Parents' Handbook 2018-19

10 People have different emotional levels. Especially when they're young. PASTORAL Houses and Tutor Groups Lower School : Dayboys entering the Lower School (first and second years) are allocated to a tutor group, looked after by a Tutor who is responsible for their general well- being, and who deals in the first instance with problems connected with work, attendance or discipline. The Lower School comes under the general supervision of the Lower School Housemaster. Middle School: On entering the Middle School (third, fourth and fifth years), whether as a new boy or from the Lower School, each boy is allotted to a House; allocations to the nine Houses are made by the Middle Master, Lower School Housemaster and Director of Admissions & Marketing. Brothers usually join the same House. Academic scholars are integrated into the House system, although subject also to some special arrangements. Boys transferring to another House, for example in order to board will, in normal circumstances, transfer to the new House tutor group . Upper School: New boys entering the Upper School will be allotted to a House; the Director of Admissions & Marketing in consultation with the Upper Master, boarding Housemasters and other staff concerned makes allocations to the Houses, taking account of preferences expressed by parents and boys. Allocations : Allocations to Houses must be at the School’s discretion. It may be necessary from time to time to rearrange House allocations in the interests of administrative convenience or for social reasons. + The House A boy usually remains a member of his House throughout his time in the Middle and Upper School, and during that period the Housemaster exercises a general responsibility for his well-being and development. In particular, the Housemaster and Tutor will want to get to know the parents of the boys in his House, and to ensure that there is a harmonious relationship between them and the School. The Tutor is in a position to deal with the majority of parental enquiries and worries, at least in the first instance, and it is hoped that parents will quickly come to regard their son’s Tutor as someone with whom they have a close and confidential relationship. Housemasters and Tutors comment on boys’ reports during the term, write general reports from time to time, and write references for boys leaving at the end of their GCSE year. Pastoral Co-ordination Pastoral co-ordination across House lines is provided by the Middle Master for the Middle School, and the Upper Master for the Upper School. Personal and social education is co-ordinated by a number of staff with departmental responsibility for this area; university applications are the particular responsibility of an individual member of staff; the Head of Career Guidance also provides advice on non-UK university applications.