Home > Parents > Current Parents > Student Welfare Officers

Student Welfare Officers

Pastoral and Academic Support at Penair School 

Intent 

The Key Stage Teams at Penair School aim to support all students on their journeys through school. We want our students to be ready, respectful and safe in all that they do and we want to help them to develop the skills and resilience they need to be kind and responsible citizens and to tackle anything that comes their way after they leave the school gates. We want our pupils to demonstrate an excellent commitment to their learning and to ensure that all our pupils make exceptional academic progress throughout their time at Penair. 

Implementation 

Both KS3 and KS4 have teams made up of Personal Development Leads (PDL) and Student Welfare Officers (SWO). In KS3 we work with students in years 7, 8 and 9, and in the summer term we work with our partner primary schools for transition from year 6. In KS4, we work with years 10 and 11.

Students will build up knowledge and skills in a variety of subjects in KS3, which will provide a platform to build towards qualification routes in KS4. The PDLs ensure that through a broad curriculum, highly skilled staff and child-centred values students are provided with a positive learning environment, which promotes independence and achievement. Academic interventions are put into place to provide support where needed and success is celebrated frequently. 

We strive to teach our students the skills they need to leave our school as resilient, successful, independent members of society. This is done through a comprehensive and varied programme of pastoral skills sessions which are delivered by form tutors, and in assemblies and other whole-group settings. The material covered is age-appropriate and allows our students to be confident and well-informed about relevant, current issues.  

We have a strong pastoral team who also provide targeted support for some students. This can be 1:1, small group sessions, mentoring, support during social times and helping students to access their learning. 

Each year group has 8-9 tutor groups, each with a dedicated form tutor who is always the first port of call for student or parent queries. Form tutors monitor student attendance, behaviour and wellbeing and they deliver a programme of activities and information through the morning tutorial sessions. We also run year group assemblies in which key messages are delivered and achievements celebrated.  

We do not tolerate bullying at Penair School. CELT (Caring Engaging Listening and Talking) is a KS3 student led anti-bullying group whose aim is to provide support and understanding to students. Peer Mentors work in KS4 and help support their peers and younger students who may be experiencing problems.  

Diversity of our students is recognised and supported during meetings of the SKITTLES Group.  

Both the KS3 and KS4 teams liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and SENDCo, as well as other school colleagues and external agencies, to ensure that the needs of students are met.  

Impact 

Students know that they have a strong support network which starts with their form tutor. There are emotionally available adults who are well placed to support students through any difficulties that they may experience.  

We strive to ensure that our student’s attainment through KS3 is in line with or exceeding their potential so that students will be academically and physically prepared for life through to college and in Modern Britain and the world. 

Students will be able to develop a character that prepares them for living in the community demonstrating tolerance and equality. We measure this not just by the work our students produce, but in the behaviours we see each and every day, and in the many roles we give them. Students don’t give up, they are highly motivated to succeed and achieve and are equipped with all the personal skills to do this.  

Our students will be motivated by a strong personal sense of morality. They will make decisions for the right reasons and in the best interests of their community. They will be able to decide what is right and what is wrong, and will be resilient to the influence of others. They will go out into the world and make a difference in their own life and to others. 

Our students will be the owners of their own destinies.