Staff In Action- (2) Pastoral Training

During the INSET time allocated to staff before the start of this term, we were very pleased to welcome former Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) President and Headteacher Mrs Jill Berry, now a leading national commentator on education, to Bablake.

Mrs Berry, who led excellent sessions for staff- from the Pre Prep, Junior School and the Senior School- on dynamic tutoring, said: 'I was delighted to work with the Bablake staff on the role of the form tutor or class teacher and how to be as effective as possible in this role.

We had energising and productive discussions throughout the three sessions; a range of carefully considered ideas and practical suggestions about the importance and the power of the best pastoral care soon emerged from these sessions.

The staff I worked with were positive, receptive and responsive, showing clear commitment to building the most supportive relationships with individual students, acting as their advocate when required and offering the right balance of guidance and challenge.

Bablake is clearly committed to establishing a strong pastoral structure in order to enable each pupil to be the best he/she can be and I wish the school and its pupils every success in this in the coming year.'

Mr Mark Woodward (Head of Careers), speaking on behalf of the staff, commented: 'The reaction from staff attending these training sessions was overwhelmingly positive and we all enjoyed Mrs Berry's presentation.

It was very refreshing to hear the views of a leading professional, who was able to draw on vast experience as a classroom teacher, form tutor, year group leader, Head of Department and Senior Leader in both the state and independent sectors.

Being a form tutor or classroom teacher is one of the most rewarding aspects of our role at Bablake, as the HMI Inspectorate recognised earlier this year, so discussion was very positive throughout the training session.'

Photograph by John Berry.