A Proposed Framework of Principles and Practices
A Whole School Approach To
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care in schools
Towards a whole school approach to pastoral care: a proposed framework
This Framework for Pastoral Care in Schools has been developed for the AGCA by Terry de Jong and Helen Kerr-Roubicek.
Terry is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology Studies and Course Co-ordinator: GDE Middle Years at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. Helen is an Education Advisor who was formerly Manager of Student Wellbeing in the NSW Department of Education and Training.
It seeks to provide a pastoral care "lens" for a whole school approach to improving student learning, and simultaneously promoting the health and wellbeing of all members of a school community.
In this framework, pastoral care is considered a platform of support which underpins all school activities and is responsive to its present and future needs. Pastoral care is seen to have the potential to build the capacity of the school to take responsibility for supporting and educating all students internally and for collaborating effectively with the range of partners in the wider community.
The Framework uses leadership as a "portal" in the belief that leaders in schools need to be supported to develop their own understandings of how the complexity of schools and their purpose can be simplified to provide coherence for staff, students and the broader school community. Leadership is not restricted to principals and executive members though.
References provide more information on the background to the Framework.
At this stage the Framework is theoretical, although Terry and Helen see its potential to lead to "tools" for planning, reflection, implementation, review and professional development. It has grown from excellent work within secondary schools in the MindMatters Plus project.
The authors would appreciate your feedback on the Framework and its potential usefulness.
