Pupil Support
The Pupil Support staff have a key role in monitoring the progress of individual pupils. In Primary School each pupil has been particularly associated with one teacher: now they may experience as many as fourteen each week. However, each pupil is assigned to a Register teacher and a corresponding Pupil Support teacher who will ideally remain with them throughout most of their school career.
The Pupil Support teacher will, by personal contact with pupils, by liaising with subject teachers and by meeting parents, have a full knowledge of a pupil and therefore be able to advise and support pupils at times of difficulty, and at certain stages be able to offer advice on curricular and vocational matters. Pupil Support staff have a regular weekly contact with their pupils within the Social Education programme.
The same staff liaise with the external support agencies which assist the school: these include the Careers Service, Psychological Service, School Health Service, Social Work Department.
Parents are encouraged to communicate with the Pupil Support staff if they have any reasons for concern connected with their children.
The school has been split into 3 Houses and each member of the pupil support team is responsible for a cross section of youngsters from S1 –S6. The 3 Houses have been named after famous Scottish scientists namely – Kelvin, Bell and Watt. Classes are denoted as follows 1K1, 2B2, 3W3 etc.
Pupil Support Staff
| Kelvin | Bell | Watt |
|---|---|---|
| Mr Stuart Forrester CPT Miss Nicola Nielsen PT |
Mrs Alison Rutherford CPT and Miss Kim Mitchelhill CPT Mrs Jennifer Chumley PT |
Mrs Elaine Kerridge CPT Mr Grant Armstrong PT |
Youth Strategy
This is an initiative which seeks to ensure that support for pupils is co-ordinated. At different times in their school career, some pupils will need extra support. Support for learning may be required because of social, emotional or behavioural problems at school or home.Youth Strategy brings together Education and other agencies to form a School Liaison Group who look for ways of supporting pupils in need.
This is convened by an assistant head teacher and a team of staff including the Educational Psychologist, a social worker, the Educational Welfare Officer and whenever appropriate the School Doctor, who meet regularly to discuss support strategies.
The principles of the Strategy emphasise that the needs of children are attended to, as far as possible, within their own families, and within their own neighbourhoods and communities.
Medical Care
Accident or Illness in school
In all cases of accident or illness the school will take steps to inform the parent or guardian as quickly as possible while giving priority to dealing with the pupil. It is therefore vital that parents provide the school with a current emergency contact telephone number.
The staff cannot dispense any medication; a responsibility which properly lies with the pupil's doctor. Parents should inform the school of any special medical condition pertaining to a pupil upon their enrolment, or of necessary requirements should they take ill during their time at school.Pupils who feel unwell or have had an accident at school should report to the Office, and under no circumstances should they leave school.
The insurance cover for pupils is restricted to Public Liability cover and does not extend to personal accidents within school or on the sports field. Foreign travel or involvement in outdoor pursuits which have a degree of risk are included, but beyond this, insurance cover is viewed as a parental responsibility.
This may well be an area of some concern and the situation is being reviewed in school. Any changes in the circumstances will be notified to parents.
School Health Service
The School Health Service endeavour to work closely with parents and school, providing several different services.
The school nurse carries out regular inspections of groups of children and works with the school doctor. Routine screening to test such as vision, hearing or speech is not notified to parents, but in the event of any medical examination parents will be informed and may attend. Indeed, parents may prefer to arrange for a family doctor to undertake any necessary examination.
With your consent the school doctor also carries out immunisations:Age 12 - 14: Tests resistance to tuberculosis and immunises where required (BCG).Girls only: tests for resistance to Rubella (German Measles) and immunises if necessary.Age 14 - 15: booster immunisation against tetanus and polio.The audiometry team check children's hearing before the age of 13/14 years.
Any concern over pupil health may be referred to the school doctor.
Teenage Advisory Clinic
This is a clinic open to all students giving advice on ALL health issues. It is run by the health visitors and a doctor. This is only held at one lunch break each week.
Employment of Pupils
Employment regulations for pupils are frequently abused. With new legislation introduced in August 1998 employers may only employ children aged 14 years and over in light work. Such work must not be harmful to their safety, health or development, nor to their attendance or ability at school. Children must have a fortnight free of employment in a school vacation period.
Further details for parents and pupils are available from the school.Future legislation may change these regulations.