Life at Wellingborough
Pastoral Care is central to our philosophy; at each level pupils have a safety net. The personal welfare of pupils revolves around our House system. This arrangement is unique in that almost no other co-educational Day School in the UK has a single-sex pastoral structure. Pupils testify to its success and the pride in one’s House is palpable.
Every House has its own character, colour and charity, and is led by a Housemaster or Housemistress; there are 4 boys’ Houses and 3 girls’ Houses in the Senior School. Pupils are allocated a House when they enter the School. Year 9’s upwards are based entirely in their House, whilst the Year 7 & 8 pupils are initially based in separate Year Group areas, under Heads of Year.
Each House and Year Group area has its own dedicated building with locker, meeting and social facilities and these have been upgraded in the last three years as part of a deliberate on-going process. Tutor groups have on average around 12 pupils in them from Year 9 onwards. New pupils are helped to integrate through support from the School Prefect Pupil Leads and the House Prefects. Tutors meet their tutees daily and there are weekly Tutor sessions and 1-to-1 meetings to discuss topical issues and pupil’s progress. A weekly House assembly is held where the whole House comes together.
The House system provides close pastoral support, but also give a sense of identity to each of the pupils who generally strive hard to earn their House colours; earning academic commendations and competing in events which range from sports to quizzes, dodgeball, charity shows, debating, drama and music. Though pupils compete in House teams and meet within their House group, they also develop life-long friendships throughout the Senior School; good friends can be fierce rivals when they meet in key House finals.
Wellbeing
The School has a Wellbeing Team and counselling service, which are designed to complement the strengths of the pastoral system, provide an opportunity for pupils to address their concerns in a calm and neutral environment. We place wellbeing at the heart of our school, providing excellent mental health support, understanding and intervention. The award-winning Wellbeing Team offers guidance and support to pupils and their families. They recognise that change is difficult and work with the wider pastoral team to gain an in-depth understanding, to ensure every pupil feels supported as they integrate and transition into or up through the School.
Transitioning into year 7
Meet Kerry Varney, our Year 7 Housemistress, dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition to Senior School whether joining from our Prep School or another primary school. Mrs Varney is here to help all pupils to have a successful and happy year!
“It is a real privilege to be part of the Pastoral Team here at Wellingborough School. I am fortunate to be a part of our student’s lives, supporting them, facilitating their ideas, and hopefully, playing a part in their growth and development. Our young people face a rapidly changing world, and I am passionate about helping them navigate through to success. I believe kindness is key and this underpins everything we do.”
“The school promotes pupils’ self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. Pupils are supported by pastoral staff in year groups and in the single-sex houses, which ensures that they are able to name a variety of adults to support them. Positive relationships are developed across the school through focused encouragement and praise provided by teachers. Pupils are happy to speak to their tutors about concerns and understand that further support is available at the wellbeing centre if required. Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education lessons help pupils of all ages to understand how to safeguard their own physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing, as well as that of others.”
ISI Inspection, January 2025