The School is a caring community and is proud of the strength and success of its system of pastoral care. Although the school is quite large, our pastoral structure and organisation means that all students are known as individuals with their own personalities, interests, strengths and problems and no child should become lost in the crowd. Larkmead is a friendly school that aims to develop close links and understanding between students, their parents and the teachers.

Each student is a member of a Tutor Group (normally around 25 students), and remains in that Tutor Group throughout Years 7 to 11. Each group is in the charge of a Tutor who is the person the students would call on first if they have a problem or need help or advice. In turn the Tutors are kept informed, by other staff, of the progress of the students in their care. In most cases the Tutors move up the school with the students so that there is continuity of care and accumulated knowledge of each individual over a period of five years.

The Tutor Groups are also arranged into Year Groups with a Director of Learning in charge of each year. The Director of Learning takes over many of the functions that would previously have been dealt with by the Head and Deputy Head in their smaller Primary Schools.

For our current pastoral structure, click here.

Attendance

We believe that regular attendance at school is absolutely vital if students are to make progress with their education and maintain relationships with their peers.  To encourage students to attend as regularly as possible we present certificates each term to those who achieve 100% attendance.

However, we realise that some absences are unavoidable.  Please contact the School's Attendance Officer on 01235 544844 on the first day of absence.  In addition, ensure that any such absences are covered by a note from you to the Tutor on your child's return.

Unexplained absences will be reported to the Education Welfare Officer.  In common with other schools in Abingdon, we discourage student absence for holidays in term time. If such an absence is unavoidable, written requests should be sent to the Headteacher.