Pastoral Care

Wakefield Independent School is a small school and we feel strongly that our students benefit considerably from working with a staff who know each student as an individual. This ensures that they feel secure and confident in their ability to develop both socially and academically.

Ofsted described the arrangement for the welfare, health and safety of pupils as "OUTSTANDING" in April 2019.

Our pastoral care system is very strong and commences with very experienced Form Teachers in the Primary School. Great significance is therefore placed upon their role and they are the first point of contact for students and parents. Form Tutors are responsible for the welfare and discipline of their Form Group. The Deputy Head responsible for Pastoral Care issues leads the Form Tutors. Students have regular interviews with their Form Tutors in order to discuss a variety of issues, including their personal academic progress and target setting as well as any additional individual needs. Contact with parents is vital to secure the learning triangle; the key to a successful education is a strong partnership between the school and home. You, as parents, are actively encouraged to maintain close contact with your child's form or class teacher and the school. Our door is open, please do talk to us.

Ofsted described the school, in December 2023, as "OUTSTANDING" for behaviour and attitudes and 'OUTSTANDING' for their personal development.

There is a house system at the School with regular House Competitions. All students belong to one of three houses, Price, Holgate and Talbot. Within each house, students take responsibility and work together. Each department of the school has a Head pupil and Prefects. Members of Staff are also allocated to Houses and this leads to a strong sense of identity within the school.

All students are expected to take their responsibilities seriously. We encourage students to support each other and ensure a sense of fair play. To support this a student structure offers opportunities to be:

• Prefects in Years 4, and 11
• Monitors in Year 4
• Head Pupil of the Rectory in Year 4 and of the Whole School in Year 11
• Sports Captains in Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

We do expect a high standard of work and behaviour from our students. We expect them to become responsible and mature young people who are able to live within the community with ease.

Creative Arts, in the form of Art, Music and Drama, form a very important part of the provision at Wakefield Independent School. All students from Foundation level to Year 9 participate in lessons in all three areas. After this Art and Music become options at examination level and Drama is part of our extensive extra-curricular programme.

Visits to museums and galleries actively promote the programme of study and complement studies within the classroom. In addition, regular trips to the theatre are undertaken.

Our students are always enthusiastic about performing in front of their peers and the local community as they prepare for the events that take place throughout the year. The pupils from the Foundation Stage to Year 6 perform in their Harvest Festival and Christmas play entertaining audiences with their confidence and talent. The Spring Term sees the Easter Concert.

In October of each year the School holds their annual Prize Giving ceremony at Wakefield Opera House where pupils showcase their talents in music, dance, drama and singing.