Godolphin and Latymer School

Pastoral Care and Support places care for every individual girl at its core and uses personalised support. Being a single-sex school allows focus on wellbeing and mental health issues relevant to teenage girls. The Personal Development Curriculum develops the skills, habits and dispositions to thrive, with a three-fold model focusing on self, society, and the world, and builds resilience and creativity. The curriculum aims to engender self-respect and self-confidence. The School Council actively supports student wellbeing, and the House system promotes vertical friendships, mentoring, and community volunteering. Lower and Middle Schools are supported by co-tutors and a pastoral team including two counsellors and two nurses; Sixth Form uses tutor groups; the PSHE programme includes talks from experts for students and parents, and Pride and Feminist Societies and a Diversity Committee provide forums for identity and equality.

The school is committed to helping all girls achieve their highest standards by meeting individual needs, including those with English as an additional language. An EAL pupil is someone whose first language is not English; many girls are bilingual or multilingual. EAL entrants at 11+ and Sixth Form are tested and screened by subject specialists to ensure sufficient English to access the curriculum. Stage 3 and Stage 4 descriptors are used to describe EAL progress, with Stage 4 indicating independent learning for most. Enrolment includes a learning needs questionnaire and Year 7 observation for EAL needs; staff may refer pupils to the English Department for targeted support; the school values multilingualism and supports EAL pupils within the community.

The focus on the mental health and wellbeing of students underpins all aspects of school life. The school aims to develop a positive, can-do spirit through talks and cross-year activities, often led by the girls themselves. Activities align with World Mental Health Day in October and Children's Mental Health Week in February. The approach supports students to bounce back from failure and tackle unfamiliar challenges with confidence.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Jade Smart, with Deputy DSL Jamie Carter, and the Head is Frances Ramsey. The policy aligns with Keeping Children Safe in Education and related guidance and covers staff responsibilities, reporting concerns, and coordination with external agencies as appropriate. Pupils have regular access to form tutors, two nurses, a doctor, and school counsellors, with the DSL coordinating safeguarding support; the policy also includes the Prevent strategy and local safeguarding contacts. The policy is published for staff, pupils and parents and references local safeguarding partnerships.