We recognize that students learn best when their emotional needs are recognized and, as far as possible, met. Our pastoral team, working in partnership with students and their parents, seeks to build on the support and guidance provided by family and friends.

The form group is the basic unit of our pastoral system. Each form group has a form tutor who acts as an academic mentor to the students in his/her care, helping them to evaluate their progress and set themselves targets for the future. The form tutor is the primary contact between home and school and is the first port of call for parents with general queries or concerns. Form tutors are supported by their Head of Year and Assistant Headteacher for Student Progress.

Counselling

The College has access to the services of a trained counsellor for one day a week. She is able to provide short term support to students on a referral basis (this includes self-referral).

Gifted and Talented Provision (G&T)

Jersey College for Girls aims to provide a demanding and liberal curriculum delivered by experienced staff, who have high expectations and model excellence. Very able students, as others are equally entitled to have their needs recognised, supported and challenged. We aim to reduce under achievement and nurture and develop talent. The College aims to provide equality of opportunity for all students to be inspired, motivated and enthused by an innovative curriculum that offers both enhancement and enrichment. Students are encouraged to be both positive and proud of their abilities and to feel valued and supported by all staff. Jersey College for Girls aims to provide the opportunities and resources to ensure this occurs.

Baseline data will be used to aid initial identification of Gifted students. A student will be identified as gifted if:

Students at the end of KS2 have a SAT level 6 in English, Mathematics or Science.
They have a mean score of 129+ in Year 7 or Year 9 CATs
They have reached Level 8 in their SATs for English, Maths or Science by the end of KS3

Within the classroom, subject staff offer differentiated work and highlight extra-curricular opportunities to students.

We are delighted that so many of our girls:

• Excel in their musical talents and are rewarded in success in their Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations and partake in local workshops and concerts
• Pursue their talents for drama by partaking in local plays as well as in school productions
• Are rewarded for their sporting talents by being selected for local, national and international teams
• Demonstrate their gifted ability in Mathematics by performing so well in both the national Team and Individual Maths Challenges.

In addition to these the Head of Year 7 gathers data on ‘skills’ from primary school. G & T students from primary school will be identified on ‘transfer’ in relation to specific subject areas. Heads of Departments are also invited to identify individual students who they feel fit the profile of a gifted student, based on National Subject Criteria levels. Departments are asked to identify students who may not fulfil the academic criteria above but who may display a particular talent in Art, Music, Drama or Sport.

The Educational Needs Coordinator, in conjunction with departments, will plan an enrichment programme for those students identified as Gifted and Talented within the school. This will include sessions held within school led by school staff or external speakers, as well as educational visits. The aim of the programme will be to offer additional and different experiences in order to broaden the perspectives of the Gifted and Talented cohort.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Jersey College for Girls seeks to ensure that it follows the Jersey Code of Practice (2005) on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, including the Disability and Children’s Acts. A whole school ethos exists, that accepts that everyone has the duty to provide for the needs of all students no matter what their talents, skills or abilities.

We believe that it is essential that students who are having difficulties with their learning are supported as soon as possible. We therefore encourage parents to raise any concerns they have with either the form tutor or ENCO at the earliest opportunity.
Students with SEN are identified prior to admission during visits to primary schools or via the Education Welfare Service. Further assessments may take place on entry to the school and during their time at Jersey College for Girls. For the most part, students with SEN will be taught in the classroom alongside their peers. Teaching techniques and strategies within each class, including differentiated resources and learning tasks, will accommodate those of differing abilities, including those with special needs, wherever appropriate and necessary. This will enable individual learning needs to be met and all students to maximise their potential in all areas of the curriculum.

The Educational Needs Coordinator (ENCO) liaises with students, parents, Heads of Year, form tutors and subject teachers to ensure that Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) are produced, in order to support students with additional learning needs and to monitor the implementation and review of these plans and support student learning. Students with Individual Learning Plans are placed on the school's Special Educational Needs register.

Students who are struggling with acquiring basic reading, spelling, mathematical, language or gross/fine motor skills will, on occasions, be withdrawn to be given individual or group tuition by the ENCO, a voluntary teaching assistant or another member of staff.