‘slip under the radar’.

Dedicated Pastoral TEam

Within each Division is a well-structured pastoral team. A pupil’s class or form tutor is central to her or his wellbeing and will take an overview of their school life and personal development.

Each year group has a Head of Year, who is an expert in pastoral care and takes an overview of pupils’ academic and pastoral welfare. The Vice-Principals and Principals head up the Pastoral Teams.

Alongside these teaching staff, we also have dedicated Pupils Managers, whose role is dedicated to pupil welfare. These Pupil Managers are highly trained and use the ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) Programme, which provides a series of practical resources designed to improve the wellbeing of young people, either individually or in groups. Other members of the Pastoral Team include our school nurses, our Learning Support team, our trained Mental Health First Aid staff and our School Counsellor. 

Thoughts from a current parent:

"I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding pastoral care provided at King's. The team’s dedication, compassion, and commitment to supporting every child’s wellbeing is truly exceptional.

One of the greatest strengths of the pastoral Team is the way they recognise and respond to the individual needs of each student. Their support is not only consistent but deeply thoughtful, ensuring that every child feels seen, understood, and valued. The workshops they organise for parents have been especially meaningful. They provide clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance that make a real difference to families.

I am one of the fortunate parents who has experienced this support firsthand. Over time, I have seen a remarkable transformation in my son. He has grown into a more confident, self-assured, and motivated young person. The pastoral team’s encouragement, patience, and belief in his abilities have played a significant role in this progress. They have helped him recognise his own strengths, and the wide range of activities they offer has allowed him to develop new skills and build his personality in a positive and empowering way.

Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to the entire pastoral team. Their work has a profound impact on students and families, and I am truly grateful for everything they do."

HOUSE SYSTEM

Our House System runs throughout the whole school, from Infants to the Sixth Form, and provides pupils with exciting leadership opportunities as well as a range of fun activities. 

On joining King’s, all pupils are allocated to one of four Houses: Adlington, Capesthorne, Tatton or Gawsworth, each with its own colour and with siblings always allocated to the same House. In both Juniors and Seniors school ties are used to denote affiliation with a House.

Our thriving and dynamic House System gives pupils opportunities to work with those in other year groups toward shared goals, helping to build our happy, caring and supportive atmosphere. An exciting range of events, from football or poetry competitions through to cake decorating, debating or Foreign Language competitions, are timetabled throughout the year, enabling our pupils to help plan, organise and lead events as well as show off their talents. 

Each House has two House Captains, adding to the wide range of positions of authority available. Additionally, each form has a House Rep to work at form level in event organisation.

Philanthropy is an integral part of the King’s way of life, and House events often support our charitable activities, raising funds for selected charities through various fundraising events.