Medical & pastoral care

Pastoral Care

Moira House aims to develop an achievement orientated school community in which girls have the support and opportunities needed to grow physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually.

We seek to establish, develop and manage a school environment in which girls learn to respect individual rights and fulfill social responsibilities. For the majority of girls, the family and the school are amongst the most formative influences in their lives. It is therefore essential that a relationship of trust, cooperation and partnership develops between the school and family members, and that at all times, school personnel maintain respect for and sensitivity to diverse cultural values and family structures.

The first point of contact for parents is their daughter’s tutor. We hold an information evening early in September giving tutors and parents the opportunity to meet and start to forge good relationships. Key Stage Co-ordinators and the Head of Pastoral Care, Boarding and Sixth Form provide support for tutors. Boarders and all day girls from year 9 upwards can seek support from boarding staff.

Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviour by having this responsibility consistently reinforced. While pastoral care initiatives respect the privacy of students’ lives, some students and their families actively seek the School’s support at difficult moments. Within the limits of our resources and expertise, we are committed to the well being of our girls and do our best to provide this intensified support when it is needed.

Medical Care

A student’s medical care is very important to us. Our medical department provide an outstanding service. We have two fully qualified nursing sisters who are on site or on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week in term time. Most of our staff have undertaken first aid training and many have specialist training in related areas.

Our School Doctor runs a surgery on site every week and girls may go to see her or another member of her practice at other times. The Doctor’s surgery offers other services such as travel immunisations. We participate in government immunization and vaccination programmes.

Out of office hours we have access to SeaDoc, the local out of hours medical service. We are fortunate to have a large hospital with an Accident and Emergency department in the town. The hospital has facilities for public and private patients for both outpatient and inpatient care.

The school Doctor can access the full range of specialist services offered by the NHS or other local providers. Private health care can be arranged and is advised. Our local pharmacist provides a valuable service. We arrange dental, orthodontic, physiotherapy and optician’s appointments.

Our medical team contributes to the development of school policies and to the teaching of health education in the school.