Pastoral

We have a very strong pastoral system at Barton Court. The 900 or so students are split up into seven horizontal years - Years 7 through 13 - each having a member of the teaching staff as 'Pastoral Manager' or Head of Year. (Year 12 and 13 are banded together). Full time teaching staff will also normally be a tutor to around 22 students each and our tutor groups are 'vertical'. This means that when a tutor group meets it will consist of students from every year in the School. The tutor is normally the first port-of-call for parents when contacting the School.

Our tutorial system allows students to have quality and individual one-to-one meetings with their tutor at least five or six times a year for about 15 minutes. This enables the tutor to discuss all of the relevant issues pertaining to the student and set targets and support them effectively. It is similar to the university tutor system and the student will normally have the same tutor for all of the time they are at Barton Court enabling the tutor and the student to get to know each other very well.

Parents will receive three reports per year, two Progress Indicators (short reports) and one Full Report. A Consultation Day is organised for students and their parents in Years 7 to 10 when one appointment will be made with the tutor to discuss progress. Students and their parents in Years 11, 12 and 13 will be able to make appointments to see individual subject staff on the two parents meeting evenings.

An Open Evening for Year 6 students prior to them opting to join the School is arranged in November and a similar evening for entry into the Sixth Form (Year 12) in October.

Barton Court has a Student Voice system that allows students to become involved in decision making in the School. Committees are arranged as whole school, year groups or specialist (e.g. to advise on Language College).

Good work is rewarded via merits (KS3) and PEPs (Personal Effort Points, KS4 and 5) and WHSmith vouchers. Further celebration of success takes place at the annual Certificate Evening where students are given GCSE or IB Certificates and awarded prizes. A range of booster classes are normally available both during and at the end of each key stage in most subject areas.

Click here to see info on our Charity Events