Pastoral Programme

At Risedale, we believe that for all pupils to reach their full potential, a comprehensive and balanced pastoral programme is at the heart of their personal development entitlement. In creating this for pupils, we aim for all pupils to feel that they belong, ensuring that they are ‘World Ready’ as they become the BEST versions of themselves for life beyond Risedale.

‘World Ready’ Weekly Programme

Each week, pupils across Years 7-11 take part in a routine suite of fully resourced sessions, mapped to ensure maximum synthesis at the appropriate year group or key stage. Maximising pupil experience and grounded in a ‘real world’, oracy- and discussion-rich curriculum, the pastoral programme ensures that all key bases and statutory guidelines are delivered to pupils.

All key fundamentals of the pastoral programme are spiralled, ensuring that all pupils can access the materials regardless of starting point, prior knowledge, attendance at school or key stage/year group, with knowledge increasing in complexity as pupils progress throughout the school. Our aim is to ensure that pupils feel equipped when leaving Risedale with the knowledge to develop themselves and succeed alongside their peers, positively demonstrating the BEST values.

Assembly Programme

A fully planned assembly programme ensures that real-world events, celebrations and themes are covered in line with the school’s vision and BEST values. Presenters are often from the Senior Leadership Team and/or subject specialists in their own field(s). Where possible, pupils will also benefit from external speakers at a variety of events, namely those from external education providers (Post 16).

Character, Values & Behaviour Curriculum

A spiralling curriculum across five years, pupils benefit from a weekly slot in which communal tutor discussion forms the foundations of the session. We place our BEST values at the heart of each lesson, with further aspects of SMSC and the Fundamental British Values being explored as/when necessary.

These sessions are responsive to data and informed by pupil experience(s) within the school; delivered through situational examples in which pupils are actively encouraged to share, debate and defend their thoughts and ideas through oracy.

CEIAG

Informed through Unifrog resources and tailored to each pupil's specific year group and key stage, each child at Risedale will participate in a Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) lesson. Planned by our on-site Careers Coordinator, the session allows pupils to develop knowledge of themselves: their hobbies, likes and interests, and how this ultimately could contribute to a successful career in a number of fields.

Risedale Roundup

Placing emphasis on a relational approach between pupil and form tutor, one session is devoted wholly to the pastoral administration and weekly reflection on positives and areas for improvement.

During this session, tutors will distribute attendance, behaviour and achievement data whilst articulating to pupils the year group target for the subsequent week at school. Pupils will make note of this data within their planners, ensuring that they are fully aware and up to date of key personal information (attendance figure) as well as what they plan on improving next week and how.

Risedale Reports

One session each week is focused on a key thematic or contemporary issue as discussed in the wider, local or national news. Tutor-led in the first instance; the session educates pupils on the spotlighted theme, asking them to consider their view(s) and opinion(s) before voting on a yes or no question.

Data collected is analysed and used to inform further pastoral interventions, bridging any gaps in pupil understanding and supporting several of the ‘Fundamental British Values’, as pupil voice is heard and at the heart of the development process.

Quality Assurance & Pupil Voice

The pastoral programme is continually quality assured by the Senior Leadership Team, with specific training being offered to staff who fulfil the role of a form tutor, when and where required.

Weekly form tutor briefings take place with staff to ensure that all are aware of best practice in their development of pupil experience. Pupil voice also feeds into this, with key stakeholder opinion being sought as/when required, periodically, to ensure that the programme provides pupils with the correct knowledge in a timely fashion, allowing them to be ‘World Ready’ for life beyond Risedale.

Rewards & Celebrating Success

Through our college-style pastoral programme, each House brings together pupils from Years 7–11, creating a strong sense of community. This structure powers our rewards and standards initiatives, with winning year teams earning valuable points towards the annual House championship.

By collaborating across key stages, pupils work together as a ‘Family of Learners’. Their collective effort is recognised through tiered reward experiences tailored to the scale of each drive completed throughout the academic year.

We also regularly celebrate achievement through our assembly programme. At the end of each term, SLT House Links and Pastoral Support Managers come together to celebrate the individual and collective successes of pupils across every year group.

Contact Details

For further information on the rationale or development of the ‘World Ready’ Pastoral Programme, please contact our Assistant Headteacher for Personal Development, Mr Yale:

Email: yale.l@risedale.org.uk