Ofsted Good Provider

Pastoral - CARE

Pastoral - CARE


At NBHS, we nurture the whole child. Our CARE Curriculum is where students learn the knowledge, skills, and attributes to keep themselves safe in both the physical world and online. It is also where students really become part of the school community.

Each day, tutors and students meet to discuss relevant topics, debate ‘issues’, take part in House competitions, plus much more. Here is where students are encouraged to respect one another’s views and aspire to be their best.

We live in challenging times and students are encouraged to reflect on these and how they can make a positive difference to society. These sessions are often deliberately provocative, encouraging students to question and confront the problems and situations they could face in their lifetime. From Black Lives Matter to issues of gender, sex and sexuality – no topic is off-limits, but clear boundaries of behaviour and expectations enable these sessions to be a safe space for students to share their views.

Lively discussions were had last year with students reading from the main British political parties’ manifestoes. Students even created their own General Election and voted on Voting Day! It was great to hear our young people so energized and visibly caring about our country and the natural environment. In these sessions, students speculate on what it is to be a ‘good citizen', they learn about the British judicial system and explore what it means to be British today.

Healthy Lives is also an integral part of these tutor sessions. From learning about the effects of stress and anxiety to the dangers of drink and drug driving. Each year, our Year 11 students walk to the Bromsgrove Fire Station for ‘Dying to Drive’ which is a hard-hitting educational event. Here, they meet real people who have lost loved ones to drink driving and they learn from the police and the firefighters themselves.   

All aspects of health are covered in the CARE Curriculum, including mental health. Students are given coping strategies and learn where they can turn to in a variety of situations.

From September 2020, it is compulsory for all schools to offer their pupils Sex and Relationships Education. Our program of study does not promote sexual experimentation but encourages students to understand human sexuality and to respect themselves and others. The aim of SRE is to enable young people to mature, build their confidence and self-esteem, and understand the reasons for delaying sexual activity until an appropriate time. The government states that parents have the right to withdraw their child from such lessons, but only up to and until three terms before the child turns 16.  

From September 2022 students in Year 9 will also be taking a short course on Citizenship to complement their students and support them in becoming well-rounded individuals as part of our motto “Studies Determine Character”.