Student Support & Wellbeing

At Oxted School, we support every student not only academically but also pastorally, with a strong focus on emotional and social wellbeing. We recognise that a child’s emotional health influences their learning, relationships, physical health and, ultimately, their mental wellbeing into adulthood. Our aim is to nurture mind, body and spirit, so that every young person can thrive.

Students meet daily with their tutor in their tutor group, building a trusted, consistent relationship, your child’s tutor should be the first port of call for any queries or concerns. Every student belongs to one of five Houses, which helps a large school feel smaller and more personal. Each House has its own Pastoral Support Manager, and our Inclusion Team works alongside teaching staff and external agencies to provide additional support for students’ emotional and social needs.

We approach wellbeing through a whole‑school framework that includes our pastoral support system, tutorial programme and PSHE lessons. The benefits of positive mental health are clear: students are more likely to do well at school, build strong relationships, learn and play appropriately for their age, develop a sense of right and wrong, learn from experience, have the confidence to try new things and develop the resilience needed to face life’s challenges. The Department for Education recognises that schools play a key role in supporting students to be resilient and mentally healthy; at Oxted, wellbeing is a core strand of our Personal Development Programme.

Targeted Wellbeing Support

Where a student is identified as needing additional help, we offer targeted provision tailored to their needs. This may include one‑to‑one or small‑group support from our pastoral and wellbeing teams, mentoring programmes, counselling and, where appropriate, support delivered in partnership with external organisations. We work closely with parents and carers at every stage, ensuring open communication and a shared approach to each student’s wellbeing and personal development.

Specialist and Safeguarding Support

Some young people may require more specialist or sustained support. When needed, we collaborate with a range of professionals and external services, including counselling and health providers. All wellbeing concerns are managed through our safeguarding procedures, with student safety as our highest priority. Staff are trained to recognise signs of distress and to escalate concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead so that students receive the right support at the right time.

Attendance Support

Good attendance is a key driver of success at Oxted School. Our full‑time Attendance Officer works closely with pastoral teams, students and families to promote strong attendance habits and to intervene early where concerns arise. This partnership approach helps remove barriers to attendance and keeps students connected to learning and support.

Wellbeing Support and Resources

Feeling anxious or worried is a normal part of growing up. It’s also important to recognise when these feelings become overwhelming or persistent. We encourage students to speak to their tutor in the first instance, or to reach out to their tutor, Head of Year or Pastoral Support Manager, a member of the Inclusion team or the safeguarding team. We can provide guidance, practical strategies and signposting to trusted services where appropriate, helping students and families to access the right support at the right time.

Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

– World Health Organisation, 2014