To provide a high level of individual attention in a safe and secure environment.
Personal Tutors
Each sixth form student is assigned to a senior member of staff who has specific responsibility for assisting the student with liaison, monitoring, university applications and social considerations. In particular, each Middle School student is under the control of the Head of Middle School (James Wykes).
Students Applying from Overseas
The College actively recruits abroad due to the interviewing that Mike and John do whilst overseas. As part of his portfolio, Lee Kirby holds the position of Director of Overseas Recruitment. Lee is in charge of liaising with agents and authorities concerning the application for visas and advising applicants appropriately. He and his team are also responsible for organizing accommodation and airport pickup and are a focus for minor administrative issues during the student’s time at the college. Thus they should be able to help with such things as: visa renewal, opening a bank account, relocating accommodation etc.
John and Breanne have the general responsibility for monitoring such students whilst they attend the college. Thus they liaise closely with Personal Tutors concerning such students as well as with agents, parents and the British Council. Personal Tutors should be aware of the overall happiness of students with regard to: accommodation, health, academic provision and success etc; specifically, if there were a problem with persistent absence with such a student it is their responsibility to investigate and liaise. They will also act as the out-of-hours contact for these students. In these roles they will report to and be supported by the Principal, Vice Principal and Director of Studies.
Provision of Extra-curricular Activities
Ashbourne prides itself on being a strong academic College where both the focus and the objective are academic success. There are, however, opportunities to engage in a variety of extra-curricular activities during students’ time here.
Culture
Each February the College organises a very popular and highly successful trip to a major European city. In recent years Seville, Florence, Madrid, Amsterdam and Rome have been destinations. The College may also organise a skiing holiday in the Spring Term.
Visits to museums, galleries, exhibitions and theatres are common throughout the year.
Drama, Dance & Music
Ashbourne Revue
This is an important aspect of our programme and includes: a talent show entitled The School Revue on Thursday evening, 20th December; a cultural trip to Europe each year during the Spring half-term and or possibly next Easter; visits to universities; a variety of sports; clubs; special events; and, for the sixth form, a general studies programme entitled Sixth Form Diploma which usually takes place on Thursday afternoons.
All students are encouraged to participate in this annual event which comprises a varied form of entertainment ranging from football skills to serious drama; from French songs to renditions of poetry; spectacular fashion shows, singing and recitals.
We also have a thriving Drama Club and Music Club.
Sports
Ashbourne has no sports facilities of its own but does hire a sports hall every Thursday afternoon, which students use to play basketball, five-a-side football, table tennis and badminton.
Football fixtures are organised each year against other colleges.
Chess Club
Ashbourne takes great pride in the success of its teams for five-aside football and chess.
Student Emotional Difficulties
There may be occasions when you notice that a student is behaving as if troubled, disturbed or anxious. Please do mention this to the Head of Middle School or to the Principal, Deputy Principal, or Director of Studies all of whom liaise quite closely with the students and have a good rapport with most of them. Students telling tutors of their problems but swearing them to secrecy can result in situations that are hazardous to both tutor and student.
If the emotional difficulty is related to abuse, it becomes a serious legal matter (see immediately below).
Child Protection Policy
Your close contact with pupils may mean that you will be the first person at Ashbourne to become aware that a child is suffering abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) either from a member from his or her family or a third party. It is extremely important that the following guidelines for dealing with cases of suspected abuse or risk of abuse are adhered to.
You must report your concerns immediately to the designated member of staff.
The Principal or Deputy Principal will then report the matter immediately to the local child protection committee.
Please do not attempt to counsel the pupil yourself other than to provide appropriate moral support. In the case of suspected child abuse, it is not possible to maintain the confidentiality, which the pupil may wish you to observe. Say that you will have to disclose the information you have been told to the Vice Principal but that no disclosure of information will be made to the person alleged to have been responsible for the abuse unless the Social Services deem that it will be in the pupils interest to do so and that, in any event, as much confidentiality as possible will be observed.
You should apply a general rule: if a child confides in you about any serious matter, you must always take formal notes of your meeting.
Tutors may be asked to assist in the assessment of whether a child actually is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm and whether or not the care being given at home is that which a responsible parent would provide. Tutors may also be asked to assist in the monitoring of the pupil’s development following the date of the initial report.
In emergency cases, the Vice Principal or Personal Tutor may act in loco parentis in ensuring that a pupil’s safety is assured.
The Principal and or Vice Principal will keep a written record of all reported cases of suspected child abuse and the action that has been taken. Note that parents and older children do not have the right of access to information relating to child protection.
In the case of alleged abuse of a child by a member of staff, the same procedures will be adopted. Additionally, the Vice Principal reserves the right to take immediate action (such as sending the child home or releasing him or her from with that member of staff) so that both the child’s safety and the interests of the member of staff are protected. The Vice Principals, in consultation with the Local Child Protection Committee, may also consider whether the member of staff should be suspended and whether a police investigation should be instigated.
For the protection of staff and students alike, please remember that, under the terms of your contract, you must use your professional judgement in deciding what conduct is acceptable.
