important parts of the job is liaising with classroom teachers about these learning profiles, so they can understand the learning needs a boy may have and cope with them accordingly. “We set up a learning programme for each boy and they work in small groups or have individual tuition once a week. We have ongoing testing to see if help is still needed. The boys really see it as a positive experience and maybe once there was some sort of stigma around helping those with learning needs, but now it is an important and integral part of the school, which is valued by everyone. The team also has plenty of communication with parents, who are grateful for the help their boys are getting. “All of these boys will succeed given the right support. Some come to us with a mentality of failure, so we give them confidence and they do succeed. “We have boys with significant learning challenges and our system provides them with the support they might not get elsewhere. For options such as having a reader/writer, using a computer or having extra time in an exam, we have the boys tested by external agencies to make sure they get the help that they need. “We find that when it comes to exams and assessments, most of our boys punch well above their weight.’’ Tom Jackson, who came to College in Year 11, says the help he has had from the Learning Centre has helped push him towards achieving an Excellence in English. “I am dyslexic and lacked confidence in my work,” he says. “The staff helped me critique the structure of my assessments and look more deeply into my work to explore different ideas and help me look at the bigger picture. Everyone is different so it is great to get help in your own work to get the maximum benefit.”
“We find that when it comes to exams and assessments, most of our boys punch well above their weight.” Lesley Anderson-McKenna - HOD
Top: Mrs Elizabeth Maddren. Middle: Boys hard at work. Bottom: Ms Gill Kilpatrick.
College Issue 29 2015
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