Parents' Handbook 2018-19

11 People have different emotional levels. Especially when they're young. PASTORAL Housemasters and Tutors The Housemaster stands “in loco parentis” to the boys in his House, while they are on school premises – and he will try to help them outside the School as well, with the co- operation of parents. Housemasters play a major part in the disciplinary structure of the School, and may be expected to deal directly with parents in matters concerning their son’s good behaviour and appearance. The Housemasters are assisted by teams of tutors, who look after tutor groups within the houses. Your son will have a Tutor for the duration of his Third Year. This group will include all Third Years in his house. When moving into the Fourth and Fifth Year each house group will be split in two, and these new tutor groups will stay together until the Sixth Form. Sixth Form tutor groups are also based around the house, but are vertical, so that there are both Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth students in every group. The tutor is primarily responsible for getting to know your son as a personality and looking after his academic development. At the beginning of the year, the tutor will check that timetables are in order, and, where necessary, will advise on courses and options. The tutor will monitor your son’s academic progress, and will write a general academic summary when school reports are issued. All tutors see their tutees for a brief period every day. Tutor time for each boy amounts to at least one hour a week, in which tutor groups discuss topics such as choices, progress and current affairs. We regard this time as a crucial part of a boy’s educational experience at the School. Other Pastoral Support Boys may make arrangements to see either the School Chaplain, the Senior Nurse or School Counsellors if they + wish. Contact details are on the website and posted around school. Personal, Social and Health Education The School recognises that education in the fullest sense means that it has a responsibility to convey information and provoke discussion on important ethical issues and matters of personal morality and public duty. All through school, boys are made aware, in both a structured and an incidental way, of these and related matters through the contributions of tutors and Housemasters. The Head of Well-Being and team of specialist teachers have developed a full programme of education details of which are available to you if you write to the Head requesting them. However, the School does not, and cannot, pretend to offer to boys all the good advice and information that they require. The efforts of parents are at least as important as those of teachers in this field, and the School wishes to see its function as that of supporting the parental lead in fostering sound values and behaviour, rather than the other way round . Chapel Each year group attends one service a week. Details of chapel services for boarders are published in the calendar. Parents of boarders are warmly encouraged to join their sons at chapel services when they come to visit them. Boys may be prepared at school for confirmation. If parents have conscientious objections, they may obtain leave of absence from chapel or religious studies lessons for their sons by informing the Headmaster in writing before their boys join the School. Such leave will not be granted during a boy’s membership of the School.