At the St. Paul’s Foundation, we believe in a holistic approach to student development, considering both their academic and interpersonal skills. Our selection process aims to identify not only academic potential but also essential values such as resilience, motivation, grit, curiosity, and kindness. However, we understand that both the selection process and the demanding academic routine at St. Paul’s School can present challenges for students.
For this reason, the Foundation provides social-emotional support and guidance to both candidates and scholars. During the Selection Process, the school’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) team is involved in various stages – for instance, participating in individual interviews and conducting Wellbeing sessions during the Prep Course. Candidates also undergo psychological evaluations conducted by a partner psychologist and the SEL team, ensuring a more comprehensive analysis of their well-being. Additionally, a social worker visits the candidate to observe how the family provides support and how they work on the student’s emotional intelligence.
Once the candidate is accepted and becomes a scholar, this support continues regularly through individual and group meetings with the SEL team. This support is available to all St. Paul’s School students who may be facing issues related to emotional, social, or mental health.
Moreover, teachers and tutors play a key role in the care of students. Tutors, who closely monitor both the academic performance and socio-emotional development of students, have a broad understanding of each student’s needs.
Group meetings, moderated by the SEL team, also play an important role in the integration of scholars. These sessions allow students to share their experiences, identify with the challenges faced by their peers, and develop a mutual support network. This becomes even more relevant in a context where all scholars have gone through similar processes when entering the school and may share common previous experiences.
This set of initiatives helps ensure that our candidates and scholars at St. Paul’s School feel welcomed and well-prepared to face the challenges of both the selection process and academic routine. As the author of a Scholarship Programme that sees students in their complexity, growth processes, and nuances, the St. Paul’s Foundation considers social-emotional support to be an essential pillar in the development of individuals and a healthier, more inclusive school environment.