The pastoral perspective: handling sensitive issues

The chapter provides insight and direction to teachers on how to develop their pastoral role and remit. The initial discussion is influence by findings from large-scale surveys of young people, their concerns and emerging behaviours. The chapter then discusses international evidence that suggests health outcomes improve when schools adopt multi faceted approaches which embrace and address social and emotional interactions. School culture, peer relationships and the social learning environment are well documented as influential factors which promote social inclusion, increase emotional wellbeing and help reduce health risk behaviours (St. Leger, Young, Blanchard and Perry, 2010).