As a teacher, school leader and foundation-wide student welfare advisor, with over thirty years’ experience in the UK and abroad, Jenny lives by the belief that pupil wellbeing is ‘everybody’s business’. In the classroom or in the context of wider school life her focus is on the inclusion and achievement of every child. Jenny’s background, first as a pupil and then teacher and pastoral leader in both international boarding and day schools, means that she is acutely aware that pupils do not automatically thrive in new school environments. It is the privileged role of House Staff to recognize the important impact they can have in ensuring this. Jenny has extensive experience of leading INSET and wider staff development programmes – both in person and online – for teachers, house staff and pastoral leaders. Topics have included: Self Esteem; The Role of the Tutor; Wellbeing in Learning; A Sense of Belonging; and Students at Risk. She has also led the broader strategic development of positive school cultures. Faced with an ongoing global pandemic and the challenges of distance learning, she has advised primary and secondary colleagues on how to ensure that this is not lost; keeping pupils connected and progressing through careful monitoring and support. Jenny’s workshops are inclusive, and focused on supporting those with a responsibility for young people to feel more confident and clear about how they can fulfil their specific roles. She encourages participants to reflect on their own values and practice before taking them on a journey to find practical approaches for improvement. Jenny believes that we need to look after ourselves if we are to be fit to look after others in our care. She likes to do this through hiking, cycling and cryptic crosswords; and – when the world opens up – travel.
Jenny Hodson
