The Challenges Facing Pastoral Care in Schools and Universities Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The social and emotional wellbeing of all students, regardless of setting, is recognised as a fundamental requirement for successful learning and social development. The COVID-19 pandemic of the past two years has witnessed disruptions to teaching and learning and peer relationship development for students. Societies have been in lockdown; learning has gone online; schools and universities have been delayed in opening/returning and operating in hybrid forms, with some students off-and-on campus at different times; and new university students have arrived in 2022 after two years of disrupted school learning and interrupted peer and social relationships. These challenges highlight the importance of pastoral care in these settings for all stakeholders. The authors reflect on their university's approach to supporting staff and students as they pivoted rapidly to online learning and how the pastoral care/social and emotional strategies they employed offer opportunities for positive outcomes moving forward.