Pastoral Support
All staff are involved in the pastoral care of students, supported by the Student Development Team (Years 7 to 11) and the 6th Form team (Years 12 and 13).
The main point of contact for students and parents is the form tutor (Years 7 to 11) and the div tutor (Years 12 and 13). They will support their tutor group and deal with a wide range of issues including:
- Academic progress
- Organisation
- Friendship issues
- Well being
The tutors will liaise with other staff as appropriate including the Heads of Year, Subject Teachers, the SENDCO, the Student Development Officers and the School Counsellors. If you have any concerns about your child please get in touch:
- Student Development Office (including Special Educational Needs): 01494 787556
- Sixth Form Office: 01494 787569
Welfare Mentors
Welfare mentoring is a student volunteering scheme within DCGS. Year 13 students volunteer to be matched up with younger students in the school and meet with them regularly (during break times) as trusted advisers and role models. The meetings are an opportunity for the mentor to share their knowledge, experience and advice and also encourage the older and younger students to form a bond. They support and encourage their mentees by offering suggestions and knowledge, both general and specific. The goal is to help mentees improve their experience of DCGS and offer a listening ear. All mentors have received safeguarding training and report back regularly to the Student Development Office.
Welfare Ambassadors
DCGS Welfare Ambassadors are specially selected students from KS3 and KS4 as ideal candidates to make a positive contribution within our school community.
A Welfare Ambassador is someone who works to try to tackle bullying in our school and looks out for the welfare of all students. Being an ambassador is an opportunity to showcase their empathy, strength and resilience skills.
All candidates have training which will help them creatively explore and understand the issue of bullying. They gain practical ideas and receive top tips on how to stop bullying, enabling them to prevent it and ensure everyone feels safe and happy in our school, both on and offline.
Counselling Service
Our counsellors are able to provide a free, confidential service for our students who may be experiencing issues with confidence, friendships, self-esteem, the transition to secondary school, exam stress or any other personal issues. This service is available during term time only. If your child is experiencing any problems with school or home life and they would like to talk to one of our trained and experienced counsellors please do get in touch via email: counselling@challoners.org or our service can be accessed via Matron; just ask your child to drop in to see Matron to ask for an appointment. Please be aware that there may be a waiting list but we will always aim to see students as soon as possible. To find out more about our counsellors and the service provided, please find further information here.
