Mike Ogden

I’m an experienced Pastoral Manager with a passion for supporting children and young people. Over the past 25 years, I’ve watched them grow and thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and morally. I firmly believe that a child’s social development is key to unlocking their full potential. By nurturing these qualities, I help students feel confident and engaged in school life, build resilience, and reach their true potential. At one of the schools I worked at, I led the improvement of behaviour and attendance across Years 7 to 11. I used tracking systems and worked closely with staff to reduce low-level behaviour incidents by 33% and high-level incidents by 45%. This was achieved by targeting specific behaviours, identifying triggers, and developing personalised strategies like IBPs, exit passes, peer mentoring, and alternative timetables. These interventions significantly reduced referrals and empowered students to take responsibility for their learning and emotions. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with children facing a wide range of challenges, including bullying, anxiety, family issues, sexuality, and medical problems. My role often involved working with parents, Governors, Educational Psychologists, CAMHS, School Nurses, and Social Workers to provide the right support for students and their families. Building strong relationships with children is the foundation of my approach. I set clear expectations while being compassionate, consistent, and respectful. I believe that being genuine and authentic builds trust and encourages positive responses from students. I’m especially dedicated to working with vulnerable children, including those with ACEs, helping them achieve their goals through one-on-one mentoring and emotional support. I believe in positive reinforcement as the key to building self-confidence, self-worth, and a sense of purpose. Regularly acknowledging and praising students’ efforts helps them overcome low self-esteem and underachievement. I’ve faced many challenges in my career due to stereotypes and prejudices that led me to seek knowledge and self-awareness. I’ve attended numerous informative courses and even seen a therapist over the years. This led me to study counselling myself, starting with a Counselling Skills course and then an HNC. I’m currently working on a HND and enjoying it. I’m looking forward to adding Counselling sessions to my offerings. With these skills, I use a Person-Centred approach to help all my clients, whether children or adults, understand their emotions and behaviours, gain self-compassion, and reach their goals.