Tarbert Academy

Guidance:

The role of the Guidance Department is to work with all aspects of pupil support within the school in order to promote an inclusive education for all.  This includes working with pupils from primary transition until S6 and beyond, where support may be needed for references and job application assistance.

There are three essential roles within the Guidance team:

Pastoral Care & Support

This ensures that the Guidance teacher:

  • Knows all pupils through regular contact during the course of the day as well as individual interviews
  • Identifies and responds quickly to the needs of all pupils at Tarbert Academy
  • Provides personal guidance and support for all pupils to help them deal with concerns and problems
  • Will assist to foster good relationships between teachers and pupils
  • Develops a trusting relationship between Guidance staff and pupils where information can be shared and discussed in a confidential and safe manner
  • Will work with parents and carers at home in all aspects of pupil development and welfare
  • Liaise with outside agencies when needed to offer and maintain high levels of appropriate support at all times
  • Will motivate and where necessary challenge the young people regarding their learning
  • To encourage the pupils’ personal, social and intellectual development

 

Curricular guidance

 Guidance staff:

  • Are familiar with the curriculum and assessment procedures that are in place at Tarbert Academy
  • Liaise with both pupils and parents during the choice making process
  • Gather, collate, and advise on the attainment of individuals
  • Assist pupils with continual self-evaluation and reflection in response to assessment results and reports from teachers
  • Will provide individual pupil support when setting targets and recording achievements
  • Provide guidance and support during transition periods such as P7/S1, subject option choices at S3,4,5 and progression to Further education and employment
  • Liaise with the careers service, SDS and support all pupils to progress on to a positive destination

 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Personal, Social and Health Education

During S3 late S4 pupils will continue with a timetabled programme of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) to support the curriculum area of Health and Wellbeing. 

Under Curriculum for Excellence this is divided into four main areas:

  • Planning for Choices and changes –
  • Mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing
  • Substance misuse
  • Relationships, sexual health and parenthood.

 

Health and Wellbeing education is delivered across the curriculum but the PSHE programme makes a significant contribution to the development of students as responsible citizens, confident individuals, effective contributors and successful learners.

  • PSHE is a wide-ranging subject, which includes topics such as careers, alcohol, drugs and relationships. Through discussion, presentations, role-play and worksheets they are given the information that should allow them to make informed decisions about their choices in life which will keep them both physically and mentally safe.

 

  • PSHE follows the R (relationships) S (sexual) H (health) and P (parenting) programme which has been developed nationally to allow a robust, enjoyable and informed approach to healthy relationships, parenting and sexual health.

 

  • PSHE helps pupils develop self-discipline and a sense of responsibility both to themselves and others. It also hopes to provide a greater awareness of their community, their country and the world at large and their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

 

  • Within PSHE, careers education is delivered in conjunction with Skills Development Scotland and provides pupils with information about employment, further education and related topics enabling them to make a successful move onto the next stage of their education or work.

 

Outside agencies and partners are invited into the school to provide specialised information and support at appropriate points of the PSHE programme to challenge the pupils in their understanding and provide them with a wider sphere of influence.

It is hoped that by giving the pupils the tools to make informed decisions they will make safer choices and grow up to be independent, happy individuals who can take responsibility for themselves and others. It is important that they should feel happy, safe, respected and included in the school environment and have ambition for themselves and their life after school. Through our PSHE programme we hope to provide them with the necessary skills and opportunities to achieve this.

 

The Extended Guidance Team

Whilst the Guidance team have a specific role to play in the daily support of all pupils, all teachers and key staff have a responsibility to support the pupils in a variety of ways such as:

  • Tutor teachers
  • Learning co-ordinators
  • Classroom support
  • Members of SLT
  • The Support for Learning team
  • School nurse

 

Representatives from agencies that are important to Tarbert Academy include; Social Work, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Police Scotland, National Health Service, Educational Psychology, etc.