As Assistant Head I lead a team of staff who are specifically assigned to care for the well being of your daughters.
Certainly St Dominic’s is a happy place for the girls, because we believe in positive encouragement, where the Emotional Quotient is as important as the Intelligence Quotient. I believe they are linked, as a happy child learns well.
At St Dominic’s we arrange transition days, transition trips and induction days to make sure that your daughter settles in happily with her form. She is actually part of the form before lessons begin! We also arrange a buddy system so that your daughter has ‘a friend’ already in place before she starts.
From the earliest years we encourage the girls to take on responsibility. They participate in drawing up policies such as the anti bullying policy which includes cyber bullying. As young as Year 6 they sit on this committee alongside the Year 11; Year 7 sit next to Year 12 on the School Council. They become school monitors, and prefects and are enthusiastic about raising funds for charity. The girls are encouraged to take ownership of their work and their activities.
The Form Tutor takes pride in understanding and getting alongside her form – she will be the ‘home base’ for each one of your daughters. The Form Tutor will be your initial reference point. Any qualms within the subjects can be channelled through the Form Tutor. The next stage is the Key Stage Manager. She will have overall responsibility over the academic and social welfare of each child; arranging the transition days, induction days and other fun outings such as Disney On Ice, for example, or the weekend in London. The next level up is myself. I meet regularly with the Key Stage Managers and Form Tutors. This system exists from bottom to top in St Dominic’s! You can be sure that any concern will be taken up at all levels. I, of course, liaise with the Headteacher. We have them covered. It is a community, it is a family, and the girls as they progress become very aware of belonging at St Dominic’s.
There is truly a development of spirit here with emphasis on good deeds, moral fibre and developing an understanding of the wider world.
St. Dominic’s has a sound Christian foundation and yet is open to children of all faiths or no faith. Through discussion and forum, Form time, PSHE and Citizenship, girls are encouraged to discuss moral issues, they are taught truth, and responsible behaviour. We have an ethos that is respectful, maintains a high standard of behaviour, and of course has a strong work ethic. They are encouraged to consider others, to love your neighbour as yourself, to be kind to one another and whatever they do, to do it cheerfully.
Mrs. L. M. Read, Assistant Head – Pastoral Care
