S1/S2

The duty of the House staff is to ensure that the pupils in their House are aware of the 'caring service' that exists. This 'service' must cater for their emotional, social and varied learning requirements. In short, during the very early days, House staff try to make sure that children are settled and happy.

The Form Tutor (Registration teacher) is an invaluable source of information both to new pupils and to the House staff at this time, and there is no doubt that both pupils and staff get to know each other well. Where possible we try to maintain the relationship between a House Form Tutor and his/her Tutor group as the pupils move up through the school system.

The House Pupil Support staff are always available to give help and advice on an individual basis, and to lend support to pupils with additional support needs. There is regular consultation with all staff who teach the child, and the progress of each pupil is carefully monitored throughout the first two years.

The S1 pupils will also receive support from a 6th year student who will act as a 'buddy'. This initiative has proved to be very successful.

S1

The PSE programme in S1 is designed to help young people acquire important personal and social skills in order to cope with the increasing challenges they face in our complex, changing society.  These skills include thinking, feeling, decision-making, communicating and acting.  The aim is to increase self-confidence and a special emphasis is placed on relationships with others.

The topics to be followed by S1 pupils are Know Your School, Bullying, Raising Self-Esteem, Citizenship, Sex Education, Career Box, Drugwise and Keeping Healthy.

S2

Second year pupils have important decisions to make concerning their course subjects for the future. Bearing this in mind, eight to twelve weeks are devoted to preparing pupils for their course selection and introducing them to careers topics.

Pupils also spend time considering such topics as: Citizenship, Sex Education, Drugwise, Decision-Making, Awareness of Others and Mental Health.