Pastoral care
Parents know that girls’ progress at school is dependent on their wellbeing; however able and talented your daughter is, she won’t thrive if she isn’t happy. It’s not enough to provide her with the best teachers and outstanding facilities; her school must also have strong structures to check that she is developing well personally, as well as academically.
Girls’ schools understand the needs of girls better than anyone. They know how girls think and how they feel so they equip them well to face fast-changing challenges, where success comes as much from confidence as from learning.
It’s tough growing up in any age but arguably young people today have more to cope with than ever: the expectations placed on them, by society, their peers and themselves, make life very complex, while the threats they anticipate, rightly or wrongly, are also more acute.
Our daughters are passionately committed to sustaining their world as well as being concerned about whether they can make the grade, academically and socially, in an increasingly sophisticated communications environment.
Girls love to have fun with friends and the internet – MSN messaging and many internet chatroom sites – has vastly increased opportunities for them to network. But the ever-growing worldwide forum has also brought new dangers. The media reports girls assuming inappropriate identities and language; being vulnerable to sinister contacts and, of course, discovering new ways of bullying. Girls love to follow fashion but increasing emphases on appearance and the “size zero” culture can lead to low self-esteem, eating disorders and even self-harming.
Parents cannot be expected to cope with these issues alone; schools can and should actively support them and their daughters.
Girls’ schools give parents the assurances they need:
- Experienced, caring and vigilant tutors, who keep a close eye on every girl’s welfare; both teaching and medical staff, who are well trained in dealing with every kind of problem that girls encounter
- Good role models in the form of older girls, who know first-hand the trials of growing up today and provide wise advice to younger girls, through informal and formal counselling.
In the nurturing environment of girls’ schools, girls learn how to love being themselves and to celebrate their achievements in every field and at all levels. It’s not surprising that so many leading national figures – politicians, judges, doctors, businesswomen and many more – grew up happy and successful in girls’ schools.
If you’re interested in learning more about how girls develop and how girls’ schools support them JoAnn Deak’s groundbreaking book, “Girls will be Girls” may be of interest. To find out more about cyberbullying, visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/bullying.
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