Pastoral care is a part of everything we do within and outside the classroom at Canberra Grammar School. Effective care must be linked with considered and wise discipline and our policies in this area seek to enhance positive human relations and provide boundaries and direction for our boys as they grow and develop.
In addition to the pastoral care provided through classes and co-curricular activities, Canberra Grammar School provides a comprehensive range of services and resources to support students and their families. These include the House and tutorial system, the Chaplaincy, the School Counsellors, our Careers Advisor and our Teaching and Learning Support Department.
It is our fundamental goal that every student feels a sense of belonging to the school community and has the fullest possibility for personal, social, academic and spiritual growth.
The Houses and Tutor Groups
Canberra Grammar School students belong to one of eight senior Houses, although in Year 7 they start their senior school years in two Year 7 Houses. The Houses are the basic pastoral care unit in the School and Housemasters are assisted in their pastoral role by a number of Tutors, with each boy belonging to a Tutor Group. This means that there is always someone identifiable to whom boys, teachers or parents can turn when there is a particular need.
The House system's pastoral care program encourages leadership throughout the year levels, with Year 11 students assisting Year 7 students in tutor group sessions. These supportive relationships between older and younger students are evident throughout the School. The vertical structure of Houses and most tutor groups also provides continuity of relationships throughout a student’s time at the School.
Within Houses boys have opportunities to represent the House in several sports as well as in music and debating. They also exercise increasing responsibility as they become more senior. Although Houses differ in the means they adopt to fulfill their function of caring, encouraging, supporting, extending and developing their purpose, the pastoral care of all boys as individuals, is common.