Pastoral System and Care
At Gunnersbury Catholic School we pride ourselves on the fact that each student is known. A student’s happiness and well-being are recognised as the foundation for their success.
Effective pastoral care underpins school life and there is always someone to whom the students can turn for help and advice. Every adult has a responsibility for students’ welfare and security and there are many layers of care in place.
Our pastoral care system has a structure based on year groups which sees Heads of Year working closely with their form tutor team to ensure that we get to know every student. Students are individually valued and well-supported.
Students see their form tutors every day. Tutors have immediate access to information about students’ achievements and any incidents during the day through the school computer system. Form tutors should be the first point of contact for parents who have concerns about academic progress or effort.
Heads of Year have overall responsibility for the efficiency and effectiveness of their form tutor teams, an overview of student progress and the general welfare and behaviour of students within the year group. They should be the point of contact for parents who have more serious concerns about a student’s overall conduct, effort or academic progress.
Our pastoral care system aims to promote our Catholic Values and ethos throughout the school life. We are committed to a positive approach and, whenever possible, praise and rewards are used to motivate and encourage the students. There is a clear code of conduct which students are expected to follow at all times and this is underpinned by appropriate sanctions, as set out in the school’s behaviour policy.
Lead Educational/Pastoral Mentor
Mr S Boothe
Mr Boothe works closely with others to support the good behaviour and engagement of students around the school. He is always out welcoming them at the start of the day and keeping an eye on them throughout the day to keep them focussed on their learning.
EAL ( English as an Additional Language)
Ms Rosa Chhay
EAL (English as an Additional Language) Support is provided to help students whose first language is not English. This is to enable them to be successful in the academic programme of the grade level classroom where English is the language of instruction . EAL teachers work with classroom teachers to help children develop English language skills, and learning strategies. EAL teachers also promote cultural awareness and help students integrate in the social life of the school.
School Counsellor Team
The School Counsellor will be part of a multidisciplinary team that supports the physical, mental health and emotional wellbeing of students
SEN Department
Head of Department Mr J Baker
Admin Ms J Gellard
Special Educational Needs (SEN) is an area that includes many different positions. Special Education Needs Coordinators, SEN Teachers and Learning Support Assistants are all centred around developing an inclusive atmosphere and helping to support and progress students with learning difficulties or physical disablement
Some of the challenges these students face are Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, deafness, blindness, ADHD, ADD Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties as well as many more physical or psychological challenges
The SEN team are involved in a number of tasks across the school, for example:
- Teaching these students as either individuals, or in small groups, both inside and outside the class.
- Preparing resources and lessons: this can mean using special equipment, facilities and resources or adapting current resources.
- Adapting conventional teaching methods and creating individual learning plans to meet the needs of SEN pupils through collaboration with Class Teachers
- Attending statutory annual reviews, training events and other relevant meetings to keep up with the latest SEN developments e.g. Looked After Child (LAC) reviews.
- Assessing children who may have short or long-term learning difficulties and may have an SEN requirement.
Learning Support Assistants
We have a significant number of learning support assistants (LSAs) who give support to both students and staff. All LSAs take a role before school, during break/lunchtimes and after school in duties, supervision of students, homework club and other activities as appropriate.
