Sutton Grammar School

Pastoral Care

At Sutton Grammar School, we understand the importance of pastoral care in creating a happy and fulfilling school experience for every student. We believe every student should feel valued and an integral part of our school community.

Upon entering Year 7, students will be placed in one of five forms and assigned to a particular House. Similarly, new students to the school in Sixth Form will join one of six forms and be assigned to a House. Each form is led by a form tutor who takes the time to get to know each student individually.

Our school has a reputation for being a small and caring community where students treat each other with mutual respect and where discipline ensures the well-being and safety of all. Our experienced Heads of Year 7, Lower School, Upper School, and Sixth Form lead our tutors in looking after the welfare of all members of our community and providing additional help and support when required.

We are committed to catering for students with specific needs, working closely with parents and external agencies to ensure that each boy receives expert monitoring and effective strategies to enable him to thrive in his education.

At Sutton Grammar School, we prioritize pastoral care to ensure every student feels supported and happy, making our school a wonderful place to learn and grow.

 

Lower School

At Sutton Grammar School’s Lower School, we welcome Year 7 boys who will join one of the five forms associated with our school houses. Our house system fosters team spirit and offers competitions, providing an excellent opportunity for students to get involved and showcase their skills.

We pride ourselves on pastoral care, with dedicated form tutors and the Head of Year monitoring student welfare and progress. Specialised staff provide high-quality education, and homework consolidates learning.

Our House Points scheme rewards excellent work, improvement, and exceptional behaviour, encouraging healthy competition and promoting a sense of achievement. This creates a supportive environment that fosters academic excellence and personal growth.

We look forward to welcoming and working with students to achieve their full potential.

 

Upper School

Years 10 and 11 mark the period during which students prepare for their GCSE Level Examinations, taken at the end of Year 11. These years are essential for academic and social development, as they help students make more defined choices for Sixth-Form and Higher Education (HE).

At this stage, boys become more involved in the school’s functioning, participating in sports, drama, music and CCF. We encourage students to participate in these extra-curricular activities, as investing in all aspects of school life leads to better results.

In the Upper School, lessons are organized according to the options boys choose at the end of Year 9. However, Form Groups still exist and are crucial to a boy’s school life. Form Tutors are the first point of contact for students facing problems.

Besides English, Maths, and Sciences, Upper School students study other subjects such as Careers and Citizenship, which provide valuable life and social skills. Homework includes coursework, which contributes to the final GCSE Level Grades. Time Management becomes essential, and students are responsible for planning and managing their home time accordingly.

 

Year 12 Mentorship Programme

The Year 12 Mentor program allows sixth form students to give back to the school by offering support to a pupil, most likely in lower school, who could benefit from guidance.

Some students will need help academically. Helping a pupil cement their understanding of a challenging subject might be required for a situation. Other pupils will have general organisational issues, and mentors can help by showing them how to create good work habits, such as writing in a planner or completing assignments when they are given rather than waiting until the last minute.

Still, other pupils will have social difficulties where they need help to make friends or to know what to do with themselves during the unstructured parts of the school day. It is not the job of a mentor to make these pupils popular but rather to help them find where they might fit best in the school community.

Being a mentor requires a weekly commitment to a pupil, but no other special skills are needed.

If you are in year 12 and would like to give something back, please contact Ms S Corkery via email at sharoncorkery@suttongrammar.school. Mentors are assigned all year, so there is no deadline for applying to become a mentor. However, most assignments are made around October, so applying by then will offer students a better chance of being selected for the first round. Students who cannot make the weekly time commitment should not apply.

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Pastoral Care

Personal Development

Find out more about the Personal Development curriculum offered at Sutton Grammar School.

Signposting

Our Signposting website has links to external services and resources for advice and support for a range of issues.

Student Wellbeing

Discover how we achieve our commitment to safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of all our students here.