Tutors, Year Groups and Houses

Each student at Blue Coat is assigned to a tutor group, which is placed within a House and a Year group, for example, ‘Year 8 Malthus’. This gives the student a close and supportive group that will share their Blue Coat journey with them. Tutor groups build an ethos of fun and belonging, perhaps working together to win points for their House, completing a quiz, or sharing their ideas about building an inclusive culture in school. Groups have a purpose and identity, and are led by their tutor – a member of the academic staff.

Tutors typically stay with groups for two or three years and will usually be with a group for the whole of their time through a school Section, e.g., for two years in Sixth Form. Tutors are also there for parents as the ‘go-to’ person for questions and support, as the member of staff who best knows their child. At Blue Coat, we believe these connections should be meaningful and positive, reinforced with good communication and praise for the students’ achievements. 

Groups are small and personable. They vary in size depending on the year group, with 15 students being the average.

Students and their tutors are also managed by a Head of Year – the key person who oversees the well-being, behaviour, and progress of the year group. The Head of Year at Blue Coat moves with the year group from Year 8 to Year 13, so that they share the journey through school with the students and have the best possible understanding of their group.

Blue Coat Tutors

Our tutors invest significant time, energy, and emotion in getting to know their groups, in line with our philosophy of individual care. During morning sessions before school, tutors meet with their groups either for tutor-led activities, assemblies, or House-based activities. After lunch, tutors have time set aside for one-to-one meetings with their tutees and, typically, each student meets with their tutor one-to-one every two weeks. This enables the tutor and student to build a strong relationship and mutual understanding, and helps the tutor to keep a clear eye on the student’s personal and academic progress.

Our tutors are caring and highly trained to meet our students’ needs, whether that be a bit of help with academic organisation, discussing university applications, or giving a sympathetic ear to emotional difficulties. Our approach gives students the confidence that staff at school know them individually and are willing to help.