PASTORAL ORGANISATION

“Pupils’ personal development and maturity are outstanding..” OfSTED 2009

When pupils join the school they are placed in a mixed-ability form group in the care of a form tutor. Suitable placement is decided following close liaison with the primary school staff. Form tutors have a key role to look after each member of their form. This is the person to whom pupils should turn to if they have a problem. The Heads and Assistant Heads of Pastoral Care for Years 7 and 8, Years 9 and 10 and for Year 11 oversee the work of the tutors and are available to them for support and advice when required.

Each pupil is also placed in one of three houses - Dore, Escley or Monnow - in the charge of a Head of House and his/her team of house staff. The houses compete in friendly but keen competition not only in sports and games, but also in other ways, with points being awarded for effort and behaviour. The pupils’ response to this system is excellent and they try to do their individual best for their house. We hope to encourage the importance of being a member of a team.

Form tutors have a particular part to play in maintaining a secure, well-disciplined and hard working community. The information received from and the close liaison with the primary schools allows children to be placed in ability groups for particular subjects where this is felt necessary. Subsequent ‘setting’ allows pupils to work with others of similar ability and permits all pupils to be stretched to their academic limits. All subjects and the courses taught in the curriculum come under the control of the respective Heads of Department who are responsible to the Headmaster.

The school recognises the differing ability levels of pupils and will work to meet their individual needs. Some pupils may have particular educational needs, either short or long term. As necessary, pupils are given help to overcome specific difficulties in mainstream classes, often with the benefit of Teaching Assistants. The Pyramid Policy on Special Educational Needs is a very comprehensive and bulky document and is therefore not included in this prospectus. However copies are available from the School Office. Other pupils are given the opportunity to study extra subjects to GCSE or BTEC level. The School's Equal Opportunities Policy ensures that the School is bound together socially by means of its mixed-ability forms, house groups and teaching in many subjects, whilst ensuring that no child is held back academically. All pupils have the chance to reach their potential in every subject through good motivation, perseverance and application. These are as essential to success as innate ability.

Pupils are entered for external examinations appropriate to their level of attainment and the School's tremendous success in recent years at GCSE Level and BTEC has shown that outstanding results can be achieved by hard work, good teaching and a close partnership between home and school. Most pupils choose to continue their education beyond the age of 16 and we are happy to learn of the success of pupils not only in further education and at Sixth Form College, but also in the world of higher education at universities and colleges. The record of those leaving and entering direct employment is equally impressive.

PUPIL ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE

Pupils are required by law to attend school whenever possible and absence should only be because of medical reasons or, on rare occasions, for other reasons for which permission has been given in advance. The attendance rates of pupils have continued to reach even greater heights during the last few years and this in itself indicates a great deal.

The Children and Young People’s Directorate Welfare Officer maintains a close liaison with the School and is helpful to both the School and parents when difficulties with attendance occur. She can be contacted via the School or directly at the directorate’s office.

The School Nurse for the Golden Valley area has her base at Fairfield and also supports pupils when problems arise.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY

Under Section 17 of The Children Act 1989 children are defined as being in need if they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development, or their health or development will be significantly impaired without the provision of services, or who are disabled. All members of staff have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need.

Additionally under the Children Act 2004 agencies including schools should co-operate with a view to improving the well being of children in relation to all 5 outcomes set out in “Every Child Matters” (staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well being).

In light of the above the school will:

Arrange to take all reasonable measures to ensure the risks of harm to children are minimised.
Arrange to take all appropriate actions to address concerns about the welfare of the child, or children, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local services.
All staff employed by the school who have contact with children will be trained to Level 1 ‘Safeguarding Children’ by the school’s Child Protection Officer.
The Child Protection Officer will receive biannual training in child protection matters and will ensure that all staff are kept updated on new initiatives.

Caterers, college lecturers, peripatetic musicians and bus drivers etc will be trained appropriately by their employers.

BEHAVIOUR POLICY

This school believes that through co-operation and respect for the individual and the whole establishment a caring and courteous community should evolve in which the individual will consider others’ attitudes without prejudice to produce a secure, friendly and fair environment.

The behaviour expected in school should reflect this statement. The school celebrates the way in which its members do behave towards each other and particularly towards its more vulnerable members. We should all look after each other and not allow unreasonable treatment by anyone. If the pupils are worried they should remember that there is always someone to listen. The school will always act, sometimes visibly, on any information it has. Staff will treat pupils as pupils are expected to treat each other.

The expectations of all in this community are therefore that:

Bullying is not acceptable.
When appropriate people should be allowed to express their views and deserve the courtesy of silence from others.
Aggressive and derogatory language is inappropriate.
Everyone should take pride in their work and their personal appearance.
Everyone should be considerate, respectful and punctual.
All visitors to, and new members of the school community should be made to feel welcome.
Behaviour that affects the community of the school, even when outside of school times, will be deemed as the school’s concern and may be dealt with accordingly.
When taking part in a school visit or representing the school off its premises the same behaviour is expected from all as is expected on the premises.
Pupils should move around the school in an orderly manner. We usually keep to the left in corridors and on stairs.
Litter should be placed in the bins provided and classrooms and work areas should be left clean and tidy.
Property belonging to others, personal and school items, is to be treated with respect. It should not be moved or disturbed without the owner’s or teacher’s permission. In movement around the building, care should be taken to avoid injury to others and damage to property.

All of us are bound by the law, safety rules and regulations which apply to all schools. Consequently:

Smoking is not permitted
Substances and items which are illegal, harmful or unsuitable are not allowed.
During the school day pupils require permission to leave the premises.

Since we believe strongly in a home/school partnership we would hope that with parental support outside school this will become a policy for life and not just school. It does enable the whole community to work happily, effectively and for the benefit of all.