Pastoral Care
Effective pastoral care and a culture of wellbeing pave the way for thriving learners and compassionate citizens.
Our pastoral care focuses on nurturing happy, resilient, and adaptable learners. We prioritise well-being through the Cognita Be Well Charter, supporting healthy choices and social engagement. Additionally, our safeguarding measures ensure a safe and secure environment for all students to thrive.
Jump down to:
Pastoral Care
Ensuring every child is happy and feels supported.
At Downe House Riyadh, we take great pride in our pastoral care, ensuring that our students are supported and nurtured in a happy and healthy environment. Our dedicated teachers provide personalised care, guiding each girl through her learning journey while helping her develop resilience and adaptability. We recognise that emotional wellbeing is the foundation for effective learning—happy students are more likely to succeed and thrive.
Life brings challenges to all of us, and children are no exception. Our caring and supportive teachers are always available to help students navigate their ups and downs, fostering an atmosphere of understanding and encouragement while building resilience and self-esteem.
All-Girls’ Environment
Tailored Support for Every Girl
At Downe House Riyadh, we embrace the distinctive benefits of an all-girls’ education, rooted in over 112 years of expertise from our UK sister school. Our approach is tailored to how girls learn and thrive, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment.
Through strong pastoral care and an education model designed specifically for girls, we foster self-confidence, leadership, and resilience. In this supportive and inclusive community, each pupil is encouraged to develop her individuality while upholding values that seamlessly balance tradition and modernity.
Wellbeing is at the heart of all that we do—every girl is known, valued, and supported to reach her full potential.
Wellbeing
Good emotional and physical health is the foundation of effective learning
At Downe House Riyadh, we are dedicated to promoting the wellbeing of our students in line with the Cognita Be Well Charter. We actively apply the Charter’s six pillars in various ways, including promoting healthy food choices. Regular physical activity is also embedded into the daily routine, ensuring students participate in sports and minimise prolonged periods of sitting throughout the day.
Our focus on fostering connections extends to social responsibility and enterprise, with our partnership with the Sparkle Foundation enabling students and their families to engage in meaningful giving and volunteering activities, enriching their lives while making a positive impact on the wider community.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding commitment
We are committed to promoting the welfare of each child. It is our responsibility to ensure that all children have equal rights to be protected from harm and the right to feel safe. We create and maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where each child may thrive and develop physically, socially, emotionally and academically.
Safeguarding principles
Our principles of safeguarding are universal and apply to all Cognita schools. They have been developed by the Cognita Safeguarding Specialist Team and take account of the International Taskforce for Child Protection, the United Nations Rights of the Child and globally leading practice.
Everyone has a responsibility to support the protection of children.
Educate all staff in understanding the categories of abuse and the consequent duty of care they hold to notice any potential harm to children.
Empower all staff to act in the best interests of the child to protect them from harm or abuse and take appropriate actions if any concerns arise.
Know our children well and offer timely support to those who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, an adverse childhood experience.
Empower all children to be able to voice their opinion and to share their thoughts and beliefs within the safe environment of the school.
Educate and raise awareness in children of how to manage risk, identify harmful behaviours and seek help when needed.
Ensure that every adult who works with or for the school is safe to do so.