The well-being of our pupils is at the heart of everything we do at Shoreham College. We firmly believe that a happy, well-cared for child who feels safe and secure will flourish academically and socially.
As a community, we work hard to enhance well-being; nurturing each individual child and developing meaningful relationships with them.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the most important thing we do at Shoreham College. It comes first, and it takes precedence. Nothing matters more. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead and two deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads work closely with staff to ensure that pupils are safe in school and safe as they go about their lives. We believe in early intervention, and we work carefully with families and the children themselves to provide help and support, and to keep our pupils safe.
We all have physical and mental health. We want you to know that there are very few things that your child is experiencing, or that you are experiencing as a family, that we have not seen before. We will work with you to help you. Every situation, every child, and every family is unique, and if we cannot help, please know that we will listen and support, and that we are experienced in signposting you to other sources of support and expertise. Prevention is better than cure and so we aim to identify and deal with any issues as they occur, and when they are still small.
Pastoral Care
Excellent pastoral care is at the centre of our education. All of our pupils have a form teacher, who is the first port of call for assistance with any concern, enquiry, or request. In the Senior School, tutors remain with their form group from Year 7 to Year 11. This continuity ensures that the relationship between the tutor and tutee is meaningful and supportive, and that each child, and their family, is known and valued. Our assistant heads support our caring pastoral teams.
We understand that it is sometimes important to talk to a professional about concerns and worries. A Dialogue YMCA counsellor is on hand to assist pupils with any issues they may face, and children can self-refer to this service. We work closely with Allsorts, our local LGBTQ+ advisors, and the Diana Award, a charity committed to developing anti-bullying strategies. At any time, we have a strong team ready to help. The team, which includes our Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, is always available.
Our caring matron assists pupils with minor ailments or illness, and we have a team of trained mental health first aiders for when children need emotional support or even some good ol’ TLC.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
As an inclusive school, which is broadly non-selective, Shoreham College has excellent SEND provision. Our qualified and experienced SENCO ensures that pupils with SEND needs receive all the appropriate support.
We are a mainstream school, and if we do not have the specialist facilities to cater for your child’s needs, we endeavour to support you in your search for a school better equipped to support your child.
We will work with parents to make adjustments where we can do so, but always with appropriate regard to the needs of other students and the resources available to the school.
Our Houses
All pupils belong to one of four houses: Grenville, Nelson, Rodney, and Raleigh, named in recognition of our local maritime heritage. Pupils remain with their house throughout their school career. Fostering a team spirit and a sense of belonging, our houses add fun, flavour, and healthy competition to our community, and each week pupils from Year 5 to Year 11 assemble with staff members to prepare for a forthcoming occasion or event. Our calendar of house events and competitions is a busy one. Members of each house join forces to compete in public speaking, the arts, poetry recitals, drama, and our spirited House Music competition. House competitions for sport include netball, football, rugby, and cricket as well as a popular swimming gala. There is fiercely friendly rivalry, but the focus of all events is always on enjoyment, teamwork, inclusion, and personal development. A varied house programme ensures that all children are enthused and involved.
Our house system offers plenty of opportunities for rewarding positive behaviour. Pupils win points for their houses through academic work or positive behaviour that benefits others. Our houses collaborate to raise money for local charities, and a favourite fundraiser is the Winter Fayre, a festive and lively occasion, where each house runs a stall.
The Head of House plays an important role in involving the pupils in a variety of house activities, and each year, every house elects two Year 11 pupils to the prestigious role of House Captain. Positive role models, House Captains help to run the weekly house meetings, promote the success of their house, and support their fellow members in effective collaboration and participation.
Peer Mentors
Our peer mentoring scheme makes a very positive contribution to pastoral care. Pupils in Year 10 and 11 can volunteer to be peer mentors for younger pupils, meeting their counterparts fortnightly in interactions supported by a member of staff. The peer mentor lends a listening ear, offers friendship and academic advice, and acts like an older sibling in school – looking out for their younger buddy in a way that enriches both their mentee’s experience and their own. These gentle connections are powerful for well-being.
SCHOOL COUNCIL AND PUPIL VOICE
Shoreham College children know their school. They understand what is working well, what they enjoy, and what they would like to improve. Pupils want their school to succeed. When the adults around them listen carefully, our children’s experiences have a profound impact on the success of the school. At Shoreham College, we prioritise open, effective communication between our children and our staff. Our School Council offers a formal forum for pupils to make their voices heard and to offer suggestions and comments. Whether we are discussing GCSE options, catering, co-curricular activities, or uniform, it is important that pupils have a formal route to communicate their ideas and become involved in the discussion. Most importantly, School Council is a forum where the staff listens to children’s views on school issues.
Pupil voice is rich in that it enables adults to understand children’s experience of school and to improve that experience to better suit their needs. When people feel heard, they know they are valued. Demonstrating to children that their voice is important and can advocate for positive change helps to improve their confidence, self-esteem, and well-being. Our children learn that we listen and that we consider and discuss a variety of factors with them before coming to a decision. In many instances, we are delighted to give a resounding yes to our children’s proposals, but not always. We prepare our young people well when we help them to fight for the yes and have the resilience to accept a well-considered no.
MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness can improve our physical and mental health, help our focus and engagement, and enhance our ability to live in the moment. Shoreham College is a beacon school for mindfulness. We recognise it plays a key role in well-being and have developed mindfulness programmes for pupils of all ages. Our programmes run as part of the PSHE curriculum and within our co-curricular provision.
SPORT AND THE OUTDOORS
At Shoreham College, we understand that sport is about more than competition. It develops our minds and bodies, boosting our immune systems and developing key skills. Our holistic programme encourages participation and healthy enjoyment. Teamwork and resilience in the face of tough opposition develop our young people’s ability to overcome obstacles and find strength in others. Learning how to win, and lose and bounce back, helps them to see themselves as part of a larger picture and to develop a growth mindset.
Fresh air is good for the mind, body, and soul, and our whole school has access to lots of it within our 11-acre site’s extensive playing fields and woodland. At Shoreham College, our appreciation of the great outdoors and nature starts young. Our Little Lions love their designated outdoor learning areas, outside spaces, and woodland experiences. Our junior and senior pupils also enjoy many opportunities to access the natural world and benefit from our thriving forest school. Working with the local South Downs National Park and the John Muir Award encourages junior pupils to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places whilst developing key skills. Our senior pupils range over the South Downs National Park as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and enjoy mountain adventure training in Snowdonia. Shoreham College prioritises time to engage the inner animal and remember what it is like to smell the wind, listen to the trees, and get your hands dirty!
FOOD AND NUTRITION
Freshly cooked food, with locally sourced ingredients, graces our Shoreham College tables daily, thanks to the dedication of the inventive chefs in our on-site kitchen.
Using only the best ingredients from local farmers and artisan suppliers, we strive to wow our pupils, whilst keeping the traditional touches. Excellent nutrition is imperative to children’s healthy growth and mindset, and our chefs prepare our food using methods that preserve its natural goodness and high nutritional value.
Each lunchtime, we offer a vast array of food choices to appeal to every child’s tastes. These include two hot main dishes (one of which is vegetarian), pasta, jacket potatoes, soup, wraps, cold meats, and an expansive salad bar. For dessert, our talented pastry chef always prepares something tempting, and there is a choice of fresh fruits and yoghurt.
