Guidance and Achievement

The Guidance and Achievement Structure at West Island School endeavours to provide a safe, caring, stable and supportive environment which values every member of our community. Within this environment we aim to develop students’ self-esteem, self-respect and sense of responsibility towards themselves and others. The Pastoral approach, taken by all staff, is concerned with the well-being of the whole child, which includes both their academic and personal development.

The Form Tutor plays a fundamental role in guiding each individual within their Form Group. S/He should be the first point of contact for teachers, parents and students. Through individual contact during tutor period, registration and one-to-one tutoring, form tutors make a major contribution to the student’s development. Each student belongs to a Tutor Group of approximately 15 and will remain with the Group during most of the time spent at WIS. In turn, each Tutor Group is assigned to one of six Dynasties. In this way the student can identify with a smaller group (the Form Group); a larger group, which offers a sense of belonging and a focus for community work, sporting and other competitions (the Dynasty); and the wider School Community. On a 3 weekly cycle students meet with their tutor for an opportunity to talk about their learning and progress on a one to one basis this creates a close knit sense of community in the school. The co-ordination of the work of the Tutor is part of the role of the Heads of School and Heads of Year. These Pastoral Teams known collectively as ‘The Guidance and Achievement Team’ are responsible for monitoring and reporting on academic progress, personal development and standards of behaviour in our students and are overseen by the Vice Principal in charge of Guidance and Achievement. At West Island School we believe that students are most successful when parents and staff work together. Therefore parents are most welcome to contact the school at any time, through contact with the class teachers, Form Tutor, Head of Year or School or the relevant Vice Principal.

Leadership

There are many opportunities for leadership at West island School

from Year 7 to Year 13. Students may become student councillors for their form group or dynasty representatives and opportunities in each phase are given for aiding the environment or taking part in charity events. In the upper school, students may choose to become mentors for younger students, ‘buddies’ for new students and apply to become a student leader or Head students for the school. In addition there are numerous committees in, for example, areas such as the environment or service which students can join.

Rewards

West Island believes in promoting all aspects of individual achievement. Each student has a Record of Achievement in which he or she can keep certificates received from school or outside

agencies and which form part of his or her leaving reference. Students may gain dynasty points for single pieces of academic work or for acts of compassion, service work or the like. For outstanding and sustained achievement and effort certificates are given for both academic and non-academic areas. An annual awards ceremony is held to celebrate major achievement academically as well as to honour students who have given to the school or the community.

The Pastoral System