Pastoral Care@ Lourdes Secondary
What is our Pastoral Care system?
All the young people are assigned to a Pastoral Care teacher on entering our school. Lourdes Secondary has a horizontal system meaning one Pastoral Carer per year group. Pastoral Care provides the link in the educational chain between home and various departments in our school. All teachers in a school have a clear responsibility for the children`s welfare. In particular, through our Personal Support programme pupils have access to their Pastoral Care teacher in class for the duration of their time at Lourdes Secondary.
It is the Pastoral Care teacher who has an `all round` picture of an individual pupil`s progress. The Pastoral Care teacher also prepares a structured Pastoral Care programme to help all the pupils at certain stages of development. This includes participating in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative in S2 and Headstrong in S3 for example.
Pastoral Care staff are therefore engaged in a number of important tasks in addition to their teaching duties including monitoring progress, attendance, attainment, well being, etc. Those identified as being at risk are identified and every encouragement is given to achieve their full potential.
What do Pastoral Care teachers do?
Pastoral Care teachers help in the following ways. For example:
- caring and providing support for all pupils
- developing close links with Primary 7 pupils and teachers
- taking care of new admissions
- regularly reviewing the academic progress of young people
- assisting with options choices
- actively promoting social inclusion
- monitoring of attendance and timekeeping
- caring for pupils who face difficulties – emotional, physical and in school work
- preparing reports on pupils – for employers, colleges, universities, etc
- contacting parents of individual pupils – by letter, telephone, interview and meeting
- linking with supporting agencies such as the Careers` Service, Social Work, Community Organisations, etc
The role of Pastoral Care is central to much that happens in our school. So essential is its contribution that it is our clear policy to involve not only teachers promoted in pastoral care but also all teachers on our staff. All staff are encouraged to take a close interest in the education and welfare of the young people they teach.
What are the aims of Pastoral Care in Lourdes Secondary ?
The aims of Pastoral Care staff are to assist each student by identifying and meeting needs in terms of Personal, Social, Curricular and Vocational Pastoral Care. These needs are met by providing:
- individual support and pastoral care
- contributions via inserts to our programme of education for personal and social development
- information and advice for realistic decision making about educational options, career and life choices
