Student Support & Wellbeing
At Island School, we are dedicated to recognising, embracing, and valuing the unique characteristics and differences of each student in our community. We celebrate individuality through our commitment to equity, fairness, and diversity, ensuring that every voice is acknowledged and respected. We strive for excellence by creating an environment where all students can flourish, encouraging them to achieve their full potential. We embrace responsibility and empower our students to take charge of their learning in order to make positive contributions to our community.
Inclusive Education
- We will aim to foster an environment that acknowledges and respects diverse identities, ensuring all students have access to education and learning opportunities that are tailored to their unique needs, and motivate students to thrive within and outside of school.
Community Engagement
- We will actively engage with families and community members to create partnerships that promote respect, trust, and collaboration. By taking accountability for each individual perspective, we strive to build a supportive environment in which students feel valued.
Equity and Fairness
- We will champion equity and fairness in the Islander experience by advocating for fair treatment and opportunities for every student. Our commitment includes developing a curriculum that reflects diverse perspectives and promotes inclusivity. Additionally, we will collaborate with existing student teams, such as Girls Rising, to identify and address barriers to success, creating targeted support systems that empower all students in our community.
Diversity in Leadership
- We will promote diversity within our leadership teams, ensuring that a variety of community voices and experiences are represented. By cultivating diverse leadership, we aim to inspire students to see themselves as future leaders who can also contribute positively to our community.
Well-Being and Support
- We will prioritise the well-being of all students, staff, and members of our community. By creating a supportive environment that encourages mental health and personal growth, prioritising the accessibility of resources, and a reliable community, we will help guide individuals who may need additional support.
Island School Houses
At the heart of supporting student’s well-being is the Island School House system. A student’s house is their family within the wider school community and provides students with a strong sense of belonging. Every student and member of staff is part of an Island School House:
Students are grouped in year-group-based tutor groups within each house and supported throughout their Island School journey by their Tutor and Head of House. Students remain in the same tutor group and with the same tutor from Year 7 to Year 13.
In Years 7, 8 and 9, students are also supported by a Head of Year who takes responsibility for supporting students across the year group.
The tutor is the key person students and parents will communicate with and we always encourage parents to keep in close contact with their child’s tutor.
Social and Emotional Counselling at Island School
Students face many issues as they grow up and the teenage years are known for being full of ups and downs. So it is only natural that our students may need some additional support. Apart from approaching their tutors, or Head of Year/House, we also encourage students to use our counselling service as an additional support to help them address difficulties that may affect their social, emotional or intellectual well-being. This service is provided by Island School counsellors and government social workers.
All adults at Island School are here to make sure the students are well supported and receive all the help they require. We regularly remind students of all the trusted adults who are available to listen and provide guidance during the school day. Seeing a counsellor provides a place to talk about any worries, decisions or concerns. Many students who seek help tell us that speaking with a counsellor gives them enormous relief as well as providing practical strategies to help them manage their situation.
Thrive
At Island School, we embrace wellbeing as a core role in education to help students thrive and build resistance against adversity. Wellbeing is a holistic term that encompasses all aspects of a student's life, including their physical, social, cognitive and emotional state.
These four lenses that define wellbeing structure our Thrive programme with the Island School values embedded in the learning objectives. The Thrive programme is taught to students on a Thursday afternoon by tutors and is a compulsory part of an Island School education.
Thrive Learning Objectives:
Physical wellbeing
Physical wellbeing teaches the students about their own growth and development to embrace responsibility for their own self care and to promote healthy lifestyle choices.
Social wellbeing
Social wellbeing helps build authentic relationships where students are encouraged to positively contribute to our community, society and life. To celebrate individuality and be mindful about themselves, others and the environment.
Cognitive wellbeing
Cognitive wellbeing embraces opportunities for students to pursue their interests, set goals and pursue excellence. To engage and support their development of essential lifelong skills.
Emotional wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing develops the students emotional intelligence by giving them the tools to protect themselves for a positive mental health. To understand, use and manage their own emotions in a positive way. Island Schools Thrive curriculum has been developed from comprehensive, evidence based research to ensure we deliver an extensive and inclusive programme. This includes the mandated Relationships and Sexuality Education Curriculum
(ESF) , the Mental Health Association (Australia) and the PHSE Curriculum (UK). Thrive is delivered by the tutor once a week and is an important part in building this pastoral relationship for the care and safety of our students.
Relationship and Comprehensive (Sexuality) Education Curriculum (RSE)
- The RSE is mandatory across all ESF schools and was developed with the objective of “giving young people the tools to safeguard their health and wellbeing”. The development of this programme is a result of ongoing work in protecting young people which has been established from UNESCO guidelines.
The Personal, Social, Health and Economic education
The PHSE curriculum topics comprises relationships, health and wellbeing and living in the wider world and is a school subject through which students develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. It helps children and young people to stay healthy and safe, while preparing them to make the most of life and work.
PSHE education also helps pupils to achieve their academic potential.
Please click here to view the Thrive Handbook.
Learning Support & Individual Needs at Island School
Island School accepts students with a wide range of abilities, some of whom have special educational needs. Island School's Individual Needs & Learning Support Department aims to provide all students with equal access to the curriculum and every aspect of school life; and to support them so that they can achieve their full potential academically.
A range of strategies are employed to ensure that the school meets the needs of these students. These include:
- In-class support from educational assistants
- Social thinking sessions for those with marked difficulties with social communication
- Liaison between Individual Needs & Learning Support staff and other teaching staff
- Supporting teachers to ensure best practices for universal design learning are in place in the classrooms.
- Special examination accommodations are in place for students who need these for internal or external assessments including SAT or AP examinations (such as extra time or use of a laptop)
- The provision of advice and training to staff on a variety of learning needs/strategies.
- Meetings with parents to discuss intervention strategies, Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) and Support Plans where necessary.
- Although a limited resource, referrals can be made to the ESF Educational Psychologist when necessary
Gifted & Talented Policy
Island School’s policy is to provide for students within its curriculum. For students who may be defined as gifted, or talented, it is the class teacher’s responsibility to ensure that there are opportunities in every lesson to extend their knowledge, thinking and learning.
Additionally, there are specific aspects of the curriculum where gifted, or talented, students can take their learning further. For example, international competitions in Maths, project-based learning, the Battle of the Books Club and Science competitions, to name but a few. Students are given the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of courses. In addition to the large number of GCSE courses, students can choose Elements courses that offer increased breadth and depth. Many of these, such as Law, Cryptography and Brilliant Books, provide opportunities for gifted and talented students to extend their learning beyond the traditional curriculum.
Students may also want to take advantage of the extra-curricular opportunities available, such as the Robotics club or become involved in the well-established debating team.
English for Academic Purposes
At Island School, we are a diverse community where all learners, including our Bilingual and Multilingual Learners (BMLs), can truly thrive.
Our mission is to inspire curiosity and nurture healthy, resilient global citizens who aim to be the best they can be. We achieve this by creating supportive learning environments which are focused on the growth and development of each of our students. Our teachers are not only facilitators of learning but also collaborators who differentiate education for every learner. This ensures that all our bilingual and multilingual students receive the support they need with their language learning.
Monitoring BML Learners and Progress
All bilingual and multilingual learners at Island School are monitored throughout the academic year to ensure that their support is targeted to their level. This assessment involves a combination of formative assessments, observational data, and teacher feedback. Student achievement is tracked across a range of subjects to determine what support is needed.
