Pastoral Care
At James Calvert Spence College, our guiding principles of Be Kind, Work Hard, Aim High form the foundation of a nurturing environment that prioritises every pupil’s wellbeing. These principles are complemented by our school virtues of empathy, respect, compassion, independence, resilience, pride, and integrity, which are actively promoted throughout daily life. Together, these are woven in to school routines, uniting our community under the shared ethos of “We are JCSC.” Our comprehensive pastoral system supports this vision by unlocking each pupil’s full potential, ensuring outstanding care remains at the heart of everything we do.
We embed health and wellbeing directly into the curriculum, delivering targeted mental health support through BeYou and accessible mental health resources such as Kooth. Beyond academics, we foster holistic growth via enriching experiences, including the National Citizen Service and Newcastle United Foundation’s programmes.
A core focus of our pastoral care is empowering pupils to thrive as responsible, productive community members. Mindful of their duties to themselves and others. We celebrate this by actively involving pupils, parents, staff, and the wider community in school life. Through collaborative decision-making forums and inclusive opportunities, everyone has a voice, contributing to a vibrant, supportive school that brings out the very best in all.
Pastoral Team
Head of Behaviour
PSO Year 7
PSO Year 8
PSO Year 9
PSO Year 10
PSO Year 11
Our dedicated Pastoral Support Officers (PSOs) are assigned to specific year groups, allowing them to build strong relationships with pupils and gain deep insights into the unique challenges and milestones at each stage of the school journey. This personalised knowledge enables tailored, proactive support that addresses age-specific needs effectively.
Complementing this hands-on expertise, every member of our pastoral team holds specialist qualifications to deliver informed, empathetic care. All PSOs are trained in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma-Informed Practice through nationally recognised programmes endorsed by the Home Office, Public Health England, and local police forces. Several staff also hold the NCFE qualification in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health, equipping us to nurture pupils’ emotional resilience and overall wellbeing.
Through consistent pastoral support, we empower every pupil to thrive by:
- Unlocking Potential: Enabling academic and social fulfilment tailored to everyone’s strengths.
- Guiding Growth: Providing personalised academic, vocational, and personal support to navigate their journey.
- Fostering Responsibility: Offering opportunities to practise social, moral, and cultural engagement, building self-awareness and confidence for life’s challenges.
- Partnering with Families: Cultivating strong relationships with parents and carers to collaboratively prepare pupils for adult responsibilities and experiences.
- Preventing Challenges: Proactively addressing potential personal or academic issues before they arise.
- Nurturing Wellbeing: Creating a compassionate, inclusive environment where pupils are valued intrinsically for their unique qualities.
Behaviour for Learning
Our approach to behaviour is rooted in fostering strong, empathetic relationships across the entire school community with our staff, pupils, parents, and carers.
We believe that positive behaviour emerges from mutual respect and understanding, guided by our core principles of Be Kind, Work Hard, Aim High and virtues such as empathy, respect, and integrity.
When relationships falter, however rarely, we prioritise restoration through open dialogue and supportive interventions, rebuilding trust to support every pupil’s growth.
Research underscores that a calm, focused, and inclusive learning environment drives the greatest progress. That’s why our rewards system celebrates pupils’ positive choices in behaviour, effort, attendance and achievement, reinforcing a culture of pride and resilience.
JCSC Expectations