Flourishing in Middle SchoolA culture of support, kindness & mutual respect

Every pupil at King Edward’s is valued and respected for who they are as an individual.

Middle School life  at King Edward’s provides a safe, nurturing environment in which we support our pupils to develop confidence in exploring and shaping his or her talents to the full, to feel excited and enthused about the opportunities ahead of them and where they can feel at ease with themselves and others. To be all that they are and not a curated version.

Years 9, 10 and 11 (our 3^rd 4^th and 5^th Form) are key formative years in pupils educational journeys -a time in each pupil’s life where a huge amount of change happens. They change physically, they change emotionally, and they change their outlook on life and the broader world and we are here to support them at every step.

Our approach to supporting our pupils is quite simple. Through our House system we develop a culture of empathy and kindness where relationships are strong enough to ensure that every child is noticed, not merely seen… is listened to, not just heard… is empowered, not simply enabled.

Our school succeeds in combining academic ambition with a wealth of socially and emotionally enriching opportunities, all underpinned by a deep commitment to the individual needs and enthusiasms of each child. Our House system is fundamental to personal growth, reliance and wellbeing. It puts your child at the centre of a network of care and support where every pupil feels cared for in both academic and personal matters. Every member of staff within this network is here to help each pupil to live life to the full – to be bold, questioning, empathetic and connected. To embrace a journey that is authentic, fulfilling, inclusive and ever expanding.

Healthcare

The Medical Centre is an important part of the comprehensive approach to pastoral care for all pupils and staff at King Edward’s.

The Medical Centre is located in a peaceful corner of the School grounds. It is staffed by qualified nurses twenty-four hours, seven days a week who are available around the clock for emergency call-outs. The staff work closely with Matrons and parents, ensuring pupils take any prescribed medicines, and are a first point of contact if a pupil is unwell. The Medical Centre staff provide for day to day medical needs, GP doctor appointments,  appointments for external specialists as needed,  all inoculations are kept up to date, specialised clinics for asthma, vaccinations, weight management, advice on routine and travel vaccinations,  and specialist counselling help.

Support & Counselling through our Pastoral House system

We take children’s mental health seriously and understand that pupils will face personal and academic challenges as they pass through their teenage years. Our Pastoral House team  is always on -hand to support and guide every pupil.

Every house team knows the children very well and so are able to move in to offer support quickly and effectively should the need arise. Sometimes more specialist support may be required to help a pupil through specific emotional challenges, and we are fortunate to have the expertise of our resident counsellor, Maria Raven-Rudd. Ms Maria is a trained counsellor, member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and works with pupils in collaboration with other members of the Pastoral Team. Counselling can help pupils to overcome barriers to learning, build self-confidence and help them resolve their own issues. At the heart of the School’s ethos is the idea that understanding and engaging with the full breadth of a child’s life is fundamental to pupils feeling valued and cared for. King Edward’s education nurtures and enables pupils to thrive.

A simple measure of success

Our measure of success here is quite simple too. If each child flourishes socially, emotionally and academically, feels nurtured, safe and happy while they are at King Edward’s and goes positively out into the world, confident, happy, open-minded and ready to contribute to society with IQ and EQ firmly in lockstep, then our community has achieved its pastoral aims.

We are here for our whole school community

We are here to support not only our pupils and staff, but our parents too. We are always on-hand to support and offer guidance, to share our thoughts on how your child can get the very best from his or her school life and how you can help them with the self-study, revision, relaxation and well-being to help their journey away from King Edward’s to be as rich and rewarding as it is when they are here.

Safeguarding at King Edward’s

The welfare of the pupil is paramount and this is meticulously interwoven into all areas of school life. Our approach to safeguarding and pastoral care is extensive and rigorous. All members of School staff undertake safeguarding training and recognise that we all have a responsibility to uphold and maintain a safe environment for each and every one of our pupils. We have established an atmosphere where pupils feel secure, know that there are adults to whom they can talk to at all times and not just in times of difficulty and where positive steps are taken to build self-esteem and confidence. Our ethos is based on open communication and rapport between all members of our school community.

Our Safeguarding Policy is available to view or download via the Inspections and Policies section of this website.