Pastoral Support at Garstang Community Academy
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Grow Care Achieve
At Garstang Community Academy, pastoral care is the foundation of our commitment to helping every student Grow, feel Cared for, and Achieve their full potential. We believe that academic success is deeply connected to emotional wellbeing and our pastoral system is designed to support the child in all aspects; socially, emotionally and personally.
Grow: Nurturing Personal Development
We encourage students to grow into confident and resilient individuals. Our pastoral team works closely with students to develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a wide - ranging sense of self; self – purpose, self – confidence and self - belief. Through mentoring, reflection, and goal-setting, we support students in taking ownership of their own journey.
Care: Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
Caring is at the heart of everything we do. Our pastoral framework includes:
- Heads of Year and Form Tutors: Daily support and guidance, building strong relationships with students.
- Pastoral Managers and Safeguarding Leads: Oversee wellbeing, behaviour, and progress across the school. They ensure student safety and respond to concerns with sensitivity and professionalism. They provide targeted emotional support and coordinate interventions.
We also offer:
- One-to-One Check-ins: Safe spaces for students to talk privately with trusted adults.
- Pastoral Support Plans: Tailored strategies for students who need additional help.
Achieve: Supporting Success Through Wellbeing
We know that students achieve more when they feel supported. Our pastoral care is closely linked to academic progress, attendance, and engagement. We work with families, staff, and external agencies to remove barriers and celebrate every success big or small.
Safeguarding and Confidentiality
Garstang Community Academy is committed to safeguarding every student. Our policies are clear, accessible, and regularly reviewed. Concerns are handled with discretion, and we work in partnership with families and professionals to ensure the best outcomes for all involved.
Student Voice
We believe students should be heard. We offer:
- Wellbeing Surveys
- Student Council
- Anonymous Reporting Tools
Student feedback helps us shape a more responsive and inclusive pastoral system.
Mental Health at Garstang Community Academy
Grow Care Achieve
At Garstang Community Academy, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health and academic achievement. Our approach is rooted in our ethos Grow Care Achieve ensuring that every student feels supported, understood, and empowered to thrive.
Grow: Building Resilience and Self-Awareness
We help students grow emotionally by embedding mental health education across the curriculum. Through PSHE lessons, assemblies, and enrichment activities, students learn about:
- Emotional literacy and self-regulation
- Coping strategies and stress management
- Healthy relationships and boundaries
- Online safety and digital wellbeing
We also promote resilience through mentoring, peer support, and opportunities for reflection.
Care: A Whole-School Approach to Wellbeing
Mental health care is a shared responsibility. Our whole-school approach includes:
- Staff Training: All staff receive regular CPD on mental health awareness, trauma-informed practice, and safeguarding.
- Wellbeing Champions: Staff who promote positive mental health across the school for all of the school family.
- Safe Spaces: Calm zones and wellbeing rooms available for students who need time out or emotional support.
We also use tools like wellbeing check-ins, anonymous reporting, and student voice surveys to monitor and respond to emerging needs.
Achieve: Removing Barriers to Success
We know that mental health challenges can affect attendance, engagement, and achievement. That’s why we offer:
- Early Intervention: Support for students showing signs of distress, anxiety, or low mood.
- Referral Pathways: Clear routes to internal and external support, including CAMHS, SHINE, and counselling services.
- Confidential Support: Students can self-refer or speak to a trusted adult at any time.
Achieve: Removing Barriers to Success
We know that mental health challenges can affect attendance, engagement, and achievement. That’s why we offer:
- Early Intervention: Support for students showing signs of distress, anxiety, or low mood.
- Referral Pathways: Clear routes to internal and external support, including CAMHS, SHINE, and counselling services.
- Confidential Support: Students can self-refer or speak to a trusted adult at any time.
YoutherapY :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
SHINE (Fylde Coast Mental Health Support Teams) :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Resources and Help
We provide access to trusted resources, including but not limited to:
- YoungMinds
- Kooth
- Anna Freud Centre
- Mentally Healthy Schools
These are available on our website and through our pastoral team
Parents Mental Health Support | Advice for Your Child | YoungMinds
Mental Health And Wellbeing | Anna Freud
External Agency Support
Grow Care Achieve
At Garstang Community Academy we understand that supporting the whole child sometimes means reaching beyond our school gates. This is why we work in close partnership with a range of trusted external agencies who bring specialist expertise, fresh perspectives, and targeted interventions to help our students Grow, feel Cared for, and Achieve.
SHINE:
SHINE MHST is a dedicated service that assists children and young people facing common mental health challenges across the Fylde Coast. Our aim is to improve emotional wellbeing by providing timely, preventive, and early intervention support. SHINE are a valued partner in our pastoral provision. Their team delivers bespoke mentoring and group work focused on:
- Managing emotions and behaviour
- Developing positive relationships
- Raising aspirations and future planning
SHINE, The Fylde Coast Mental Health Support Team (MHST) works in education settings across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The team's aim is for young people to know what to do to look after their emotional wellbeing.
SHINE (Fylde Coast Mental Health Support Teams) :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
A Confident Me: Empowering Minds to Thrive
A Confident Me is a targeted intervention to help empower young people with the confidence, to overcome past struggles and embrace life’s challenges with resilience. It is designed to help students develop:
- Manage emotions such as anxiety, fear, stress and worry
- Believe in themselves
- Consistently attend lessons
How Students Access Support
Referrals to external agencies can be made by:
- Pastoral staff
- Heads of Year
- Parents or carers
- Students themselves
All referrals are handled sensitively and in line with our safeguarding and data protection policies. We work closely with families to ensure support is appropriate, timely, and impactful.
Working Together for Better Outcomes
These partnerships are part of our wider commitment to wraparound care. By combining in-school support with external expertise, we create a safety net that helps every student feel seen, heard, and supported - no matter what challenges they face.