Student Welfare
Pastoral support at Birchwood High School aims to provide students with a sense of community, inclusion and responsibility. We have designed this page to introduce you to our Pastoral Team and give an overview of how we support students who are experiencing difficulties.
Pastoral Team
Our most valuable resource in addressing the pastoral needs of students is our staff. The role of the Form Tutor is essential in providing that day-to-day contact with a member of staff who knows the student best.
Parents, carers and students can contact their child's Form Tutor in the first instance to raise any concerns. Any issues that cannot be managed by the Form Tutor will then be escalated to the student’s Head of Year.
Year 7 – Mr R Edwards
Year 8 – Mr R Noblett
Year 9 – Miss C Munro
Year 10 - Mr M Loney
Year 11 – Mr J Clift
Sixth Form – Mr I Torrance & Mrs C Hassani
Debbie Le Gallienne (Attendance Officer), Joe Harlow (School Counsellor), Georgia Willsmore (Safeguarding & Student Welfare Lead)
Fusion: A support group for LGBTQ+ students
Fusion is Birchwood’s equality group, celebrating difference and diversity in our learning community. We meet weekly on a Tuesday lunchtime in D4. By coming to Fusion, students have the opportunity to go on relevant trips and attend speaker events (recently hearing Peter Tatchell and Olympic gold medallist, Kate Richardson Walsh speak about their experience of being LGBT+), whilst also providing a regular space for students to meet their peers and create a supportive network within school. Being part of Fusion enables students to play an active role in school community through engaging in fundraising activities and ensuring that an attitude of acceptance and respect for all remains a central part of life at Birchwood.
Young Carers: A support group for students who are caring for family members
A young carer is someone who helps care for a relative with a disability, illness, mental health issue, or a drug or alcohol problem. Birchwood Young Carers meet once a week on a Wednesday lunchtime in A3. This is an opportunity for students to chat with a member of staff about any issues they might be having, as well as having some time with peers who have similar caring responsibilities, playing games and chilling out. Any student is welcome to come along and be part of the group – whether they are a young carer or whether they would like to be a Birchwood Young Carer Ambassador and help raise the profile of young carers within school.
Resources
Many parents and carers feel out of their depth when faced with their child’s distress, particularly if this has started to affect their day to day functioning. For example, expressing their distress through self-harm or avoidant behaviour. Being well-informed about the nature of their difficulties and having strategies for helping your child manage them more effectively can significantly impact the outcomes for both yourself and your child.
Below are a number of useful links to access this information and advice.