Pastoral care support the emotional, social and academic development of pupil. It helps to build self-esteem and support learning.

Happy, healthy pupils are far more likely to do well at school and the pastoral team provides points of personal contact for every student. Tutors, international and Chinese, primarily take responsibility for this point of contact and have an overview of how a pupil is doing both academically and socially.

Pastoral care permeates every aspect of school life. Robust safeguarding policies and procedures ensures that student wellbeing is at the forefront of everything we do. Every member of staff is part of the pastoral care programme; everyone takes an interest in ensuring that our pupils are well looked after. The boarding team, heads of house, year leaders and school tutors are our pastoral care programme.

Tutor system

Home room teachers (Grades 1-3) and tutors are the main support for pupils at schools. They communicate with pupils on a daily basis about concerns and topics of interest, to help them feel secure and comfortable in the community.

Boarding

Boarding at Hangzhou Dipont School of Arts and Science is central to the life of pupils in Grade 7 and above. Staff are on campus to provide support and care and boarders develop independence, social skills and a sense of community.

House system

The house system is the pastoral hub of the school. Houses provide a smaller environment where pupils can collectively enjoy one another’s company in a healthily competitive environment. Belonging to, and loyalty towards, a house create a strong culture within the School. The following are goals of our house system:

• To facilitate a cohesive community in which our international and Chinese pupils meet regularly and share common house activities, in an English-speaking environment
• To deliver effective and individual pastoral care to all of our pupils
• To generate house spirit
• To generate a climate of healthy and vibrant competition
• To provide a clear link to co-curricular school events with a balance across sport, service, cultural and academic activities