Preparing to be a Pastoral Leader - Tuesday 14 January 2025 (Merchant Taylors' School, London)

This course is for: Those who aspire to take up pastoral middle leadership roles in independent schools. Please note that the course content is designed primarily for aspiring leaders, and those who are in post may wish to consider the HMC Pastoral Leadership Qualification (see www.hmcpd.org.uk for details).

Description

Course objectives: by the end of the course delegates will:

  • Understand the characteristics of excellent pastoral leadership
  • Gain clarity on what is expected of a middle leader in a pastoral role
  • Understand how to make an effective transition to a pastoral middle leadership role
  • Develop insight into scenarios you are likely to face in a pastoral leadership role, and how to approach them in practice

 

Time

Session

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