Over-seeing each girl’s well-being is her Year Co-ordinator, a teacher assigned to monitor each year group’s progress and welfare throughout the Senior School.  Each Year Co-ordinator remains with a single year group for all Senior School years, ensuring that each girl is known well and that there is a continuity of care.  Working with the Year Co-ordinators are the Form Teachers. The Form Teacher is the initial point of contact for the girls each day and is a key person in ensuring their well-being.  The Year Co-ordinator and Form Teacher monitor each girl’s academic progress, as well as her general happiness and welfare.

Form groups are small (12 – 15 girls), allowing Form Teachers to know the girls individually and to follow their progress with care.  Should parents have concerns, Year Co-ordinators and Form Teachers are easily contacted.

Other staff work closely with the Year Co-ordinators and Form Teachers to form an extended and supportive network which ensures that the girls’ welfare is closely monitored and that programs are in place to develop psychological and social well-being.  These staff include the Director of Operations, the Director of Students, the school’s two counsellors, the head of PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) and the boarding staff.

Caring community program
The caring community program brings into the school expert advice, assistance and current information on a broad range of issues related to adolescent girls. Throughout the year, breakfast meetings, evening talks and workshops are given by a variety of speakers for parents, students and staff.  Topics to date have included building resilience, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, early identification of depression, preventing alcohol and drug misuse, and strategies for staying safe.

Medical
Ascham provides 24 hour medical care through its on-site Health Centre, which provides hospital beds.  There are three registered nurses on staff, two of whom are residential and look after the boarders. One of the nurses is always on-site.

Other well-being initiatives
Ascham places great emphasis on helping all new students settle into the school quickly and happily.  Before school begins, new parents and girls have many opportunities to be welcomed, to learn school procedures and to meet teachers and other students.  A member of the New Girl’s Committee contacts each girl before she arrives and each girl is allocated an “Ascham sister” from her school house who is a helpful and friendly contact for any query or concern she may have.

Many other peer support initiatives between younger and older girls further enhance the school community spirit and goodwill. Ascham provides a caring, hospitable, inclusive environment, where everyone is valued and appreciated.