SUPPORT FOR PUPILS

Pastoral Support

Although pupil guidance is a whole school responsibility, specific responsibilities for the personal, curricular and vocational guidance of pupils are devolved to a promoted guidance team. Normally, all pupils will have the same guidance teacher until they leave school so that one person keeps an overview of each individual pupil's progress. Where possible, all members of the same family share the same guidance teacher which should make it easier for parents to establish and maintain links with the guidance team.

Guidance staff also deliver the school's personal and social education programme covering topics such as sex education, substance abuse, careers options etc. Any parent wishing to see the materials used should contact the guidance team.

Mrs Christine McHattie, the school's careers officer, will normally be in school one day each week and works closely with the guidance team to provide effective careers advice. Pupils also have access to a well-stocked careers section in the library.

 

Support for Learning

The school provides for pupils with a range of special educational needs. In mainstream classes, support for pupils with special educational needs is provided by the Support Department. Support teachers work with pupils in class, alongside subject teachers and cooperate with subject departments to produce learning materials suitable for pupils of all abilities. Support is provided for a range of subjects mainly in S1 and S2 but extending to S3 and S4 Standard Grade, Access and Intermediate courses according to need.

A small number of pupils require a reduced mainstream curriculum, according to their individual needs. These pupils spend varying amounts of time in the tutorial base of the Support Department, where the teaching focuses on basic language and number work, as well as social and life skills. This allows these pupils to work at an appropriate pace in preparation for work at Access, Intermediate or Standard Grade in third year.

A few pupils in the school have a Additional Support Needs. Their needs are met by the school in liaison with an Educational Psychologist and parents.

Pupil Support

A small group of pupils whose behaviour may put them at risk of exclusion are supported within the school by two support teachers Jo Monahan and Julie Harpham aided by Eileen Munro  auxiliary. Karen Patullo, our Children’s Service Worker, provides close support to any family to help them support their child at school.  Individual programmes are devised for these pupils with particular emphasis on easing the transition between the school and work, training and further education. Close partnership with home is critical to the success of such programmes.