Pastoral Care

Pastoral care at Ashlyns is excellent and at the heart of all we do. 

Our staff  are highly qualified and all share the same commitment:  to provide the highest standards of education, care and guidance, ensuring all students are happy, safe, successful and valued. Our well-established pastoral system is designed to nurture the skills, resilience and character that young people need to thrive in the modern world.   Irrespective of a child’s level of ability, they will receive the correct support to help maximise their potential.

Home School Partnership

We place high importance on the three-way partnership between school, student and home which includes regular parent information evenings, parent-teacher consultation evenings and formal reports (in addition to informal contact from teachers where required).  We encourage parents to contact the school as soon as a problem arises. In most instances initial contact should be made via a student’s Form Tutor – please see our Communications Guidance here for further information.

Our students’ wellbeing is safeguarded and nurtured through:

  • the excellent transition process from primary school
  • the Form Tutor – the first point of contact for students and parents
  • the dedicated Head of Year
  • the Learning Mentor for the year group
  • the School Matron, who is on hand every day for advice and concerns
  • the PSHE curriculum
  • the Safeguarding Team
  • the Inclusion Team
  • Assemblies
  • Tutor Time provision
  • the strong partnership with parents and carers

Transition Process

Pastoral transition starts from the moment a student is awarded a place at Ashlyns, and our carefully planned transition process ensures parents and students are involved and supported in the process.

Our dedicated ‘Year 6 into 7’ team works closely with students’ current primary schools to enable us to gain a good understanding of their individual needs. This helps us place students in the right groups and enables us to prepare any additional support they may need. Transition visits also give the chance for students to ask questions whilst in their primary school setting.

In July, an Induction Day is organised to help familiarise students with their new secondary school, form groups and key teachers. We also hold an Induction Evening, where parents/carers and students are able to meet form tutors and fellow students. This evening event offers parents/carers a chance to familiarise themselves with our expectations and protocols; there is ample time to ask questions so everyone feels confident for the start of term. We follow this up with a Parent Information Evening shortly after the start of the new school year.

Year 7 students also have a dedicated induction day at the start of the Autumn term. This gives the newest members of our community time to orientate themselves prior to the arrival of students from other year groups.

The Form Tutor and Year Teams

Students become part of a Form Group in Year 7 and will remain with this Form through to Year 11. It is usual for the Form Tutor to remain with their Form Group up to this point.  The Head of Year 7 is a static position ensuring consistent and seamless transition, and strong links with our local primary schools. From Year 8, the Head of Year will remain with the Year Group throughout their school career until they reach the Sixth Form. The Form Tutor and Head of Year will get to know their students as individuals and will offer support and guidance during their time with us.

Students meet with their Form Tutor every morning for registration and Year Assembly or Tutor Time.  The Tutor Time programme is designed to support students’ wellbeing and sense of belonging and often is linked to Assembly and PSHE themes. 

Our team of dedicated Learning Mentors provide first class support and are always on hand during the school day if students have any concerns or problems.

Deputy Headteacher and the Designated Safeguarding Lead with responsibility for Child Protection and Safeguarding Children: Mr Beattie
Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral): Mr Khalil

Miss Hannan, Head of Year 7  (maternity leave)

Miss Gould, Head of Year 8

Miss Shilliday, Head of Year 9

Mrs Gee, Head of Year 10

Mr McDonald,
Head of Year 11

Ms Gaches,
DDSL and Head of Sixth Form

Mr Church, Head of Year 13


Mr Bull, Head of Year 12

Mrs Shaw, Learning Mentor (Year 7)

Mrs Miles - Ashlyns School staff
Mrs Miles,
DDSL  and Learning Mentor (Years 8, 9 and CLA)

Mrs Bennett
DDSL and Learning Mentor
(Years 9 and 10)

Mrs Burt
DDSL and Learning Mentor
(Years 9 and 11)

Ms Collings, DDSL and Learning Mentor
(Sixth Form)

Heidi Bjornsgaard, Acting Head of Year 7


PSHE and Wellbeing Resources

Our curriculum is designed to enable students to make informed choices and decisions about their futures. The curriculum is supplemented by a comprehensive and wide range of exciting and expert talks along with dedicated, timetabled sessions covering discussions such as healthy living, safe and healthy relationships, the online community, protecting your digital footprint, growth mindset, careers advice, addiction and crime. Regular guidance and advice is also provided to parents.

To this end Ashlyns School is currently working in partnership with speaker, author and researcher Dr Kathy Weston, the founder of Tooled-Up Education. All Ashlyns parents are given free access to Tooled-Up, where they can access evidence-based resources that enable parents to help their children to thrive. There is a focus on the 6 key areas: Aspiration, Learning, Digital life, Well-being & mental health, Behaviour and Family life & relationships. They are derived from the highest quality research that are easy to implement and likely to be impactful.  Please visit our Parenting Support page.