The Guidance and Counselling Service has two distinct but complementary elements: firstly, the provision of a responsive service, staffed by trained guidance counsellors, to meet student’s needs, as they emerge, throughout the student’s time in the school; and secondly, the development of a curriculum programme which is developmental, preventative, appropriate to the needs of the student’s, and delivered in an integrated and proactive manner in a whole school context.
Mission Statement:
We are a Community School committed to the provision of a comprehensive, educational system available to all; the recognition and development of each student’s social, intellectual, physical and spiritual potential; the achievement of high standards in teaching, learning and performance; the establishment and maintenance of a co-operative supportive partnership between school, home and community; the professional development of staff.
Aims of Guidance in Portumna Community School
The school’s Guidance support service aims to provide a range of experiences provided in a developmental sequence, designed to assist students to make choices about their lives and to make transitions consequent on those choices. These choices may be categorised into three separate but interlinked areas personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance.
Objectives of Guidance in Portumna Community School
Students will be encouraged and assisted to make choices and transitions through a variety of guidance activities which include:
1. Counselling: helping students on an individual/ group basis to explore their thoughts and feelings and the choices open them; giving care and support to students learning to cope with the many aspects of growing up
2. Assessment: helping students to obtain a better self-understanding through the use of psychometric testing and other career interest inventories
3. Information: Providing students with the objective and factual data on education and training opportunities, occupations, labour market information, entitlements, etc.
4. Advice: making suggestions based on the advisors own knowledge and expertise
5. Educational Guidance programmes: provide knowledge and skills relating to study skills, subject choice, programme and level choice etc.
6. Career Guidance Programmes: providing the necessary concepts, skills and knowledge to enable pupils to make transitions to further and higher education, training and work.
7. Personal and Social Programmes: assist students in self-reflection, assist with transitions in their lives; assist with coping mechanisms, develop personal skills and decision making skills etc.
8. Work experience: Senior students will engage in Work Experience/ work shadowing programmes to prepare students for working life, career exploration and skill development
9. Referral: This includes two types of referral: Referral of individual students by the Guidance Counsellor/ Chaplin/ Principal/ Special Needs Dept. to other outside professional bodies. Eg NEPS, HSE etc. Referral of an individual student to the Guidance Counsellor/ Chaplin by teachers, tutors, Year ds, Deputy Principal, Principal, BOM, Parents. The voluntary participation in counselling of the referred student must be respected at all times
It is envisaged that the aims of the School’s Guidance Programme will be supported through:
Consultation: with parents, school staff, BOM and students
Feedback: giving feedback to the BOM, school management and staff on the needs of individual students, groups and the school as an organisation and how the guidance programme has supported future choices and transitions
· Networking: establishing links with employers, relevant agencies and institutions to enhance guidance work with students
· Promoting change: assisting curriculum development in the school
· Managing, organising and Co-ordinating Guidance activities into a coherent programme
Mission Statement:
We are a Community School committed to the provision of a comprehensive, educational system available to all; the recognition and development of each student’s social, intellectual, physical and spiritual potential; the achievement of high standards in teaching, learning and performance; the establishment and maintenance of a co-operative supportive partnership between school, home and community; the professional development of staff.
Aims of Guidance in Portumna Community School
The school’s Guidance support service aims to provide a range of experiences provided in a developmental sequence, designed to assist students to make choices about their lives and to make transitions consequent on those choices. These choices may be categorised into three separate but interlinked areas personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance.
Objectives of Guidance in Portumna Community School
Students will be encouraged and assisted to make choices and transitions through a variety of guidance activities which include:
1. Counselling: helping students on an individual/ group basis to explore their thoughts and feelings and the choices open them; giving care and support to students learning to cope with the many aspects of growing up
2. Assessment: helping students to obtain a better self-understanding through the use of psychometric testing and other career interest inventories
3. Information: Providing students with the objective and factual data on education and training opportunities, occupations, labour market information, entitlements, etc.
4. Advice: making suggestions based on the advisors own knowledge and expertise
5. Educational Guidance programmes: provide knowledge and skills relating to study skills, subject choice, programme and level choice etc.
6. Career Guidance Programmes: providing the necessary concepts, skills and knowledge to enable pupils to make transitions to further and higher education, training and work.
7. Personal and Social Programmes: assist students in self-reflection, assist with transitions in their lives; assist with coping mechanisms, develop personal skills and decision making skills etc.
8. Work experience: Senior students will engage in Work Experience/ work shadowing programmes to prepare students for working life, career exploration and skill development
9. Referral: This includes two types of referral: Referral of individual students by the Guidance Counsellor/ Chaplin/ Principal/ Special Needs Dept. to other outside professional bodies. Eg NEPS, HSE etc. Referral of an individual student to the Guidance Counsellor/ Chaplin by teachers, tutors, Year ds, Deputy Principal, Principal, BOM, Parents. The voluntary participation in counselling of the referred student must be respected at all times
It is envisaged that the aims of the School’s Guidance Programme will be supported through:
Consultation: with parents, school staff, BOM and students
Feedback: giving feedback to the BOM, school management and staff on the needs of individual students, groups and the school as an organisation and how the guidance programme has supported future choices and transitions
· Networking: establishing links with employers, relevant agencies and institutions to enhance guidance work with students
· Promoting change: assisting curriculum development in the school
· Managing, organising and Co-ordinating Guidance activities into a coherent programme