Proactive and Responsive Mental Health Support
Wellbeing at Westerfield is holistic, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social health.
Professional Support Services
We provide:
- Confidential counselling sessions: a safe space to talk about anything from homesickness, friendships, anxiety, to stress
- Early intervention support: tutors identify concerns early and work with families and professionals when appropriate
- Access to external specialists with referral pathways for more complex cases
Our approach means students don’t wait until problems become crises, support is available before, during and after challenges arise.
Wellbeing Embedded in Daily Life
We ensure wellbeing isn’t isolated to one service or moment; it is woven into the daily rhythm of college life through:
Structured Wellbeing Programmes
- Wellbeing workshops and seminars on topics such as managing stress, healthy relationships, digital wellbeing, and self-care
- Pastoral assemblies and wellbeing check-ins to give students knowledge, language and confidence to express how they feel
Tutor and Staff Training
Many of our staff, including tutors and pastoral leads, are trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, to:
- Recognise early signs of distress
- Provide supportive conversations
- Connect students with further guidance where needed
This ensures students are surrounded by adults who are both caring and informed.
Structured Safeguarding and Behaviour Support
We believe that wellbeing is best supported in an environment that is safe, respectful and predictable.
Our safeguarding practices ensure that:
- Clear protective systems are in place, including a designated safeguarding lead
- Staff, students and parents understand how concerns are reported and handled
- Behaviour policies are consistent, transparent and rooted in mutual respect, reflection and growth
Westerfield’s pastoral framework adheres to the standards of safeguarding, reflecting best practice in UK independent education.
Peer Support, Student Voice & Community
Student wellbeing also flourishes through connection and agency. We foster:
- Student wellbeing ambassadors and peer mentoring opportunities
- Student councils and feedback groups to ensure students shape their own wellbeing provision
- Activities that promote community, empathy and belonging
By encouraging students to support one another, we help build a culture in which young people look after each other and feel confident seeking help when they need it.
Parental Partnership
The wellbeing of our students is strengthened when home and school work together.
We maintain:
- Regular two-way communication with parents about a student’s wellbeing
- Updates on pastoral initiatives and support services
- Resources and guidance to help families support emotional and developmental growth
This partnership ensures that parents are informed, involved, and confident that their child’s wellbeing is taken seriously.
Preparing Students for Life Beyond College
Wellbeing at Westerfield extends beyond helping students cope: We quip them with the skills they’ll need for life, resilience, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and self-awareness.
Students who leave Westerfield are not only academically prepared, they are self-assured, socially competent, and emotionally grounded, ready to succeed at university, handle challenges independently, and contribute positively to their communities.
Outcomes You Can Trust
At Westerfield, we recognise the importance of evidence-based pastoral care. That’s why our approach is:
- Structured, measurable and transparent
- Based on best practice found in leading UK sixth form colleges
- Designed so that families clearly understand how students are supported
This ensures confidence, trust and peace of mind for parents and students alike.
Your Child’s Wellbeing Matters, Always
While academic performance remains a priority, we know that students achieve their best when they feel supported, safe and valued for who they are.
