A CARING COMMUNITY

The guidance system provides advice and support to all pupils on various matters related to their school careers. The school regards itself as "a caring community" and accepts a responsibility for promoting the social and personal, as well as the intellectual development of its pupils.
Each year group is the responsibility of a member of the Senior Management Team assisted by a Principal Teacher of Guidance. Two Assistant Principal Teachers of Guidance assist with S1-S4. A number of first-line guidance staff support the promoted guidance staff in years S1-S5.

As pupils move up the school, these teachers will move with them in order to give continuity of contact between individual pupils and the guidance staff.

In 2005/2006 the teams responsible for each group were as follows:-

The Guidance System

A guidance team's responsibilities are many and varied. They can be summarised as follows:-

(a) knowing and being known by the pupils in their charge
(b) contacting and communicating with parents
(c) collaborating with external agencies in the interests of pupils
(d) liaising with subject teachers
(e) record keeping and reporting
(f) ensuring that pupils' needs attract an appropriate school response
(g) interpreting the school and its policies to pupils

At particular times, guidance staff also assume responsibility for Primary/Secondary liaison and course choice at the end of S2 and S4.

Parents are welcome to meet with guidance staff to discuss any matter concerning their child's personal, social or educational well-being. However, guidance teachers are also subject teachers, and to avoid interrupting their work with classes, we would ask that you contact the school to arrange a suitable time to meet with the appropriate member of staff.