Since the launch of our School Pastor service in October 2019, the school pastors have provided an invaluable support to our students. 

The launch of the School Pastor Programme
The pastors are pictured here with Mrs Grewal-Joy and the then Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Tony Downing

School Pastors are part of the Ascension Trust Charity, and we have a team of 10 volunteers who come into school to listen and to help.  They are all members of the local community who have different backgrounds of working with young people – five come into school on Mondays and five on Thursdays, talking with our students and listening to how they are getting on at school.  Pastors are available during social times such as break and lunch, which can be difficult for some children.  School Pastors have been part of Y6 to Y7 Transition events and they also support new arrivals to school mid-term, helping them settle in and being available to talk to.

Pastors talk with staff, especially our Pastoral Managers, who will ask the school pastors to meet up with a young person who maybe has some troubles at school or difficulties in their life.

Our school pastors have had a real positive impact working on a one-to-one basis to help eradicate bullying and provide support to the students.

We were very grateful for their support during the re-opening of school after the March lockdown as we undertook the whole-school Covid-19 testing - they were there for anxious students as well as taking part in administering Lateral Flow Tests.

One of our students who benefited from the time and care from our school pastors said that they are ‘normal people’ of all ages who are “really good listeners”.