“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalms 46:1

Here at Stanborough School, we whole-heartedly believe that God is our guide, our refuge and our strength. That is why our motto reads:

 “God is the Master of our School”

It is our belief that the Bible offers us the guidance we need to nurture and mentor our children so that they become tolerant, educated, well-rounded adults who are equipped for life in this world and the one to come.

Why Pastoral Care Is Important

All students will experience varying degrees of social isolation, hopelessness, confusion, misunderstanding and helplessness. Therefore, it is important to recognise that these issues exist and implement strategies that will help each student to effectively address his/her unique challenges.

The most common issues are related to:

  • Family
  • Relationships
  • Friendships
  • Peer pressure
  • Self-esteem
  • Bullying
  • Depression

The way our students handle these challenges will impact their lives now and in the future. This is why it is important to have a good pastoral care programme that caters to their needs by providing the guidance of a mature, caring, and supportive adult who is informed about healthy and safe strategies they can use to cope with the unique challenges they face.

Our Pastoral Care Program

At Stanborough, we believe that it is our job to ensure that our students are physically, spiritually and mentally healthy. This is why, as Spiritual Advisor to students and staff, I have made it my mission to identify and understand the issues that our students face. I spend countless hours talking to our students and researching the issues that arise in our discussions. This ensures that I am equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to provide our precious children with practical and healthy methods they can use to address their unique challenges or concerns

It is also one of the reasons we are confident that our Pastoral Care is second to none. Our Pastoral Care Program focuses on addressing three key aspects of our students’ lives:

1. Students’ Wellbeing

Throughout the year we run events and programmes, which help students grow emotionally and spiritually. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Week of prayer
  • Health week
  • Weekly assemblies
  • Bible Club

2. Staff Support

Our staff participates in daily morning devotion. This refreshes our spirits and our minds and provides meaningful opportunities to place individual students before the Throne of Grace.

3. Parent Support

At Stanborough, many of us are parents, so we understand that parenting isn’t easy. We recognise that parents constantly face new challenges, some of which may threaten to overwhelm us. However, we have proved that the most effective way to deal with these challenges is to turn God and the people he has put in place to help us surmount the challenges that will arise.  We are here for you. Lean on us.

As part of the drive to provide the support our parents may need, Stanborough School has created meaningful opportunities for our parents and our staff to pray for each other.

On the last Friday of each month, we hold meetings entitled Praying for our children. Please join us.

The Chaplain

There has been a Chaplain supporting this school since it began. His role is twofold: overseeing the religious and spiritual life of the school and also providing pastoral support.

Pastorally, the Chaplain, who is currently our Chair of Governors – Pr Ian Sweeney, is available for all students and staff, from all faiths and none, as a listening ear, a sounding board and a support. From a spiritual and religious point of view, the Chaplain plays a part in ensuring the holistic education here: that in an academic school aspiring to academic brilliance, we remember that education is about the formation of the whole person.