Instructor-Student Relationship

At the British School of Chicago, students are partners in learning with teachers and with other students. Clear boundaries and expectations are established and agreed upon by the group as a whole. Teachers help students to make judgements about their own learning and set learning targets for themselves. Students are also involved in assessment of peers and help each other to assess their learning.

Pastoral Care

The British Schools pride themselves on their achievements in terms of excellence in learning and academic success. This success is sustained by our pastoral care system which reflects our mission to create an open learning community in which the academic, social and personal needs of children are recognized, nurtured and supported.

Each child at the school has a class or form tutor who is the main hub for the student, their families and the rest of the school community. The class teacher or form tutor looks after the welfare of a group of students, taking particular interest in the day-to-day matters that affect those students, registering attendance, and listening to any problems the students have. Furthermore, secondary students are given a mentor from the upper school staff to meet with regularly one-on-one in order to discuss learning targets, behavior, and required service hours.

Each year group has a leader, who is also a teacher in the school, and they support their team of form tutors. The early years, primary and secondary divisions have a Learning Leader as well to lead and manage the Key Stage. They will help with issues of overall academic performance, issues of behavior and as well as liaise with parents on a regular basis.