The period between 1980 and 2022 has seen the most radical reforms of education in England since the 1944 Education Act. This article explores those changes and their impact upon the conception and execution of pastoral care in schools. The argument is that these reforms have narrowed the thinking and practice and that what is needed now is a radical reform if we are to be able to engage with all students, enable them to learn and live in the world of today. Specific topics discussed are engagement and inclusion in school, school exclusions, behaviour policies, and mental health.