Tutor system
‘My trombone lesson, squash game and rugby practice clashed — so my tutor helped me rearrange them.’ — 4th former
Our tutoring system is adapted from the successful nurturing model of many universities and is widely recognised as one of the school’s strengths.
A tutor is carefully selected for each boy. The tutor meets with the boy’s parents the summer term before the boy will start at St Paul’s, and then again, with their son, at the start of the new academic year. From these beginnings comes a relationship that lasts throughout the pupil’s career at the school, giving him and his parents a direct and personal connection to St Paul’s.
Each tutor has about three boys from each year group and gives each of them individual help and direction throughout their school lives. They meet daily in tutor groups, bringing the older and younger boys together. Students learn from each other about school life and friendships are developed: younger boys soon find they have allies in the older years and older boys learn how best to pass on their experience.
The tutor represents the interests of his or her pupils to staff and parents alike, in a relationship that often develops into a close friendship with the family. Tutors are also mentors and sounding-boards for each boy as he navigates his way through school life — juggling commitments in the Fifth form, finalising decisions about university courses in the Upper Eighth … The knowledge a tutor acquires of a boy’s achievements and abilities is invaluable in helping the individual pupil flourish and be happy.
