Parent Support
We believe the best way to support your daughter is to work together. Communication is key and we believe it is a strength of our pastoral care. We want your daughter to flourish. We hope that this website is a safe space for her to come to for ideas and encouragement to support her wellbeing throughout her time at GHS. Equally, this area offers some resources that you may also find helpful. If you have any questions about the website or the ASPIRE programme, please contact amanda.whybro@guildfordhigh.co.uk. If you have any concerns about your daughter's happiness and wellbeing, please contact your daughter's tutor or Head of Year.
School information
Mr Lapthorn oversees digital learning and has created the following web page to provide up to date information on all things digital at GHS. There is further information on social media apps and e-safety to help keep your daughter digitally safe.
Resources to help support your daughter's mental and physical wellbeing
Let's All Talk Mental Health is a resource for parents offering support around a range of topics from experts. Parents have a choice to pay for one-off sessions or an annual subscription. Several of the speakers also work with GHS and visit as part of our ASPIRE programme. A wealth of advice is also available on the Dove website, which aims to empower all girls to be more body confident and have greater self-esteem. Articles and advice on how to help navigate your daughter through her teen years is available here - from developing healthy relationships, media and celebrity culture, appearance and respect.
The NHS: Every Mind Matters is a campaign that aims to give people the skills to improve their mental health in a number of key areas. Here is support and advice on how you can support your child or young person.
BBC Headspace: A resource on developing mindfulness, the power of nature and the journey to breathing, releasing and restoration. Hundreds of articles on meditation, sleep and wake up, stress and anxiety, movement and healthy living.
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Young Minds: Need advice on how to support your child's mental wellbeing during lockdown?
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This webpage has an excellent download on how to encourage positive body image and self esteem:
Concerned about eating?
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NSPCC - A great resource for parents offering advice on a range of topics on how to keep children safe. These links offer advice and information on talking to your child about sex and relationships and also how to talk to your child about online safety with specific advice on how to start the conversation and seek support if worried.
Recommended books and podcasts:
The Incredible Teenage Brain. Written by Bettina Hohnen, Jane Gilmour and Tara Murphy. An outstanding read offering excellent insight and advice on how to successfully navigate adolescence and how to support your teenager.
'Talking Teenagers' is a podcast comprising of interviews with experts to help parents and pastoral leaders with some key issues of raising teenagers in today's world.
Professionals that the school use for staff inset and pastoral parental talks and workshops:
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Alicia Drummond is a BACP accredited therapist, parent coach, speaker, author and, most importantly, a mother. She works works with over a hundred schools delivering talks and workshops to help parents, staff and pupils deepen their understanding of adolescence and promote emotional health and wellbeing. Alicia is the founder of Teen Tips.
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Lorraine Lee has 3 children and a background in Child Psychology, Positive Parenting Training and Child Development. She is incredibly passionate about giving children and young people the best chances possible.
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RAP Project: Raising Awareness and Power - Deana Puccio is co-founder of the RAP project and a former Assistant District Attorney from New York City. She worked in the Sex Crimes/Special Victims Unit of the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn. As a sex crimes prosecutor she worked on cases involving adult, teenage and child victims. RAP aim to raise awareness about personal safety and prevention in areas of rape and sexual assault, while openly discussing how pornography and social media influence attitudes and expectations. We also address how media can negatively affect body image and self-esteem.
Dick Moore has visited the school several times over the last few years. A previous teacher, boarding school housemaster, rugby coach, headteacher and father to four children, he brings a wealth of experience, advice and insight. His talks are beautifully honest and raise awareness on mental health and how to support this in teenagers today.
Dr Nihara Krause has also enjoyed a long working relationship with the school delivering talks to parents and sixth form on mental health a wellbeing. She is a clinical psychologist and founder of Stem4, a teenage mental health charity.
It Happens Education: Co-founder Alex Fryer has worked with the school for the past decade and during this time founded It Happens Education with a team of specialists delivering sex and relationships education. It Happens delivers almost all of our SRE within senior school.
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