Student Support

Welcome to the Whitcliffe Mount "Student Support" page on the school website. At Whitcliffe Mount the Student Support Team works hard to ensure that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

Our aim is to make sure that whilst every young person is at Whitcliffe Mount, he/she

• enjoys and achieves
• feels safe
• makes a positive contribution
• is healthy
• achieves economic well-being.

The Student Support team is lead by Deputy Head teacher, Mrs J Stanley and is made up of the following people:

Heads of Years 7 and 8 - Mrs L Dawson
Assistant Head of Years 7 and 8 - Mrs J Peel
Year 9 Co-ordinator - Miss R Haigh
Year 9 Manager - Mrs P Stockhill
Head of Year 10 - Miss J Wild
Section Head of Year 10B - Mr M Bespalyj
Section Head of Year 10L - Ms A Lumb
Head of Year 11 - Mrs A Marklew
Section Head of Year 11T - Mrs W Thomas
Section Head of Year 11W - Mr P Woolford
Joint Head of Years 12 and 13 - Mrs E Taylor
Joint Head of Years 12 and 13 - Miss J Watson
Deputy Head of Year 12 and 13 - Ms P Watson

Attendance
Please contact the school on the first day of your child's absence. The parent(s) of children who are absent from school without notification to school, will be texted to inform them of their child's absence. Any concerns about attendance should be addressed to your child's Section Head or the Attendance Officer, Mrs J Smith.

Mrs Jackie Darnbrough is the Education Social Worker and can be contacted on 01924 326004 for help and advice.

School attendance is usually good. In 2007/2008, the school achieved its target of 92% attendance. The attendance target for 2008/2009 is 92.2%.

Pupils who have 20% or more absence (i.e. on average one day per week) are monitored by school, Kirklees Authority and the DCSF (Government Department for Children, School and Families). There are rigorous monitoring procedures which the school has to put in place to improve the attendance of these children.

Unfortunately, levels of absence due to pupils taking holidays in term time is a course for concern. School strongly discourages holidays in term time. A copy of the policy with respect to holidays in term time is given to all parents on entry to the school.

Special Educational Needs
The Special Needs Team is led by the school's SEN Co-ordinator, Ms S Grant. If parents have any questions regarding their child's special educational needs, please contact Ms Grant at school.
The SENCO leads a team of teachers and Education Teaching Assistants who work closely with children with special educational needs.

Student Support Workers
Other members of staff in school available to help your child are:
Mrs M Redfearn
Mrs J Tierney

All these staff can be contacted by parents at school by telephone or school email.

Careers Personal Advisers
All pupils are given help and advice in school regarding their choice of option subjects and careers. We have a well established careers library and facilities for offering meetings and support in school.

Our Careers team in school can be contacted on 10274 335182 extension number 246:
Sarah Baker
Debra Casson
Saima Parwana

At Whitcliffe Mount, the student support team work closely with a number of partner agencies supporting pupils in and out of school. These include:
School Nurses - Debbie Halloran and Lisa Longley Telephone: 01294 351535
Community Police Team - Telephone: 01924 421069
Connexions Personal Advisor - Jill Dodsworth-Parker

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your child's well being in school, please do not hesitate to contact your child's Form Tutor in the first instance, any member of your child's Year Team or any member of the Student Support Team.