SIXTH FORM WELLBEING AND PASTORAL SUPPORT
Greater independence. The right support when you need it.
Sixth Form brings exciting opportunities, but it also brings change. You’ll have greater independence, more demanding courses and important decisions to make about your future. There may be times when balancing study, relationships, responsibilities and life outside Sixth Form feels challenging.
At BOA Digital, we want students to be independent without feeling that they have to manage everything alone. Our pastoral support is designed to help you stay well, overcome challenges and make the most of your Sixth Form experience. We will get to know you as an individual, notice when things aren’t going as expected and make sure you know where to turn when you need advice or support.
Someone who knows you
As a Sixth Form student, you’ll be part of a community where staff take an interest in your progress, wellbeing and future plans. Regular contact provides opportunities to reflect on how things are going, celebrate success and identify any concerns before they become bigger problems.
That support might involve helping you manage your workload, talking through a personal difficulty, improving attendance or organisation, or helping you think about your next steps. As you become more independent, we will encourage you to take increasing responsibility for solving problems – while making sure that support remains available when you need it.
Supporting your wellbeing
Success at Sixth Form isn’t simply about academic results. Your physical and emotional wellbeing matter too. Through our pastoral and Personal Development programmes, students will explore issues relevant to young adulthood, including healthy relationships, mental and physical wellbeing, online life, personal safety, managing pressure and developing healthy habits.
Sixth Form can be demanding, particularly around deadlines, assessments and decisions about what comes next. Part of becoming an independent learner is recognising when pressure is building and developing strategies to manage it. We want students to feel confident talking to staff and seeking support early rather than allowing a concern to become a barrier to their education.
Support with the demands of Sixth Form
Moving from GCSE to post-16 study is a significant step. Courses become more demanding, independent study increases and you’re expected to manage your time with much greater independence. For some students, that transition happens quickly; others need more time and support to develop those habits.
We will help you develop the skills needed to manage deadlines, independent study, attendance, organisation and competing priorities. Where things aren’t going well, we’ll work with you to understand why and agree what needs to change. Support doesn’t mean lowering expectations. It means helping you develop the skills and confidence to meet them.
A safe and inclusive community
We want our Sixth Form to be a community where students are respected, included and able to be themselves, and where differences are valued. High expectations for behaviour and mutual respect help create an environment where everyone can learn and feel safe.
Our safeguarding responsibilities remain just as important in Sixth Form. If you are worried about your own safety or wellbeing – or concerned about somebody else – there will always be members of staff you can speak to. Where specialist support is needed, we can also work with families and appropriate external professionals and services to help students access further help.
Working with families
Although Sixth Form is a period of increasing independence, parents and carers continue to play an important role. We want to develop positive relationships with families and communicate where there are concerns about a student’s progress, attendance or wellbeing, while also recognising that Sixth Form students need opportunities to take greater ownership of their education.
It is a gradual transition: from being supported to make decisions towards becoming a young adult who can make those decisions independently. We will challenge you to take responsibility, manage your time, attend well, work independently and make positive choices.
We’ll also recognise that there will be moments when you need somebody to listen, offer advice or help you work through a problem. That balance sits at the heart of our approach to Sixth Form. High expectations when you’re doing well. Support when things become difficult. People who want to see you succeed.