FHS has long been known for the emphasis that is placed on excellent pastoral care: the happiness and wellbeing of every pupil is our priority and a strength of our School Community. We fervently believe that a kind environment which supports pupils’ wellbeing is central to academic success, and we aim to provide this throughout our educational offering.

Pastorally, the school is divided into three sections, that are overseen by section heads. The Head of Junior School (IIIs, LIV and UIV), Head of Middle School (LV and UV) and Head of Sixth Form (LVI and UVI). Each year group will have a Head of Year and they have overall pastoral responsibility for the pupils in their care during the first five years. In the Sixth Form, there is a Deputy Head of Sixth to assist the Head of Sixth with all pastoral matters. In addition, each tutor group has a form tutor, and each form tutor in the Junior and Middle school has a team of Sixth Form prefects who oversee their wellbeing. The Deputy Head Pastoral oversees pastoral care throughout the whole school.

In the IIIs (Year 7), each pupil has a friendly Fifth Former assigned to her as a mentor for the first year.

At all stages we aim to identify any individual difficulties pupils may be facing by collaborating with parents and staff in order to ensure the best support for each pupil’s particular needs.

The school has a robust counselling service, whereby one-to-one appointments may be pre-arranged with the School Counsellor on two days a week, or a drop-in service is available with the school’s well-being practitioner. Pupils are able to discuss personal matters and no problem is too small!