Pastoral Care
The well-being of all of our pupils is of the utmost importance to us. All staff provide daily pastoral support, which is overseen by the House Parents and the Deputy Head Pastoral, Mr Jamie Matthews. The Head of Boarding, Mr Darrell Harding, and the Chaplain, Rev. Katy Thomas, are also on hand to support our pupils, whatever their needs.
Concern for every pupil is fundamental to what we do at Kingswood. Our objective is to ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, be it through the academic, artistic, sporting or extra-curricular activities on offer.
We aim to equip our pupils with a strong set of moral values to guide them through their lives. We base this philosophy on the teaching of our founder John Wesley, that says: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
We also educate pupils at Kingswood about a variety of topics, such as online safety, sex education, drugs and alcohol awareness, and eating disorders, both through Life skills lessons and through tutorials and assemblies. Through the Kingswood for Life Programme, pupils spend time understanding these concepts, and will receive age appropriate resources, including those in regard to Black Lives Matter and Everyone’s Invited.
The House system is at the heart of our pastoral support structure. There are seven Houses, each run by an experienced Housemaster or Housemistress who is supported by a Deputy and a team of tutors. The tutors, who take direct responsibility for individual boarding and day pupils at the School, are the first point of contact for parents. Each student attends regular target setting and review meetings, and communication with home is very much a part of this process as appropriate.
Kingswood is fortunate to have a well-equipped Health and Wellbeing Centre which is staffed during term time by a team of dedicated, qualified, medical personnel. The team have a wide range of experience and are committed to supporting the students’ physical and mental health needs throughout their school journey.
If any parent or pupil has a concern, no matter how small, please be assured that we will handle the matter with the utmost sensitivity and provide help as appropriate.
Chapel
The Chapel was opened in 1922 as a memorial to former pupils and members of staff who died in the First World War. It was dedicated by the Reverend Owen Spencer Watkins, a former pupil who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Army Chaplain’s Department and who served as the first Free Church Honorary Chaplain to the King. The Chapel now also holds memorials to pupils who have been killed in action in the intervening years. The Chapel’s centenary was celebrated in June 22, with a joyful evening of music, singing and hearing recollections of Old Kingswoodians on the important role that the Chapel played in their time at school.
Today, the Chapel is central to daily life at the School. Pupils attend a weekly morning act of worship in year groups. On Fridays, the School community gathers together for the Whole School Service, which often includes a visiting speaker and always includes pupil participation and musical performance. True to our Methodist heritage, we believe that singing together forms a central part of the service. The service provides an opportunity to reflect upon our Christian belief that following the way of Jesus leads to a flourishing life.
Many pupils look back so fondly on their time in Kingswood School’s Chapel that they choose to be married in the Chapel in later life.
The Chaplain
Rev. Katy Thomas joined us as Chaplain in September 2021. Rev. Katy leads us in school worship as well as playing an important role in the School’s pastoral life and in the wider Bath community.