Supporting Young Carers
At BGS, we are committed to identifying and supporting young carers within our school community. A young carer is anyone under 18 who provides regular practical or emotional care for a family member. These responsibilities can have a significant impact on a young person's wellbeing, education, and life opportunities.
The Care Act Statutory Guidance (2014) explains that:
"A young carer becomes vulnerable when their caring role risks impacting upon their emotional or physical wellbeing and their prospects in education and life."
If you believe your child may be a young carer or you are a student who thinks this applies to you - our Young Carer Champion, Mr Hodgkin, is here to help.
Email: youngcarers@bostongrammarschool.co.uk
Phone: 01205 366444
Why Identifying Young Carers Matters
Research highlights the challenges many young carers face in school:
- Only 45% of young carers leave secondary school with 5 GCSEs including English and Maths.
- Young carers are 25% less likely than their peers to reach this academic milestone.
- 51% of young carers achieve GCSE passes in English and Maths, compared to 65% of non-young carers.
These figures show how important timely support can be in helping young carers overcome the obstacles they face.
Support Available at BGS
We are proud to offer a range of tailored support to ensure young carers feel understood, valued, and able to thrive:
- Drop-in sessions with our Pastoral Team
- Daily wellbeing check-in form
- Funded breakfast and after-school club (limited places available)
- Funded after-school activity clubs (limited places available)
- Access to a Family Support Worker, where needed
- Academic support sessions to help manage homework
- Subsidised educational visits to support inclusion
If you would like to discuss support or make a referral, please contact Mr Hodgkin.
Young Carers in Schools Award
Boston Grammar School has won a prestigious award for its work supporting young carers with their education.
The award is part of the Young Carers in School programme run by charities The Children's Society and Carers Trust. The programme provides primary and secondary schools across England with step-by-step guidance for teachers, leaders and non-teaching staff to gain the practical tools they need to help young carers.
