Support for Families
The transition to Sixth Form, adulthood and then to university or employment can offer a range of challenges beyond the academic curriculum. This page is is designed to help families find the support they might need to assist their child, and to understand how we might be able to help.
Parents have often told us how much their child has changed and grown up while studying here, and we want to ensure that this is always a positive change for everyone, including our students' families.
"Since finding ULMaS online, visiting and watching my child take part in the outreach programmes before they applied to attend, I knew this college would be completely right for them. The growth that has been fostered by the teaching and support staff, the instilling of pupil-led learning, and the regular feedback we receive, have convinced me that we made the correct choice. This is a unique and dedicated team of people, who, daily, put all of their pupils at the front and centre of what they do, regardless of circumstance. My child has never been more motivated and focused on their future, with realistic expectations and ambitions. Thank you." Parent feedback survey 2024
I'm worried about my child: should I contact you or would this be an invasion of their privacy?
It is always much better to talk. Even if you're worried about how your child will react if they find out, there is nothing wrong with seeking advice to help provide good care for a child. In our experience we can almost always do something to help, and the situation is never made worse by communicating.
You can contact school by the normal route and ask for a call back by someone in the pastoral team, or you can email your child's form tutor directly: we send out contact details in the welcome letter at the start of every year.
In school we have a qualified counsellor and an experienced pastoral team. Almost every member of staff has Mental Health First Aid training and we have experience of supporting students with some very challenging personal issues. We also know other people who can help, and we can encourage students to access support from the Student Assistance Programme that we subscribe to as well as other sources of support locally and nationally.
Adjusting to a new school in Year 12
The transition from Year 11 will give students a range of challenges, and it is normal for students to find some aspects of this difficult. We offer a range of activities throughout the school year including open evening, taster days, STEM Saturdays, Easter schools, online lessons and induction days. These all help develop familiarity with the school, staff and potential future classmates.
Once students arrive in school at the start of Year 12, our small size helps the staff to get to know students quickly and support them as needed through our pastoral structure. Each student has a form tutor who will meet them every fortnight, one to one, to ensure that they are thriving and making good progress. They will be part of a small tutor group which meets weekly, and includes Year 13 students as well.
However, if your child is not feeling at ease and looking forward to coming to school within a few days of joining us, some help may be needed - please contact us and let us know what you are seeing at home.
"You have taught me that I can do difficult things, you have believed in me enough that I have started to believe in myself." (Student Feedback Survey 2025)
Year 13 students are routinely involved in supporting Year 12 students and there is an emphasis on collaboration and peer support throughout students’ time at ULMaS. Some students find that it takes them a few weeks to feel settled while others feel settled within a few days. Things that really help students who less socially confident are the residential visits that we arrange in Year 12 (it is particularly important for shy or quiet students to go on these visits to ensure they have these special opportunities to make friends and get to know people), the lunchtime clubs that are organised by students and staff, and the recreational activities we arrange every Friday afternoon.
If you notice any changes in your child’s behaviour or attitudes, this might indicate they are finding something difficult or need to discuss something with us. Please do get in touch with us and someone from the pastoral team will get back to you, normally within one working day. We can often intervene in helpful and subtle ways even when a student feels that they should be able to cope without support.
How much should I expect to see them working at home?
We expect students to complete around two hours of work per night Monday-Friday. There will be times when this might need to be more (for example, around exams) or less (during visits/other activities). We expect students to complete work that has been explicitly set as homework but we also teach them how to identify topics that they need to work on personally, and get on with this without waiting for a teacher to tell them to do it. This is a key part of how we prepare students for university and successful careers.
"This school has really taught me to work hard - before college I hardly did any extra work outside school but now I work hard consistently completing projects, competing in competitions and solving real world problems." (Student Feedback Survey 2025)
Our timetable is very full and students have a great deal of contact time with our teachers, both in the A-Level focused lessons and the wider curriculum such as AMP (our academic enrichment programme) and PPEP (the pastoral curriculum) with plenty of enrichment within subjects and planned opportunities for the development of “soft skills” for employability, such as teamwork and communication.
Supporting Good Mental Health
Mental health and wellbeing is a high priority in school. We offer a range of strategies to help students and staff members maintain good mental health through our pastoral support and our pastoral education programme. We are pleased that it is becoming a normal part of health management and school culture to discuss our mental wellbeing openly and we develop awareness of this in our Pastoral and Personal Development Programme (PPEP).
A mental health charity committed to improving the mental health of babies, children and young people, including support for parents and carers on the following:
- A child’s feelings and behaviour
- Getting help for one’s child
- Talking to one’s child
- Parents’ helpline and webchat
- Not sure where to start
The charity has a special support service for young persons struggling to cope. They can text YM to 85258 for free, 24/7 support.
Young Mind’s mental health guide for parents during exam time
This mental health charity’s Infoline provides an information and signposting service. They are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
0300 123 3393 – Open Mon-Fri from 9am–6pm.
Mind’s useful information page for parents and carers
YPAS (Young Person’s Advisory Service)
YPAS is a Merseyside based Charity that supports children and young people aged 5 – 25 years and their families to address their mental health and emotional well-being difficulties.
Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Your child can text ‘Shout’ to 82558 and ask for support.
Supporting neurodiverse students
We have many students who join us with neurodiverse characteristics such as Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or childhood trauma. Being a small and caring school we quickly establish a student’s needs on admission, liaising with you as a parent, to ensure they get the support they need in school. We do often have students that might not have been supported for their neurodiversity before, perhaps linked to their high achievement in their previous school. We can support with diagnosis, which can also be started via their GP.
Useful links:
ADDvanced Solutions has a Community Network which encourages, equips and empowers children, young people and their families living with neurodevelopmental conditions, learning difficulties and associated mental health needs. Our engaging, community-based, learning, coaching and mentoring programmes will help you and your family to better recognise, understand and meet your individual needs, enabling you to manage the day to day challenges.
The NHS website has information on how to get started on a diagnosis for neurodiverse conditions like ASC and ADHD.
Post Year 13 Options
Our students almost always go to university to study a STEM subject, whether as a full time student or as part of a Degree Apprenticeship. However, some students might want to look at other options or take some time to consider their options.
There are also other options to consider like non-degree apprenticeships and employment. We support students with their next steps through a range of activities in school, including one to one careers advisor interviews.
The UCAS website gives an excellent overview of the whole process for applying to university and includes other options as well.
Apprenticeships - There is plenty of information available on websites like this one. It is also worth looking at employers’ websites to see employment and Degree Apprenticeship opportunities in the industry that you would like to be in.
