It’s not easy to step away from the familiar, especially for children moving into a new school and home, away from the country and culture they’d always known. At Farringtons School, students from around the world have taken up this challenge. They’re growing into global citizens on the school’s 25-acre campus in Chislehurst, Kent – but none are alone.
“As someone who was sent to another country at a young age, I know too well how challenging ‘culture shock’ can be for international students,” says Sam Palacios, the Head of Boarding and Pastoral Care at Farringtons School. “I always remind myself not to underestimate the power of first impressions. We always make sure they are greeted with a smile and a good chat.”
Before he built a career around pastoral care, Mr. Palacios was teaching music and coaching choirs for a decade. Yet, when a former head at another school asked him to cover a few boarding duties – he fell in love quickly. A passion sparked within him; one rooted in the ability to nurture and guide the youth through the trials and tribulations of living away from home. He loved being able to connect and build a rapport with the students and learning about adolescent mental health and well-being.
Familiar with Farringtons School’s excellent reputation in pastoral care, Mr. Palacios believed his experience could elevate it. “There are lots of things we do to accommodate international students, such as assigning them a buddy to spend time with, and trying to cook them some food from their home country,” he says.
Education at Farringtons School is set in a safe, Christian environment. Source: Farringtons School
When students have the support of a nurturing environment and staff, they’re able to develop to their full potential. It’s a fact proven by the students themselves. Last year, Year 11s achieved an 89% pass rate in the GCSE exams, which is higher than the national average of 67.6%. Year 13s improved in their performance for the A Level exams, in comparison to 2023.
But good grades are only one facet of their achievements here. “We don’t expect students to get everything right all the time. On the contrary, it is important that young people learn how to move on from mistakes. This is a very important part of growing up!” Mr. Palacios says.
In times of need, the Pastoral team is present and attentive. It comprises the house parents, the head of year, the chaplain, the school nurse, the school counsellor, and tutors, who maintain a strong flow of communication to ensure their approach to pastoral care is the best that it can be.
They’re the shapers of a second home at Farringtons School. The boutique-style boarding caters to the different needs of students, whether they require full-time, weekly, or flexi boarding. There are common areas where students can build relationships with their peers, and bask in leisure activities like ping pong and board games. They get to immerse themselves in an international community close to London, in the countryside haven of Kent, and learn from the diverse range of perspectives and backgrounds.
Farringtons School’s 25-acre campus is located in the London suburb of Chislehurst, Kent. Source: Farringtons School
Still, homesickness is inevitable. That’s why every student is assigned a buddy they can rely on when times are tough. “We sometimes involve wider members of staff too who come from other countries, speak other languages, and understand some of the different cultures around the world,” says Mr. Palacios.
The team liaises with guardians, agents, and families often. They bring a taste of home to campus by hosting cultural events, like food evenings. The Sixth Form students serve as peer mentors certified with a Level 2 Mental Health First Aid qualification.
“We also believe strongly that many problems can be resolved if we are proactive and look for the signs early,” he says. “We use an amazing bit of software called ‘AS STEER’ which assists us in spotting signs as personal struggles at any early point so that we can intervene and support children as soon as possible.”
Students aren’t confined to the campus grounds, either. Weekend activities are filled with fun and exploration, where students revel in the benefits of living near London. They’ve taken trips to the West End for a taste of theatre, splashed in water sports adventures at St. Andrews Lake, and taken hits in an action-packed scene of paintballing battles.
With schedules as dynamic as that, Mr. Palacios’s days never quite look the same. He teaches a few lessons, attends meetings, and goes on boarding duty. He might have to tend to behavioural issues and well-being concerns, or he could be organising trips. He’s constantly present in the school corridors so that students will always know where to find him.
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