Pastoral care at Ipswich School is immensely important and the welfare of each boy and girl matters greatly to us. Academic success has to be underpinned by attention to the ‘whole person’ and we are strongly committed to this approach. Until they are 13, pupils are looked after by their Form Tutors and the Head of Lower School, working closely with the Heads of Year 7 and 8. Considerable emphasis is placed on helping newcomers to settle in; they visit the school for two sessions before their first term and the PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) programme helps them to grow in confidence and develop important social and study skills.
Pupils in the Middle School and Sixth Form are placed in Houses and in year-based tutor groups within their House. Tutors, Housemasters and Housemistresses are responsible for their general welfare, for encouraging their personal development and for monitoring their academic progress. The move from Year 8 to Year 9 marks an important stage of ‘growing up’ and the different pastoral and academic groups in the Middle School help pupils who join us in Year 9 to integrate quickly, both socially and in the classroom.
Senior members of the teaching staff have important pastoral roles, particularly the Deputy Head (Audrey Cura) the Head of Sixth Form (Louis D'Arcy) and his deputy (Zos Austin), the Head of Middle School (Andrew Bradshaw) and the Head of Lower School (Ben Cliff).
Confidential help is available from Matron, from the School Counsellor and from the Chaplain, who has an important role in pastoral care; pupils of any faith or none may turn to him for advice and counselling. Many parents and pupils will testify to the help they have received from these and other members of staff during difficult or challenging times.