Guidance System

The Guidance System is organised around three houses, Fiddich, Livet and Rinnes, each of which contains a vertical section of the school from S1 to S6.   Each of the three Principal Teachers of Guidance has responsibility for a house.   In all matters relating to guidance, Principal Teachers are answerable to a Depute Rector.   Depute Rector (PM) has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of all school PSE programmes, with curricular management responsibilities shared with George MacKenzie, PT of Social and Vocational Education.

Morning registration checks, the initial investigation of unexplained absences and monitoring homework and study planning of individual pupils are the responsibility of registration tutors, each of whom deals with a group of pupils in the same year. Tutors are answerable to and will be able to make referrals for support to the appropriate PT Guidance.

The Deputy Rector is responsible for the co-ordination of the work of PTs Guidance who will attend weekly meetings of the school Guidance Team.   This team meeting will be extended at times to include the involvement of others such as the PT Learning Support, Social Workers, the Educational Psychologist and staff of Moray Youth Action.

AIMS OF GUIDANCE

The guidance system contributes to ensuring that there is systematic provision to meet the needs of individual pupils to cope with transition between educational stages, to make informed and appropriate choices, to support and review progress and development, to come to terms with growing responsibility and the demands placed on them both by the school and its social and economic context.

PTs Guidance and first level tutors have key roles to play in fostering positive attitudes to learning, in encouraging responsible behaviour and in supporting educational achievement.

DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL TEACHER OF GUIDANCE

GUIDANCE TEAM DUTIES

These include:-
• Participating in the monitoring, evaluating and revising of the aims and organisation of guidance within the school.
• Participating in meetings of the guidance team and extended guidance team.
• Managing tutors within one of the houses, including arrangements for meetings and regular weekly contacts, as well as their work in programmes of personal and social development.
• Sharing responsibility with other members of the team as duty guidance teacher when required, including attending to pupils who become unwell.

GUIDANCE DUTIES

These include:-

• Providing counselling for pupils, in accord with school policies, including regular interviewing of all pupils for whom responsible.

• Participating in the planning, development and evaluation of programmes of personal and social development within the school.   These include induction, careers and study skills.

• Being involved in the assessment of effective qualities of pupils and in pupil self-assessment.

• Collating and summarising assessments of pupils, maintaining assessment records and contributing to school records as required, including those associated with profiling and records of achievement.

• Assisting in the management, deployment and professional development of staff in relation to their guidance roles.
• Liaising with parents, including by means of home visiting, as appropriate.
• Preparing reports on pupils when required for external agencies or school purposes.

• Monitoring the overall progress of pupils, including conducting specific checks on behaviour and/or attainment as required.

• Attending hearings, review meetings and case conferences for pupils as required.
• Fostering links with particular primary schools by visiting and taking an interest in their activities.

• Providing homework for pupils absent from school for periods of time and informing staff of any adverse circumstances affecting a pupil.

• Issuing and maintaining records relating to work permits.
• Encouraging and furthering the work of a House Committee and helping to co-ordinate inter-house activities.
•  Supporting, reviewing and focusing pupils' learning.
• Working in collaborative ways with external agencies, including Social Work in its variety of forms.

WHOLE SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

Include:-

• Professional contribution to the management policies of the school including, as appropriate, advising the head teacher.

• Implementation of whole school policies.

• Liaison and co-operation with other school staff, staff of specialised agencies, and guidance staff in other establishments as appropriate.

FIRST LEVEL GUIDANCE

First level guidance functions through registration and PSE tutor groups, which are organised either on the basis of practical sections or house groupings.   In each case, the registration tutor group and the PSE section correspond.

Principal Teacher's Guidance have a key role in teaching PSE and in working closely with registration tutors and PSE tutors to support pupils' learning and meet personal needs.

• The role of tutors includes the following:-
• Record morning attendance.
• Conduct initial investigation of unexplained absence.

Support pupils in effective use of homework diaries and, in S3 upwards, year planners.   This includes Friday morning checks for parents' signatures and counselling pupils who have had difficulties in submitting homework on time.

• Create a secure social base for pupils in the tutor group.
• Act as a tutor for PSE or SVS, where possible.
• Discuss and record individual pupils interests achievements and concerns.
• Provide information for PT Guidance regarding the personal and social development of pupils and any matter of particular concern.

HOME SCHOOL LINK WORKER

The home school link worker acts to support school attendance throughout the ASG.   In Speyside H.S main duties are:

•  Monitor attendance and pursue absence of all pupils who are at or beyond Stage 1 of the Moray Attendance procedures.
•  Support good attendance by all pupils.
•  Enhance links between home and school.
•  Aid in the management of home learning.

BEHAVOUR SUPPORT WORKER

The behaviour support worker operates in close co-operation with the guidance team. Main duties are:

•  To supervise and support completion of work out of classes.
•  To support good behaviour for specific pupils in classes.
•  To help the guidance teacher in the process of identifying the nature of, and reasons for poor behaviour, and to help towards changing that behaviour.