What is the pastoral/tutoring system in a boarding House?

At Oundle, we believe that strong pastoral care comes down to what we call units of care - small, familiar groupings that allow a large school to feel personal and deeply supportive from day one. Boarding Houses have around 60 pupils, with 12 pupils in each year group, including Sixth Form. Tutor groups are even smaller, with around 8 to 10 pupils. These are the numbers that help us know each child well and guide them as individuals.

Every boarding House has resident adults around full time - a Housemaster or Housemistress (Hsm), a Matron, and often a residential Deputy Hsm too. This is rare even among full-boarding schools. It means that every meal, taken in individual House dining rooms, has three pairs of eyes and ears tuned in to the wellbeing of just 60 pupils. 

Each pupil has a House-based Tutor who meets with them regularly, both formally and informally, including lunch at least twice a week. Tutors play a central role in understanding what makes each child tick, helping them navigate School life and staying in close contact with parents.

Oundle is a large and vibrant school, but pupils are never lost in the crowd. Our pastoral structure is designed to ensure that every child is known, supported and encouraged to thrive.

Find out more about our approach to care and wellbeing at Oundle here.