Newstead Wood prides itself on the quality and strength of its Pastoral care. All heads of school and their tutor teams are dedicated to supporting the pastoral and academic welfare of the students in their charge. Five houses exist within the school: Nightingale, Wren, Swift, Falcon, Griffin. The members of the same house in each year are grouped together into forms with sixth formers working alongside tutors as mentors and friends, supporting girls in the school activities such as drama, music and sport. Thus, each student has personal encouragement as well as continuity of care throughout her school life. House activities generate a strong sense of fun and of belonging.
Our pastoral curriculum incorporates social, moral, health and sex education as well as offering comprehensive careers guidance. The emphasis is upon the personal development of the individual within the framework of her rights and responsibilities as a citizen of a democracy. The sex education offered at Newstead Wood is complementary and supportive to the role of parents. It is part of a coherent and co-ordinated programme within the curriculum, delivered in conjunction with the individual departments in the school and in an objective and impartial manner. It aims to help students to cope with their passage from puberty to adulthood and includes relationships, marriage, contraception and abortion.
We aim to promote self-motivation and self-discipline so that our students develop the confidence to deal with complex choices and issues, balancing their own needs as individuals with their responsibilities to others. Therefore, rules are kept to the minimum and are seen by everyone to be necessary for communal living. It is rarely necessary to resort to punishments such as detention. When problems do emerge, parents are informed and perhaps invited to the school to discuss how we may best work towards a solution together.
Parental involvement and concern are highly valued. Clear and regular communication is maintained by student planners, signed weekly by both parents and tutors, and by regular parents evenings. In addition, the head teacher and heads of school maintained an open door policy. The parents wine and cheese evening actively involves parents early in year 7 and our Parents Association forms an enthusiastic and supportive part of school life.
Over the years, the school has maintained strong links with its community, working for Local, National and International charities. Students also give regular time to working with local primary schools and residents of a local retirement home. All houses raise impressive sums by holding charity weeks for their chosen causes.
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