Where well-being meets rigour: Three UK schools leading the way

A school is a place to prepare for university just as much as it’s a place where children learn to become humans. It’s where they sharpen life skills, tune into emotional intelligence, and learn to empathise, collaborate, and converse across generations. 

Proper pastoral care makes this possible. As of Spring 2025, over half the pupil and learner population in the UK can now access mental health support, a sign of how seriously the country considers the emotional and social well-being of students.  

Trained pastoral staff create safe, nurturing environments that help children grow into confident, resilient individuals, ready for whatever life throws their way. Research also shows that “attempts to improve the emotional and social skills of British schoolchildren … may also be more effective than concentrating solely on curriculum initiatives.” 

The following UK schools offer both: comprehensive curriculum and care. Their pastoral programmes are among the most thoughtful and effective in the country.

Every pupil at The Oratory School is automatically part of an extended Oratory Family. Source: The Oratory School

The Oratory School

At The Oratory School, your child can be themselves and become more. Located in Oxfordshire, this private day and boarding school believes there’s a meaningful difference between being fully qualified and fully human. Both matter here. Academic success is valued here but so too are the qualities that shape grounded, kind, and whole individuals. The school creates the right ethos and environment that let your child build these good habits that’ll serve them for life and allow them to be of service to others.

When a school sets out to form the whole person, it helps that it’s small in size. It’s important for teachers and staff to know every student on campus in the way that their parents know them. And The Oratory is able to do this without compromising in any other areas. It prepares students for exams as well as a life of curiosity. It trains students in wide range of sports and arts, from tennis and golf to drama and coding. The preparation for university and physical prowess of students here are indeed impressive, with the majority of graduates gaining entry to their first choice of university, including many Russell Group universities.

But the quests of these students to become more would not have been possible without a community defined by very strong pastoral care. The school has a team of Housemasters, Housemothers, tutors, chaplain, counsellors, and more to ensure that each student is seen and supported. With many staff living on-site, their care is 24-7, all-encompassing, and remembered by old Oratorians for life.

Boarding at The Oratory builds a foundation for life. Within 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside, boarders have space to grow, exciting activities and trips to join, and friendships that last a lifetime. Just 45 minutes and one hour away from its safe and secure campus are Heathrow and central London, where connectivity to home and more opportunities for boarders await.

Strathallan School believes that cultivating students to become lifelong learners extends well beyond the classroom. Source: Strathallan School

Strathallan School

Strathallan School has been setting the bar high since 1913, instilling in its day and boarding pupils a deep belief in their potential. Recognising that every student is unique, it offers a curriculum as diverse as pupils’ talents and aspirations. In fact, Strathallan is proud to be the first school in Scotland to provide pathways that include full GCSE and A Level offerings alongside comprehensive Highers and Advanced Highers programmes. With 24 subjects available, its curriculum is one of the broadest in Scotland. This breadth bore fruit in 2023 when A Level students achieved a record-matching 99% pass rate, with 70% earning A*-B grades. 

But Strathallan is about more than just academics. It is equally committed to nurturing the physical and creative talents of its students. Its top sports teams — whether rugby, hockey, tennis, or swimming — regularly win district and national championships, and its elite athletes are frequently seen competing on the national stage, thanks in part to a 22 million pound investment in state-of-the-art sports facilities. 

Creativity flourishes here too. Housed in a purpose-built facility, the Strathallan Art Department offers everything from graphic design and textiles to film photography and ceramics. Its newly built Dance and Drama Studio provides an inspiring space for budding performers, while 25 music groups cater to every taste. 

Beyond the classroom, Strathallan’s extracurricular programme offers over 80 activities, ranging from the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh Award to global outreach projects and academic excursions. Its exchange programme gives students a chance to experience life in partner schools in Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, while study trips and academic expeditions take pupils to destinations like Iceland, Rome, and the First World War battlefields. 

The pastoral care at Charterhouse School ensures everyone is valued. Source: Charterhouse School

Charterhouse School

While most schools offer strong academics for pupils to excel in exams, Charterhouse School provides time, space, and balance to explore passions in and beyond the classroom. This is true to the school’s “try everything” ethos, where they are encouraged to explore an unparalleled range of programmes until they find an interest that sticks. From playing in a sports team to being involved with pupil-led clubs and societies, your child will experience one of the most immersive and complete educational experiences in the UK. 

Pupils here will receive pastoral care that ensures everyone is known, seen, and valued in every aspect of their personal development. More than 75 pastoral staff are committed to creating a warm and familiar environment so that pupils here feel safe, confident, and ready to embrace all the opportunities that come their way, both in and out of the classroom. Pastoral support also includes a Wellbeing programme, where pupils can have a deep, open, and meaningful conversation with the staff members, building a culture of trust, kindness, and respect. 

The school’s location, which is surrounded by vast green spaces, also contributes to the pupils’ wellbeing and mental health. They are encouraged to take advantage of these spaces, either playing physical activities in one of the 82 sports pitches or just basking in the picturesque view overlooking the countryside and historic market town of Godalming. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International