Well-being and pastoral in Sixth Form
Supporting personal growth and academic success
When you feel happy, safe and secure, you can thrive. At Kimbolton, we take pride in delivering exceptional pastoral support to our students.
In Sixth Form, you will benefit from personalised attention, in our small classes and tutor groups. Teachers collaborate to provide tailored support, fostering a strong sense of community.
Pastoral care is centred around our house system, and our co-educational approach extends to mixed houses, classes, and tutor groups, preparing you for real-world dynamics.
Our Parents’ Pastoral Evenings cover topics pertinent to raising teenagers with outside speakers, facilitating small group discussions and interaction with pastoral staff.
House system
The house system at Kimbolton was introduced in 1940 by then Headmaster, William Ingram, for pastoral care and competition purposes.
The Senior House names reflect both the school’s founders (Balye and Dawson) and key figures in its leadership (Ingram, Gibbard, Owen).
In Prep, different Houses reflect the history of Kimbolton Castle ownership (Fitzpiers, Montagu, Stafford, Wingfield). This connects pupils to both the heritage of the Castle and the history of the school.
Every House enables pupils to:
- Feel part of a wider community
- Be known as an individual
- Benefit from supportive tutors
- Access a breadth of opportunities
- Gain leadership experience
Students aged 11 to 13 all join Ingrams House
Students aged 13 to 18 enter one of the following:
Sixth Form committee
We want to know what Sixth Formers think, to encourage suggestions, debate ideas and discuss proposals for change.
An elected committee meets regularly with the Head of Sixth Form to discuss any issues with an open agenda.
There are also Sixth Form Forums to discuss and air suggestions from both year groups.
Social life
Our Sixth Form Common Room and Club is the centre of student social life.
Regular events include the annual barbecue, Christmas themed party, quiz night, film nights, music nights and the spectacular end-of-year Summer Ball.
The Club helps to bring both year groups together and provides plenty of memorable moments.
Well-being services
We offer a range of initiatives to support the emotional and social development of all pupils, including:
- Wellbeing Room – A safe space where pupils can seek guidance and support from dedicated staff members.
- Mental Health Workshops – Practical sessions offering strategies and techniques to address key mental health issues.
- Health Centre – Our on-site centre provides comprehensive physical and mental health support, with nurses and counsellors available for both pupils and staff.
Spiritual life at Kimbolton
Our school welcomes people from all faiths and secular backgrounds. Christian principles and ideals shape our ethos.
The Castle’s chapel, once the spiritual retreat of Katharine of Aragon and decorated by Pellegrini, acts a calm retreat and is a thought-provoking place for worship and reflection.
Our Chaplain leads services, encourages student involvement in services and assemblies and provides pastoral care for all members of our school community. The Castle’s historic chapel – once the spiritual retreat of Katharine of Aragon – offers a serene space for worship or reflection.
Across Kimbolton School, we mark key Christian events each year. We also celebrate Founders’ Day in October, and our Combined Cadet Force joins the local village community for the annual Remembrance Sunday Service.
We hold joint Christian Union activities and preparation for Confirmation is available, culminating in a service led by a local bishop in Spring Term.
Safeguarding
We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our boarding and day pupils, irrespective of age, ability, race, culture, religion or sexuality, Safeguarding is deeply embedded within the ethos of the School and we expect all colleagues, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.
Full details of our safeguarding policies including child protection, whistle-blowing and recruitment procedures are published in our policies area.
Safeguarding team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Mental Health Lead and Looked After Child Coordinator
Vanessa Garratt
01480 862041
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
– Prep School –
Jo Rowley-Burns
01480 862062
Deputy Designated Safeguarding
– Senior School –
Emily Davidson-Smith
01480 862241
Other Designated Safeguarding Staff
- Health Centre Manager: Ms Kate Hollis
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“Life in Sixth Form can be whatever you want it to be: full of sport, music, drama, academics, socialising or, more likely, a mixture of all of these. The thing I value most is the support from teachers. My co-curricular commitments sit comfortably alongside my A Levels and this creates a really good work-life balance.”
Toby, Sixth Form student
