We have a holistic view of student wellbeing. Our approach integrates character development and service with a strong curriculum, including high expectations of students learning, student leadership opportunities, a wide variety of challenging co-curricular including world class performing arts and outdoor education activities, and comprehensive pastoral care and Christian development programmes.
Research shows that effective learning takes place within the context of relationships built on trust and respect — we know first-hand that students learn best from a position of acceptance and belonging. Our approach integrates character development with a strong curriculum, including high expectations of student learning.
Our Middle School is a welcoming, warm community. Our school culture encourages genuine and quality relationships between students and other students, between students and staff, and between staff and parents, creating an environment where students are comfortable, secure and able to flourish during these important teenage years.
We have 6 School Counsellors. Directed by our pastoral team, we also gather quantitative and qualitative data on our students’ wellbeing needs.
Middle School Tutor groups
Each student in the School is a member of a small pastoral and academic support group, led by a member of the teaching staff. In the Middle School, the Tutor is the primary carer, working in partnership with the Year Coordinator and the Director of Learning. The pastoral period from 12noon to 12.30pm daily is used for whole school assemblies, Middle School assemblies, chapels, year meetings and tutorials.
The Tutorial Programme incorporates wellbeing, study skills, social and community education, leadership and wellbeing activities. These sessions are age-appropriate and tailored for the experience and knowledge of the students at their various levels of development.
Classroom teachers, Tutors, Year Coordinators, Heads of Division and the Chaplaincy team monitor and track the academic progress and wellbeing of each student. This ensures that the students are known and cared for throughout the school.
The Tutor group programmes include:
- Peer Support Programme (Terms 1 and 2) with Year 11 leaders
- Transition to high school
- ‘CitySafe’ programme
- Being a responsible digital citizen
- Approaches to bullying and relationships
- Getting organised, knowing the school, knowing each other
- Positive Mental Health
- Service
- Developing Character Strengths and positive attitudes towards school
- Resilience
- Character and Leadership
- Cybersafety, bullying and the bystander
- Study skills and academic organisation
- Personal best – motivation and engagement
The House System
In addition to year-based Tutor Groups, students at St Andrew’s Cathedral School belong to a House and wear the appropriate badge.
This enables students to participate in and contribute to a comprehensive range of activities. Students are awarded House Points for both participation and success in the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals, Inter-House Debating, SACS Factor, The Big City Bake-off and Gala Day. Points go towards The Dean Pitt Shield, which is awarded to the winning House at the annual Evening of Celebration and Prize-giving at the end of the year. In Senior College, Tutor Groups become House-based.
Counselling
The Middle School Counsellors are based in St Andrew’s House and are registered psychologists. They work as part of the team of counsellors who provide advice and support on pastoral and academic issues affecting the wellbeing of students at the School.
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