Giving Pastoral Leaders a Voice – Let’s Start Something Special…

Pastoral leaders can spend all day reacting to safeguarding incidents, fallouts and phone calls, while wellbeing work gets whatever time is left. If you've ever felt that academic catch-up always wins, or that nobody else in school understands your job, plenty of others feel the same.

You'll get activities you can use with pupils next week. A seesaw that weighs challenges against personal resources shows them wellbeing is something they can influence. A plate of cakes makes mixed emotions easier to talk about, and F-I-N-E (Feelings I'm Not Expressing) gives you a way back in when a pupil says they're fine. There are calming techniques too, like a safe place visualisation and putting the pain in a box.

You'll also have a clearer case for more support, status and training for pastoral staff, from a pastoral leader and researcher who has also been through it as a parent.