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Pastoral Care

A caring and child-centred Pastoral Care provision lies at the heart of Down High School’s ethos and good practice. It is our priority that the pupils attending the school are safe and their welfare paramount. For this reason, a strong pastoral team has been assembled with the aim of supporting a child’s academic, behavioural and emotional development.

Our Pastoral Team

Pastoral Vice-Principal         Mr G McKillen

Senior Teacher                     Miss W Bell

Heads of School

Senior School                      Mrs H Hamilton

Middle School                      Miss P Garrett

Junior School                       Mr P Morrow

Heads of Year

Year 8- Mr B Duffin                 Year 11- Mr M Patton            Year 13- Mrs C Wood

Year 9- Mr J R Crutchley          Year 12- Mr S McKee            Year 14- Mrs H McGuire 

Year10- Mrs R Adams 

Each form class also is under the supervision of a Form Teacher who looks after the welfare and progress of the pupils. It is usual for the Form Teacher to teach the class in his/her individual subject in order to get to know each pupil well. Effective co-operation between parents and the school pre-empts most serious situations and provides the best possible support for young people in their formative school years. Queries concerning a pupil’s welfare should be addressed to the Form Teacher, Head of Year, Head of School or Mr McKillen, the Vice-Principal in charge of Pastoral Care.

Throughout the school year, consultation afternoons are arranged to allow parents to discuss their child’s progress with subject teachers.

Parents may contact the school to discuss a pastoral or academic issue at any time and interviews with the Principal can be scheduled through her Personal Assistant.

Our Safeguarding Team

The Safeguarding Team in Down High School consists of:

 

Mr G McKillen               Designated Teacher for Child Protection

Miss W Bell                   Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection

Mrs H Hamilton            Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection

Mrs M Perry                  Principal

Mrs A Heenan               Chair of the Board of Governors

Mrs D Crosby                Designated Governor for Child Protection

 

Members of the Safeguarding Team can be contacted by telephoning the school on 028 44612103 or emailing office@downhigh.downpatrick.ni.sch.uk

 

 

Mr G McKillen- Pastoral Vice-Principal
Mr G McKillen- Pastoral Vice-Principal
Mrs H Hamilton-Senior Teacher
Mrs H Hamilton-Senior Teacher
Miss W Bell- Senior Teacher
Miss W Bell- Senior Teacher
 
 

Special Educational Needs

Down High School has assigned two teachers to direct the Special Needs programme.  Most classrooms within the school can be entered via ramps and there is a lift in the main building which gives access to the first floor. Specialist rooms such as Technology and Home Economics have been adapted to give all students access to every aspect of the curriculum.

A number of classroom assistants support children on the Special Educational Needs Register and Individual Education Plans are used to establish targets for pupils in every subject. In Down High School we value the partnership formed with parents and as a consequence ensure parents are kept fully informed, and involved in their children’s education.

SENCO Mrs N Thorpe

Assistant SENCO Mrs R Wilson

Pastoral Policies

Our school policies aim to provide staff, pupils and parents with clear information about the ethos of Down High and the standards of behaviour expected by all members of the school community.