On entering The Swinton High School your child will be placed in a mixed ability form group. These units are not too large – usually about 25 pupils and, therefore, each youngster has a basic group with which he or she can identify. Here your child can make friends, and he or she has a form teacher with whom celebrations, problems and worries can be shared.
All the forms of the same age group make up a year group which is the responsibility of the Head of Year. They are members of staff who will collect all the information – social, behavioural and academic, concerning your child. It is to the Head of Year that any personal information, problems involving your youngsters or enquiries should be directed. Each year group also has a Year Manager who works with the Head of Year.
The Form Tutor is the key figure who takes an active interest in pupils’ social welfare and, at the same time, monitors the academic progress made by each pupil in the year group. The school encourages and rewards achievements within a caring and purposeful atmosphere. We believe that children work best when they are happy and feel secure within a positive and caring environment.
The relationship between school and home is of paramount importance and close contact with parents is essential, for it is this positive partnership which will ensure that your youngster achieves his or her potential.
Peer Mentoring
Peer Mentoring can mean different things to different people. At The Swinton High School we train pupils to act in a co-operative and friendly way towards their peers. The main focus of the scheme is to be a ‘listening ear’ for pupils in years 7 and 8.
At The Swinton High School we work with the Mentoring & Befriending Foundations, as well as Childline, to help train our peer mentors. The training process takes place over two days in the summer term. The training programme looks at things ranging from how to deal with different scenarios to child protection. This training gives pupils the skills and confidence to mentor their peers.
The mentees are selected in a number of ways. This may take the process of self selection, a referral from primary school or a referral from a member of staff in school. A letter is then sent out to parents/carers asking permission for their child to participate in the programme.
Mentors are then matched with year 10 mentees. At the end of each term a review will take place to see if pupils wish to continue with the programme and to evaluate both the mentees and mentors progress.