This Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we’re looking at why pastoral care should be at the heart of any great school, and why our pupils need to be happy, cared for and feel supported and nurtured. We spoke to Sophie Baber, Headteacher at Brookham School in Hampshire to understand how mental health underpins everything they do at Highfield and Brookham Schools.

“Mental Health Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to reiterate important messages about how we can take care of our mental health, but it should not be used as a tick box activity for teachers. Instead outstanding pastoral care, with a focus on mental health should be constantly at the heart of any great school. It may be stating the obvious to say that a child cannot learn to the best of their ability if they are not happy, cared for and nurtured. ?Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the top three considerations when choosing a school, as identified by our 2020 parent, is well-being and pastoral care. Outstanding pastoral care often appears relatively effortless. With a relaxed yet respectful air surrounding the relationships between staff and children, everything looks easy and natural; however, rather like speaking a language fluently or driving a car, one should not be lulled into thinking that it all just happens and is somehow innate. Quality pastoral provision is far from simplistic, nor can it rely on or rest with one or two individual members of staff.

In this respect, all the children at ...