Preparing to be a Pastoral Leader - Tuesday 13 January 2026 (Merchant Taylor's School, Northwood)
This course is for: Those who aspire to take up pastoral middle leadership roles in independent schools. Please note, the course content is designed primarily for aspiring leaders. Those who are in post may wish to consider the HMC Pastoral Leadership Qualification.
Description
What will you gain by attending?:
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Understand the characteristics of excellent pastoral leadership
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Gain clarity on what is expected of a middle leader in a pastoral role
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Understand how to make an effective transition to a pastoral middle leadership role
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Develop insight into scenarios you are likely to face in a pastoral leadership role, and how to approach them in practice
Course Programme
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Time |
Session |
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09:30 |
Arrival, registration, and coffee |
|
10.00 |
Welcome and introduction
Speaker: Michael Husbands, Second Master, Merchant Taylors’ School
|
|
10.05 – 10.35
|
Session 1: “What a Deputy Head has to think about” – understanding the opportunities and challenges of running a school’s pastoral system
Speaker: Michael Husbands, Second Master, Merchant Taylors’ School
|
|
10.40 – 11.40 |
Session 2: “Coaching and Pastoral Care”
Speaker: Laura Smith, Deputy Head (Staff Development), Merchant Taylors’ School |
|
11.40 – 12.00 |
Refreshment break
|
|
12.00 – 13.00 |
Session 3: “As many settings, as many approaches” – varied approaches to whole-school and individual Pastoral Care
Speakers: Pete Thackrey, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Bedales School Clare Harrison, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Merchant Taylors’ School Iain Regan-Smith, Assistant Head, Head of Sixth Form, Burgess Hill Girls School |
|
13.00 – 14.00 |
Lunch
|
|
14.00 – 15.00 |
Session 4a: “What would you do?” Scenarios and questions to consider
Facilitators: Pete Thackrey, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Bedales School Clare Harrison, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Merchant Taylors’ School Iain Regan-Smith, Assistant Head, Head of Sixth Form, Burgess Hill Girls School |
|
15.00 – 15.20 |
Refreshment break
|
|
15.20 – 15.50 |
Session 4b: “What would you do?” Plenary
Facilitators: Pete Thackrey, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Bedales School Clare Harrison, Deputy Head (Pastoral), Merchant Taylors’ School Iain Regan-Smith, Assistant Head, Head of Sixth Form, Burgess Hill Girls School |
|
15.50 – 16.00 |
Closing remarks and depart
Speaker: Michael Husbands, Second Master, Merchant Taylors’ School |