Pastoral curriculum and support overview

Our pastoral curriculum is designed to enhance student experience, it is closely linked to the personal development curriculum and key themes often spiral through both programmes.

We recognise that delivering pastoral learning doesn’t just take place in tutor time.It is all of our responsibility all of the time. This means that we consider other ways to teach the pastoral curriculum from untaught (staff conduct, language, assemblies) and co-curricular opportunities, to subject lessons and ‘drop-down’ opportunities such as for careers and PD. For these reasons, we expect all students to be engaged in pastoral learning in all aspects of school life and throughout their time with us.

Tutor groups and houses

Each student is assigned a tutor group and house – house colours – Jethou (Yellow), Brecqhou (blue) Lihou (red), Herm (Orange) and Sark (Green). The houses come into their own during larger events such as charities day and sports day but are also important on a smaller scale through merit totals and inter house competitions. There is a trophy awarded to the winning house with the most points at the end of each year.

Tutor Time

Our tutor time programme consists of the following elements:

• Bulletin – Students receive a weekly ‘bulletin’ detailing important events, activities and important updates. These can range from sporting opportunities to clubs and societies that are on within the school week. Alongside this are important notices.
• Reading programme – Three times per week students have the opportunity to read along with their tutor a class book. We strongly believe in the importance of exposure to a wide and diverse vocabulary and its impact on the development of literacy skills that can support a student in all areas of schooling. Through this programme we promote reading for pleasure, encouraging our students to visit the library regularly and expect all to embrace this opportunity of discovering the written word in whatever format they choose, this is complimented through the bookopoly competition where students are encouraged to read a range of books outside of school, this is monitored and student success is shared weekly.
• Assembly – As part of a personal development programme students will attend an assembly once a week. Assemblies will have varying themes throughout the course of a year. These can range from current events that are influencing the lives of our students, historic events that we believe require recognition and remembrance to moral and social themes that help develop student awareness, broaden their horizons and cultural capital. We also have a house system (Lihou, Jethou, Brecqhou) that encourages healthy competition, participation, charitable events and celebrates whole school achievements and successes.
• Current affairs quiz – Once per week students engage in a structured quiz related to current affairs. We believe that this offers vital opportunities to engage in the current news and the world around them.

Attendance

Attendance at school is directly linked to success in exams and results. If you are not in school, you are not able to learn! Tutors will receive weekly attendance updates for their students and any absences will be discussed and reasons recorded. If your child is off school please contact the main school office who will be able to update the registers accordingly. It is the responsibility of the student to then see the staff for the lessons missed and catch up on any work that needs to be completed.

Activities and social events

There are so many activities on offer within St. Sampson’s High for students – ranging from sports clubs to drama and music. Staff are keen to offer new experiences and support pupils to develop their extracurricular pursuits and all students are encouraged to participate in at least one club / activity not least because it provides an opportunity to make new friends as well as possibly learn a new skill.

Fundraising

It is our intention to undertake many fundraising activities aimed at providing money to support local charities as well as the students. Money raised to support the students will be allocated to provide rewards for trips for good behaviour, contribution towards end of term celebrations or providing assistance if students wish to partake in other events that would benefit from some financial support from school. Fundraising is organised in houses or tutor groups.