Overview
Guidance and Achievement at South Island School provides the foundation for the personal, social and academic development of each student and ensures improved standards of learning for all. South Island School is a caring environment which encompasses academic excellence and encourages each student to play an active role in our whole school community.
As a School we value
- Creativity and innovation
- Inclusiveness and diversity
- Environmental and community conscious
- Team work and leadership
- Commitment and personal responsibility
- Respect and integrity
- Self direction and reflection
Above all we value caring for others.
South Island School believes that every child matters and therefore every member of the teaching staff are involved in the student Guidance and Achievement structure of the school. The primary function is to support students as learners. The school, through collaboration between subject teachers, tutors and parents, works to ensure that students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding to be confident, successful and independent individuals and members of society. To achieve these we need to provide an environment that supports effective teaching and learning. This supportive environment begins immediately upon entry to South Island when each student joins their Tutor Group.
Students are arranged into tutor groups of 15 in number. The Tutor and students remain together throughout Years 7 to 13 and this provides students with a group with whom they can closely identify.
The role of the Tutor is a crucial one. They will they be the first point of contact for the parent or student should issues arise and they will also monitor the potential and progress of each student. As such, they have a key role in knowing each member of their Tutor Group and how best to help them meet their academic expectations by monitoring, communicating and intervening when necessary. The Tutor should be the child's most significant adult at school. Tutors make every effort to ensure that the relationships fostered between the student, home and school is positive. Qualities that our students expect from our tutors are being trustworthy, having high expectations, fair and consistent, sensitive, caring, enthusiastic and having a sincere interest.
We want to help our young people to develop fully and to have the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary for adult life. The school is fully committed to providing a purposeful, orderly and friendly environment in which the whole child is developed. Students enjoy a broad and balanced education, including a Learning Futures course which promotes spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development and prepare them for adult life.
The CAS Programme (Community, Action and Service) throughout the school ensures that there is a wide range of opportunities for students to gain additional experiences, learn new skills, find out more about themselves, give to the community and achieve additional qualifications. Their achievements are documented as part of their Learning Portfolio and are monitored by their Tutor.
Students are also motivated to give of their best though a sense of ownership and belonging, and through the development of high self-esteem. Student voice is valued and achieved formally through the Student Council where there are elected representatives. Students are given posts of responsibility and leadership opportunities, both within the Tutor Group and the House as a mark of our trust in their abilities to help us in the day-to-day management of the school. They play an increasingly large role in the running of the school through posts such as the House representatives, prefects, peer support groups and charity committees. Students gain a sense of belonging primarily through their affiliation to a Year Group within a particular section of the school. The staff within a Section continually monitor individual students and appraise and advise them according to their individual needs. Continuity and progression is ensured through the Head of Year who remains with the year group for up to five years. Assemblies, assist in maintaining Year identity and in communicating the whole school ethos in a variety of ways. Cross-phase collaborations ensure that the transfer between primary and secondary is a smooth one.
At South Island we celebrate outstanding achievement and reward effort and improvement. Students are respected and, as a result, treat each other, the staff and their environment with respect. The displaying of students' work ensures that they feel highly valued and respected. Students' achievements are celebrated in Year, House and Whole School assemblies. An annual Awards Ceremony celebrates outstanding achievement and effort and students are presented with both commendations and book awards to acknowledge their success. Students are presented with their Records of Achievement at the end of Year 13 to mark their incredible development to date and their participation in a wide range of activities, both curricular and co-curricular.
