The groups meet three times a week for ‘check in, check-up and check out sessions’ looking at areas as varied as health and well-being, careers and citizenship.

As a regular point of contact, coaches also offer one-to-one support about concerns or achievements. Another clear benefit is the relationships that develop between students of all year groups.

Any news and important information from across the school is communicated in the Coaching Chronicle every fortnight, so students can stay up to date on everything that is going on in their community.

Coaches also develop strong relationships with students’ parents or carers with who they meet three times a year. These days have become very popular with families who recognise the benefit of knowing someone in school who can be an advocate for their child.

We also achieve strong relationships through restorative practice. This process of building, maintaining and repairing relationships is integral. We have staff and students trained in restorative practice who lead others in coaching circles.

A Learning Relationships Agreement is set with each class and regularly revisited meaning each person impacted by the agreement has a voice. This also facilitates development in other aspects of the school ethos, such as developing students’ resilience, independence and motivation.

Many children at some point in their school life will have a special need of some kind. There are members of support staff available to guide on well-being, bereavement, family support, sexual health, personal development, academic support and careers as well as general help and support from coaches and year teams.