Support - Lornshill Academy

House Head Team

The House Team consists of four Principal Teachers.

House Head: Devon – Miss McKay

House Head: Forebraes – Miss Dodds

House Head: Grange – Mr Rennie

House Head: Ochil – Mrs Dixon

Upon joining Lornshill Academy in S1, each pupil is assigned to a specific House. This House affiliation typically remains consistent throughout their time at the school.

Each student is assigned to the caseload of a designated House Head. For example, all pupils belonging to the Devon House will be under the care of Miss McKay. This system enables House Heads to develop strong relationships with individual students and their families.

Parents/carers are encouraged to contact their child’s House Head in the first instance should they have any concerns regarding their child’s progress.

The House Head Team is led by Mr Arnold, Deputy Headteacher (Support). Mr Arnold is responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing all aspects of pupil support within Lornshill Academy.

The House Team consists of four PT Principal Teachers.

House Head: Devon – Mrs Meiklejohn

House Head: Forebraes – Miss Dodds

House Head: Grange – Mr Rennie

House Head: Ochil – Mrs Dixon

Each pupil is assigned to a particular House when they join us in S1 and normally stay with that house throughout their education in Lornshill Academy. Each young person will be assigned to the caseload of a House Head, for example, all Devon pupils will be under the care of Mrs Meiklejohn. This allows the House Head to get to know each young person and their families and have the opportunity to establish positive working relationships.

If parents/carers have any concerns regarding their child’s progress, they should first contact the House Head.

The House Head Team is led by the DHT (Support), Mr Arnold, who is responsible for the strategic direction and overview of support for pupils in Lornshill Academy.

K Meiklejohn

House Head – Devon

L Dodds

House Head – Forebraes

S Rennie

House Head – Grange

L Dixon

House Head – Ochil

Rationale

The Lornshill Academy Pupil Support structure is designed to provide a comprehensive and holistic service for every student. We are committed to providing appropriate and timely support for all pupils in their personal, social, curricular, and vocational development, ensuring they achieve their full potential.

At Lornshill Academy, we recognise the importance of equipping young people with the necessary skills and attributes to become positive contributors to both local and global communities. All staff within Lornshill Academy play a crucial role in creating a supportive and nurturing environment where every student feels:

Safe
Healthy
Achieving
Nurtured
Active
Respected
Responsible
Included

This inclusive ethos extends beyond the school gates, fostering a sense of belonging within the wider community.

Aims

Our approach is through Staged Intervention so that all pupils will be:

Successful Learners
Confident Individuals
Effective Contributors
Responsible Citizens

Our Aims:

Provide personal, curricular and vocational support specific to the needs of every pupil at each stage and transition from school to adult life.
Provide a programme of personal and social education appropriate to needs of each pupil.
Provide support for learning and encourage pupils to set high aspirations and take responsibility for their own learning.
Pupils have opportunity to develop self-esteem, confidence and respect for themselves and others, allowing all pupils to participate fully in the life of the school and of the wider community.
Work in partnership with all members of the school community.
Monitor, record and share information relevant to the welfare of individual pupils to appropriate staff, parents and partner agencies.
Ensure all pupils have opportunity to contribute to our caring community ethos of the school and develop positive relationships between all members of the school community.

Child Protection

Child Protection encompasses the safeguarding of children from abuse or neglect, which are forms of child maltreatment. All children and young people have an inherent right to be nurtured, protected from harm, and to flourish in a safe and supportive environment where their rights are respected, and their needs are met.

Child protection is a shared responsibility. All professionals who work with children and families are expected to:

Identify and address potential child protection concerns.
Share relevant information with other agencies involved in the child’s life.
Collaborate effectively to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.

In child protection cases, the Local Authority Social Worker typically assumes the role of Lead Professional. They act as the primary point of contact for the child, their family, and the child’s key adult within the school, overseeing the monitoring and review of the child’s progress and well-being.

Staff Training

All staff members participate in annual Child Protection training to:

Enhance their understanding of child protection issues.
Develop the confidence and skills to identify and respond appropriately to concerns about a child’s welfare.
Understand the importance of reporting concerns through appropriate channels.

The Depute Headteacher (Support) has designated responsibility for Child Protection within the school. All concerns raised will be considered within the framework of ‘Getting It Right For Every Child’ (GIRFEC) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Early intervention and support are crucial in preventing potential issues from escalating and ensuring the best possible outcomes for all children.

Pupil Services

If you wish to speak to your child’s Pupil Support PT then you can contact the school by phoning (01259) 452333 and pressing option 3.

This will direct you to our Pupil Services office where a member of the Pupil Support admin team will answer your call and either answer any queries or will take a message and inform the Pupil Support PT. The relevant House Head (Pupil Support) or Year Head (Depute Headteachers) will then be able to phone back at a suitable time. This approach allows our Pupil Support staff to ensure they are always available throughout the school day to support the young people in school.

If a pupil wishes to speak to their Pupil Support PT at any point during the day then they should go to the Pupil Services office located within the Social Subjects faculty in the centre of the school. There will always be someone there who pupils can speak to and they will be able to support or contact the relevant member of the wider support team.

Our Partners

MCR Pathways

MCR Pathways is a school-based mentoring programme. The charity was founded in 2007 to address the outcome gap between some young people and their peers. They support young people to realise their full potential through education. MCR recruits, trains and matches each volunteer mentor with a young person.

Their vision is that every young person they work with gets the same education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances as every other young person.

Meet Lance – MCR_Pathways Coordinator

Skills Development Scotland (SDS)

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the national skills body and we deliver Scotland’s career service.

Their careers advisers deliver career information, advice and guidance to pupils from S1-S6.

They are there to help you understand the world of work and to develop the Career Management Skills you need as you move through school.

Your school careers advisers are Linda Anderson and Nicole Kerr. You can get in touch with them by email at linda.anderson@sds.co.uk or nicole.kerr@sds.co.uk

You might meet them with your class at a group activity, at a careers event or at a one-to-one appointment.

Your careers adviser can speak to you about:

Finding out about yourself, your strengths and skills
Making subject choices
Different types of careers and how to research them
Developing the types of skills that are useful in a job
Routes into careers, including apprenticeships
Building and developing your networks
Creating CVs
Making applications and applying for courses

You can also use our online service, My World of Work.

Beyond school, our advisers operate from a network of SDS centres and community locations nationwide, offering expert support to customers of all ages. You can find your nearest centre at myworldofwork.co.uk/centres.

Find out more about our services by clicking the icon.

Wellbeing Scotland

Wellbeing Scotland are a voluntary organisation with services across Scotland. They provide a wide range of holistic services for individuals and families whose life experiences have impacted negatively on their wellbeing. They offer client centred, holistic, trauma informed therapeutic services and have specialism in abuse and trauma work.

They work with people from across Scotland and in Lornshill Academy provide support to our young people on a range of issues.

Overview Wellbeing Scotland