Avoiding gender stereotypes and preconceptions

Wetherby Senior are educating their pupils to encourage empathy and resilience

The overriding aim of Wetherby Senior School is to provide a well-rounded education that prepares our boys to face the challenges of modern life, with a strong focus on responsibility, compassion towards others, and service to the communities in which they will live and work. Academic excellence is central to Wetherby Senior, but we are also committed to supporting our pupils as they grow into emotionally resilient, self-aware and empathetic human beings.

The teaching staff are dedicated to working with and supporting the young men in our community; outstanding pastoral care is at the heart of all that we do. RSHE lessons are led by form tutors to ensure a comfortable and familiar setting when discussing sensitive and potentially challenging topics, giving the boys an open and nonjudgemental environment in which to explore the issues facing them as they grow up in uncertain and ever-changing times.

Integral to our RSHE programme is the partnership we’ve developed with Beyond Equality (formerly The Good Lad Initiative) – an organisation that challenges gender stereotypes and preconceptions amongst young people. Pupils take part in bespoke, ageappropriate workshops, tailored to the needs of their year group. As they progress through the school, these workshops build on the important themes and issues covered each year with our school’s values incorporated into the work done by the team at Beyond Equality. Mr Joe Silvester, Headmaster of Wetherby Senior, commented: ‘The challenges of the modern world continue to increase for all young people, and at Wetherby Senior we are focussed on helping our pupils develop the tools to overcome these challenges, while reminding them of their personal responsibilities. Our objective is for boys to leave Wetherby Senior as selfaware young men who are compassionate and thoughtful, with a keen understanding of the communities in which they live and work.’

www.wetherbysenior.co.uk

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