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The Drayton Pastoral Committee
I quote below from reports on the work of this Committee received from Mr. J.R. Roberts (Head
Teacher), Dr. K.V. Shah (school medical officer) and Dr. Edward Griffith:—
"The original idea dates from December 1967 and the Committee was first envisaged as having
four main objects involving strengthening the pastoral work in the school itself, assisting in
developing co-operation between various departments each concerned with some aspect of a child's
life, training the staff of the school and others by participation, and linking results with other schools
and Training College.
Dr. Edward Griffith, who was very interested in this experiment, was attached by the Medical
Officer of Health to this experiment and it was intended to use his services in three ways. Firstly
in assisting in dealing with particular difficult children, not as a substitute for the existing channels
of treatment but as a readily available adviser who might perhaps help in preventing serious
disturbance by taking it at very short notice and so assisting the efforts of the school pastoral staff.
Secondly to assist in education of the children in school in personal relationships. Thirdly, if
required, to assist in talking to the parents.
The first Committee Meeting was held on 22nd March 1968 and was attended by the Principal
Medical Officer (School Health), the School Doctor, the Children's Officer, the Senior Educational
Psychologist, a Careers Officer, the School Welfare Officer and members of School Pastoral Staff.
Since that date a number of developments have occurred.
A Pastoral Committee has now been organised at Borough level. A number of meetings have
been held of the full committee and of a working party set up to study its functions and this
organisation looks as if it will be continued. Meetings of all Pastoral Staff from Comprehensive
Schools have also led to a permanent organisation being set up. In view of these developments the
Drayton Pastoral Committee is seen as having been superseded by an organisation at Borough level,
and organised meetings held in Drayton School have been discontinued. The Drayton effort however,
has left a number of continuing results.
The general idea of co-operation has been greatly developed. We know one another much
better and appreciate our partners and the part they play in the whole pastoral field. We are not
worried about treading on each others corns, and any small difficulties caused have been readily
ironed out in the new atmosphere generated. The whole conception of pastoral care has been
widened, and deepened, and authorities such as the Probation Service and the Juvenile Courts are
coming much more into the school orbit. A Saturday course at Southgate Technical College attended
by many representatives from all sections, a series of working lunches organised by the Children's
Department, and a recent meeting between representatives of the pastoral work and the Magistrates of
the Juvenile Court with the Clerk of Court, the Probation Service and the Police which broke entirely
new ground, have all contributed to the effectiveness of our work. In the school itself the regular
medical examinations taking place each week at a set time have made it easy to consult the doctor
in urgent cases without loss of time and this has been much appreciated. Meanwhile at Drayton
School the work of Dr. Griffith has continued in co-operation with the pastoral staff of the school.
He has concentrated on education in personal relationships, and each Friday in the Autumn Term he
has attended meetings with boys and girls of the school, sometimes leading group discussions, often
attended by members of the school staff as well as boys and girls. On other occasions short
lectures on particular parts of the work have been given. Questions have been submitted by the
students and answered personally or in groups. The following provisional conclusions have been
reached:
1. General instruction in and discussion of personal relationships including sex in school is
still urgently needed. Purely biological information is not enough. Full treatment of the
emotional side and advice on individual problems are a necessary part of this work.
2. More help in doing this kind of thing is needed. Although the staff of the school can cover
the factual information required, and this should be done from the first year as a continuous
process, discussion of the emotional side requires experience and specialised knowledge,
and these must be supplied by senior members of Staff who are qualified and willing as well
as by visitors to the school who are able to present material from specialised viewpoints.
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