At the start of the academic year every form teacher at MHS spends time with their class drawing up a charter. This is a collaborative activity. But why do we do it?
1. Promotes a Positive Learning Environment
Class charters establish agreed-upon rules and expectations for behaviour, helping to create a supportive and respectful atmosphere. When students are involved in setting these guidelines, it encourages mutual respect and accountability, contributing to a positive, cohesive learning environment where everyone feels safe and valued.
2. Encourages Responsibility and Ownership
By allowing children to have input in the creation of the charter, it fosters a sense of ownership over the classroom rules. This responsibility encourages students to take their behaviour seriously and understand how their actions impact others, which is key in pastoral care as it helps develop empathy and accountability.
3. Supports Well-being and Mental Health
Class charters often emphasise kindness, fairness, and inclusion, helping to promote well-being and mental health. These agreements can reduce bullying or exclusion by promoting respectful interactions and ensuring all children feel included and supported, which is central to pastoral care.
4. Teaches Rights and Responsibilities
Children at MHS learn about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, during PHSE lessons in Year 5,helping students understand their rights as well as their responsibilities. This teaching aligns with pastoral care goals of developing well-rounded individuals who are aware of their role within a community and can advocate for themselves and others.
5. Facilitates Consistency and Structure
Class charters provide a clear, consistent framework that both staff and students can refer to throughout the school year. Consistency is important in pastoral care, as it helps students feel secure and understand the boundaries within which they can operate. This stability is particularly important for our young children, including those with SEND, who may thrive on routine and clear expectations.
6. Builds Trusting Relationships
When staff and students collaboratively establish a class charter, it helps build trust and communication between them. This cooperative process can enhance the pastoral relationship, as students see their opinions are valued and respected, fostering a stronger teacher-student bond, which is vital in maintaining a caring and supportive school culture.
7. Promotes Reflection and Growth
Charters encourage reflection on behaviour and social interactions. If issues arise, the class can refer to the charter to evaluate whether actions have aligned with their agreed-upon principles. This reflection is a key component of pastoral care, as it helps children learn from their experiences and grow in their social and emotional development.
Incorporating class charters into pastoral care helps us to create nurturing environments where our children feel empowered, supported, and responsible, all of which are essential to their personal and academic development.
Mrs Walker, Head of Pastoral Care