What happens in Tutor Time?

At Ralph Sadleir, our Vertical Tutor Groups are at the centre of our community. Tutor time is much more than just registration; it is a dedicated space where we nurture personal development, foster a deep sense of community, and prepare our children for the wider world.

By grouping students vertically, we encourage older and younger pupils to collaborate, learn from one another, and grow together. Here is how our daily tutor time brings our core values to life, transforming our Students of Today into the Citizens of Tomorrow.

Responsibility & determination: Setting up for success

We believe that excellent attendance and strong organisation are the foundations of achievement. Tutor time is used to instil these vital life skills:

• Attendance Check-Ins: Every Monday, tutors hold supportive conversations with students whose attendance is a concern. By identifying and overcoming barriers together, we  work to improve attendance, because every school day counts.
• The 95%+ Cup: To celebrate commitment, tutor groups compete weekly for each House’s prestigious 95%+ Attendance Cup.
• Ready to Learn: Tutors ensure students show responsibility for their own learning by checking they have the correct equipment, pencil cases, and reading books for the day ahead, alongside sharing key weekly updates.
• Student & SEND Reviews: Each term, tutors dedicate time to 1-to-1 reviews with students to celebrate successes and address challenges, which directly inform termly reports. Tutors also meet regularly with our SEND students to review their Individual Education Plan (IEP) targets, empowering them to take charge of their learning journey with confidence.

Kindness & Respect: Caring for Our World and Each Other

Our tutor groups are safe spaces where empathy, inclusivity, and community spirit are actively practiced.

• Litter Picking Rota: Students take joint responsibility for our school environment by participating in our litter-picking rota, demonstrating respect for their shared surroundings.
• Safeguarding Awareness: Student wellbeing is our highest priority. We use tutor time to ensure all children know who our safeguarding team is and how to report concerns. We also deliver vital safety lessons on topics like road, water, and stray dog safety, equipping students with the knowledge to keep themselves and others safe.
• Tutor Group Assemblies: Twice a year, tutor groups collaborate to plan and lead special assemblies to which parents are warmly invited. Covering themes such as World Kindness Day, Our Favourite Books, and Remembrance Day, these events build student confidence and bring our community together.

Citizens of Tomorrow: Values, Voice, and Enterprise

We are dedicated to preparing our students to be active, thoughtful, and engaged members of society.

• British Values & Global Awareness: Every term, students think about  the core British Values, exploring why they matter. We stay connected to the wider world by watching Newsround during key global events and exploring special focus weeks such as Pride Week, Neurodiversity Day, and Give Racism the Red Card.
• Smart School Council: We proudly use the Smart School Council model, ensuring that every single student has a voice, not just a chosen few. During tutor time, students debate real-world school issues—such as how to improve lunchtimes or how to spend fundraising money—developing vital oracy, debate, and respectful listening skills.
• UK Parliament Week: We actively participate in this national annual event to give students a hands-on understanding of democracy.
• The Christmas Enterprise Fair: Fostering teamwork and determination, each tutor group is given a £30 investment with the challenge to plan, set up, and run a stall at our annual fair. The group that raises the most money wins, teaching students valuable lessons in business, finance, and collaboration.

Through our Vertical Tutor Groups, we ensure that our values—Confidence, Determination, Kindness, Respect, and Responsibility—are not just words on a wall, but actions practised every single day. Together, we are shaping the Students of Today into proud, capable Citizens of Tomorrow.