Pastoral life at the school
Our Pastoral Curriculum: A Seven-Year Journey
At The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School, outstanding pastoral care is about much more than responding when a student needs help. It is about forming young people.
Our pastoral curriculum is deliberately planned alongside our academic curriculum because we believe that education should develop the whole person. Through strong relationships, high expectations, personal development, spiritual growth and opportunities to serve and lead others, we seek to enable every student to flourish.
Our pastoral purpose is to create a culture in which students can flourish: anticipating and teaching what they need, noticing concerns early, maintaining consistent expectations, intervening when patterns emerge and working in partnership with students and families to secure lasting change.
From Year 7 to Year 13, every student follows a carefully designed seven-year pastoral journey. Each stage reflects the developmental needs of young people at that point in their lives and has its own vision, scripture, personal development opportunities and experiences.
The journey moves deliberately from belonging, through understanding oneself, maturity, ownership and vision, towards empowerment. Ultimately, we want our young people to leave JHN ready to use their gifts and talents to make a positive difference in their families, communities and the wider world.
The Seven-Year JHN Journey
WE: Building a Community
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." - Psalm 133:1
The journey begins with belonging. Students arrive from many different primary schools and our priority is to help them put down roots, form positive relationships and understand what it means to be part of the JHN community.
The Year 7 vision is built around the 'WE' - responsible, respectful and aspirational. Through experiences including the Enrolment Service, Year 7/12 mentoring, the Year 7/12 Fun Run, a spiritual retreat, charitable activities, Newman Habits, enrichment and the many opportunities available through individual subjects, students begin to discover that belonging to JHN means participating in and contributing to something bigger than themselves.
I: Developing the Individual and Their Impact
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14
Having established a sense of belonging, Year 8 turns towards the individual. Students are encouraged to identify their strengths, recognise areas for development and begin to understand the impact that their choices and actions can have on other people.
Leadership opportunities, volunteering, careers encounters, enrichment, study skills and activities celebrating difference help students develop greater self-awareness and recognise that every individual has the capacity to make a positive contribution to their community.
MATURITY: My Impact on My School Community
"When I was a child, I spoke like a child... when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways." - 1 Corinthians 13:11
In Year 9, the themes of WE and I come together. Students are challenged to grow in maturity, responsibility and resilience: considering both what they contribute to their community and how they can draw upon that community to develop their own talents.
The opportunities become increasingly outward-looking. Duke of Edinburgh is available across the whole year group, alongside chaplaincy and EDI leadership, debating, careers experiences, charitable work, a year-group pilgrimage and subject-based opportunities to develop independence and leadership.
OWNERSHIP
"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone." - Galatians 6:4
As students move further into their GCSE journey, the emphasis shifts towards ownership.
Students are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their relationships, behaviour, learning, study habits and the choices that will shape their future.
Personal development opportunities reinforce this growing independence through work experience, study-skills programmes, careers and university exploration, the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, charitable activity, leadership and the many opportunities offered through curriculum subjects.
VISION: Looking to the Future
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
In Year 11, we encourage students to lift their eyes beyond their examinations and begin to create a vision for the person they want to become.
Alongside supporting students through the demands of GCSE study, our pastoral curriculum provides opportunities to explore careers, apprenticeships and Sixth Form, develop leadership, mentor younger students, engage in charitable activity and prepare confidently for the transition into post-16 education, training or employment.
Our ambition is that students leave Year 11 not simply with qualifications, but with purpose, aspiration and a clear sense of their next step.
EMPOWERMENT: Changing the World for the Better
"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12
The final stage of the JHN pastoral journey is empowerment.
Our Sixth Form students are increasingly expected to become leaders and role models within our community and to recognise their capacity to influence the world beyond JHN.
Opportunities including student leadership, mentoring younger students, EDI Ambassadors, assemblies and awareness days, work experience, careers and apprenticeship events, the Super curriculum, university preparation, charitable work and extensive subject enrichment enable students to put into practice the qualities developed throughout their time at JHN.
By the time students leave us at the end of Year 13, our hope is that they are not simply ready for university, an apprenticeship or employment. We want them to leave empowered to use their gifts, talents and values to change the world for the better.
Personal Development: Bringing the Journey to Life
Our pastoral vision is not simply a set of words. It is lived through the experiences we deliberately provide.
Personal development happens across the whole school: through the pastoral curriculum, PSHCE and RSHE, Catholic Social Teaching, prayer and liturgy, careers education, curriculum subjects, enrichment, trips and visits, sport, creativity, charity, leadership, student voice, mentoring and service to others.
The opportunities grow with our students. A Year 7 student may first experience leadership through their form or a club; by Year 9 they may lead younger students; by Sixth Form they may lead assemblies, mentor younger students or represent the student body. This progression enables students gradually to develop confidence, independence, responsibility and a strong understanding of their place within their community.
Our curriculum is deliberately proactive. We seek to anticipate what students need, rather than simply react when difficulties arise: teaching the knowledge, values and behaviours appropriate to each developmental stage and revisiting important messages through assemblies, pastoral periods and shared experiences.
Explore Our Personal Development Opportunities
Year 7 • Year 8 • Year 9 • Year 10 • Year 11 • Year 12 and 13
How We Care for Students
Strong relationships are at the heart of pastoral care at JHN. The Form Tutor provides an important daily point of contact and plays a central role in knowing and supporting each student. Learning Coordinators and Directors of School provide further leadership and support for each year group, working closely with tutors, families and colleagues across the school.
Where a student requires additional help, our pastoral structure enables us to draw upon expertise across Safeguarding, SEND, Attendance, Wellbeing and Student Services, together with appropriate external agencies. Our aim is to notice concerns early, understand the wider picture and coordinate support that helps students make sustained progress.
PSHCE and RSHE
Our PSHCE and Relationships, Sex and Health Education curricula form an important part of the pastoral journey. Learning is age appropriate and revisited through a spiral curriculum so that students build their knowledge, confidence and judgement over time.
Through these programmes, students develop the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health, relationships and future, to recognise and manage risk, to build resilience and to know how and when to seek help. Our Catholic understanding of the person is woven through this work: created and loved by God, created to love others and created to live in community - locally, nationally and globally.
Belonging, Wellbeing and Support
A strong sense of belonging is central to our pastoral approach. We want every student to know that they are seen, valued and known. Alongside the universal pastoral curriculum, students can access additional wellbeing and pastoral support when needed.
Students are encouraged to speak to their Form Tutor, Learning Coordinator or another trusted adult if they are worried about themselves or someone else. The school can then coordinate the most appropriate support with the student and their family.
JHN recognises that some students have caring responsibilities at home. We are committed to identifying and supporting young carers so that they are able to participate fully in school life, access appropriate support and continue to flourish academically and personally.
Where to Go for Help
Students and families can find further information and support through the relevant areas of our website:
PSHCE
Today's children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives by seamlessly switching between on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.
The core purpose of the PSHCE programme of education is to 'equip students with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions', not only during their time at the St John Henry Newman School but into higher education and adult life.
PSHCE is a vitally important component of a student's education. From KS3 - 5 we teach specific weekly timetabled lessons as part of our pastoral curriculum. Each year group has a 35 minute weekly lesson. Our model of delivery is a sequenced, spiral programme that builds on prior learning as students progress through school.
For all year groups, these lessons are supplemented by ‘drop down’ days. Weekly lessons are taught by form tutors, who undergo the necessary training to ensure they are familiar and comfortable with delivering the sometimes challenging and delicate topics.
We regularly invite in external speakers to supplement and complement the knowledge and expertise of our teachers. This is always very well received by the students.
Whilst there is no statutory guidance from the DfE for the content of PSHCE programmes, please be assured that our dedicated PSHCE team ensure that the content is age appropriate, relevant and informative. Please also be aware that the statutory RSHE curriculum is a large part of our PSHCE programme as well as being taught through the subject areas of Science and RE.
RSHE
Any teaching about love and sexual relationships in a Catholic school must be rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching about what it is to be truly human in Christ, what it means to live well in relationship with others and be presented within a positive framework of Christian virtue.
RSE at The Saint John Henry Newman School is:
- Progressive and Developmental
The learning reflects each stage of the development of the person. It is appropriate to the age and stage of development of the student during each stage of their development. It is continuous and developmental and is a planned process from beginning to end with one phase of education informing the work of the next, so that the students can be led to a deeper and fuller understanding at a rate which corresponds to their maturing.
- Differentiated
RSE is sensitive to the different needs of individual students and is taught in a way that allows access to those pupils at different stages of cognitive and emotional development. Learning and teaching methods are adapted and specialist resources and training is provided for those with particular needs.
- Cross-curricular
As a Catholic school we are committed to the education of the whole person, therefore teaching on relationships and sexuality is reflected in each relevant part of the curriculum. RSE in different parts of the curriculum talk to each other and the programme is planned and audited to develop a consistent message about the meaning of human love and the virtues that are enshrined in the Church’s teaching on human love.
- Integrated
Parents have been fully informed about the importance and delivery of RSE and are fully aware of the teaching of relationships and sexuality. This is with the intention that students will hear a consistent message from home as well as school.
- Coordinated
RSE is given the time and importance it deserves by Governors, SLT, Middle Leaders and classroom teachers and all those who plan and implement its delivery in school. RSE is led by someone who has the time and expertise to co-ordinate the subject with dedication and commitment at a senior level; taught by those committed to doing it well; taught as part of a whole-school approach by those who are able to celebrate – not merely tolerate – the teaching of the Church on love and human sexuality.
- Balanced
Whilst promoting Catholic virtues, we ensure that children and young people are offered a broad and balanced RSE programme which provides them with clear factual, scientific information when relevant and meets the statutory requirements placed on schools.
RSE at The Saint John Henry Newman School is structured to reflect that human beings are:
- Created and loved by God (this explores the individual)
The Christian imperative to love self, made in the image and likeness of God, shows an understanding of the importance of valuing and understanding oneself as the basis for personal relationships.
- Created to love others (this explores an individual’s relationships with others)
God is love. We are created out of love and for love. The command to love is the basis of all Christian morality.
- Created to live in community – local, national & global (this explores the individual’s relationships with the wider world)
Human beings are relational by nature and live in the wider community. Through our exchange with others, our mutual service and through dialogue, we attempt to proclaim and extend the Kingdom of God for the good of individuals and the good of society.
These virtues should underpin all teaching but should also should emerge as an outcome of it. Virtues are habits which are learned from experience and are gained through imitation, the same virtues being modelled by those who teach. They express the qualities of character that we seek to develop in our pupils, through the exemplification by the whole SJHN community. These virtues reflect our Christian tradition but they are also, of course, fundamental human virtues which are universally shared.
Young Carers
The Saint John Henry Newman School Silver Certificate
The Saint John Henry Newman School is committed to develop provisions for young carers and their families.
We are aware of the impact that being a young carer can have on our pupils/students and as such, the whole school is committed to meeting their needs, so that they can enjoy school and achieve their potential.
Students have direct access to support from our designated Young Carers’ School lead, Mrs Grant, who is responsible for identifying and supporting our young carers and their families. Students and families will be made aware of this support via newsletters, assemblies, PSHCE and year group communications. We actively seek feedback and ideas from young carers and their families to shape and improve support.
As a school, we strive to offer fun activities throughout the year for our Young Carers whereby they can feel supported by staff members and each other, culminating in the annual end of year rounder’s match against the Student Leadership team and staff.
The Saint John Henry Newman School has an effective referral system in place both in school and with relevant external agencies. The school will only share information with professionals and agencies on a need to know basis, in order to support students and their families.
OUR SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT IS TO BE A LIVING, CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
To continue with this theme our young carers have adopted St. Veronica as their patron.
Saint Veronica is not mentioned in the Bible, but is known to us by Catholic tradition and in the Sixth Station of the Cross-, "Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus."
Legend states that as Christ was walking to Calvary, his face dripping with sweat and blood, Saint Veronica, a bystander, was so moved with compassion. She approached Jesus and offered Him a cloth, likely her veil, which He accepted and used to wipe His face.
The image of his face was subsequently, imprinted on the cloth. The cloth is believed to exist today in the Vatican and is considered one of the most treasured relics of the Church.
As for Saint Veronica, she is honoured with a feast on July 12.
Leadership of Young Carers at the Saint John Henry Newman School
Mrs W Howard
Deputy Head pastoral and life skills
howardw@jhn.herts.sch.uk
Mrs C Grant
Young Carers Coordinator
grantc@jhn.herts.sch.uk
