Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
Supporting every pupil, every day
Pastoral Care at Foyle College
At Foyle College, we believe pastoral care is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to supporting every pupil as both a learner and an individual, helping them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Our pastoral system provides a strong network of support through Form Tutors, Heads of Year, Head of Key Stage, and our dedicated Safeguarding Team. Together, they ensure every pupil feels safe, secure and supported.
We focus on building confidence, resilience, and wellbeing through a range of initiatives, including counselling services, mentoring programmes, learning support, and partnerships with external agencies. Pupils are encouraged to play an active role in school life through leadership opportunities, extracurricular activities, and our Student Council.
By working closely with parents and families, we create a caring environment where young people are guided, inspired, and equipped with the skills they need to succeed both in school and in life.
Pastoral Structure
- Form Tutors meet with their form every morning for registration and daily check-ins.
- Heads of Year oversee pastoral matters for their year group, liaising closely with tutors and parents.
- Heads of Key Stage provide leadership, advice, and guidance to Heads of Year, supporting pupils' academic progress, wellbeing, and pastoral needs across their Key Stage.
Counselling & Mental Health
- A qualified counsellor is on-site one day per week.
- Self-referral system: pupils can request sessions by completing a confidential form.
- Targeted workshops on stress management, coping with exam pressure and building self-esteem.
Addressing Bullying
- Zero-tolerance policy for bullying; incidents are logged, investigated and addressed swiftly.
- Designated Teachers for Safeguarding are always available to manage concerns.
- Regular training for staff on safeguarding, child protection and online risks.
- Anti-Bullying Ambassadors help promote a culture of respect and empathy.
Wellbeing Initiatives
- Health Committee: workshops on nutrition, exercise and healthy relationships.
- Annual Wellbeing Week: guest speakers, assemblies and activities focused on mental health.
- Peer Mentoring / Foyle Guardians: older pupils trained to support younger peers through transition and challenges.
Parental Partnership
- Year 8 First Impressions Evening welcomes new pupils and their families.
- Parent Information Evenings (Year 9, 11 & 13) covering pupil wellbeing and digital safety.
Open-door policy: pastoral staff are available for meetings by appointment.