Student welfare, pastoral support and safeguarding
Student welfare and safeguarding is a strong focus at the College. We strive to provide a safe, nurturing and engaging environment to stimulate learning and encourage you to succeed. Our high staff to student ratio, with class sizes of 15 students maximum, provides dedicated support throughout your studies.
We offer a beautiful and safe study environment which combines secure residential housing with outdoor green spaces. Our recently upgraded Medical and Wellbeing room provides a dedicated space for your personal welfare.
We also provide positive preparation for university and your professional life, as we encourage you to develop a sense of responsibility and independence, and through this approach you can achieve caring, trusting and respectful relationships within our whole community.
Our diverse student body creates an environment where you can learn to appreciate different religious backgrounds, cultures and traditions. We strive to develop a strong sense of community and look after the needs of everyone through a culture of mutual respect and trust.
Our Healthy World, Health College, Healthy You, programme focuses on physical, emotional, technological, study, future and global health, to ensure a healthy well-balanced and fulfilled life. This programme is underpinned by our CAS programme and other whole-school initiatives.
‘Students really appreciate the way in which they learn to adapt and relate to others, thus preparing them for the next stage of their lives as global citizens.’
‘Their self-discipline, coupled with self-reliance, means that they are wholly prepared for an independent life after College.’
ISI Report 2019
Pastoral care and discipline “Excellent”.
Good Schools Guide
‘The strong self-discipline exhibited by students lends the College a calm and purposeful atmosphere.’
ISI Report 2019
Safeguarding Team
We are committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of our students. Our specialist team offers a depth of experience in pastoral support and safeguarding. Our safeguarding policies on bullying behaviour and substance abuse are aimed to protect our students and are enforced fairly and consistently.
Our key contacts are:
| IB World School | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emily Woodeson | Assistant Principal, Pastoral | Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Stephanie Kucan | School Counsellor | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Alessia Zulian | School Nurse | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| International College: English Language and University Pathways | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emily Woodeson | Assistant Principal, Pastoral | Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Elodie Lefeuvre | Accommodation & Welfare Officer | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Summer Schools | ||
|---|---|---|
| Simon Talbot | Director of Summer Schools & Short Courses | Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Elodie Lefeuvre | Accommodation & Welfare Officer | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Mark Hewitt | Summer Schools Operations Manager | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
College support – Your Personal Tutor works closely with the whole College community to ensure that you are happy, and you flourish during your time here. They offer support on both the academic and non-academic aspects of student life.
Out-of-hours personal support – Our residential House Parents are experienced to offer personal support outside of College hours and notify our pastoral team if required.
Onsite medical support – Our College Nurse provides personal care for your medical needs between 8am and 4.30pm during term time.
Counsellor – Our College Counsellor is a health professional who can provide confidential support during your studies.
Medical professionals – You will be registered at the local NHS surgery Banbury Road Medical Centre, where you can consult a doctor or medical professional independently. This medical centre is located close to our premises.
Promoting independence and responsibility
We expect day students to participate as fully as possible in all college activities and this is helped with some overnight stays in college accommodation.
Our regulations and boarding practice are less strict than those found in many other boarding schools. This is deliberate and is designed to foster the development of independence and responsibility in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
The experience of living away from home in itself is educational, requiring students to become increasingly responsible for their daily lives. Students have to take charge of their affairs in a more independent manner; this is a good preparation for university and adult life.
The IB has given me a new outlook to life and has challenged me in aspects in my education that were previously foreign to me and the international diversity at St Clare’s has enriched my global awareness. I have been able to develop both my academic and non-academic interest through various activities and my interactions with other students and staff. The lesson I learned have contributed immensely to my growth as a person and have paved the path for my future endeavours. Now studying Engineering at University of Pennsylvania USA
College policies
The College has clear policies on bullying, substance abuse and behaviour, all of which are outlined in classes and in the residential houses. Our behaviour policy is understood by staff, students and parents and implemented fairly and consistently. We have a clear attendance policy that encourages good attendance and punctuality. We have clear rules that are followed consistently and are appropriate to the age of the students.
Our full policies can be found here
St. Clare’s is a place where I’ve been able to explore my academic and non-academic interests by having discussions with people from all over. It’s helped me prepare for what comes my way in the future and has been a phenomenal experience. 38 points – International Development with Economics – University of Bath