Health and Wellbeing

Dollar Academy recognises that, in order for every young person to succeed to the best of their abilities, they must do so in a caring and secure environment; one which will encourage them to develop self-confidence and social skills, one where the relationship between all members of the community is based on trust and respect. In order to foster this trusting relationship Dollar has a well developed pastoral and guidance system.  Guidance Staff also have a role in curricular guidance and in discipline – in essence, they have a complete overview of each child’s progress and development, social, emotional and academic.

In the Senior School, all staff recognise that they have a part to play in guidance, but the main pastoral responsibility lies with the Guidance Staff who are likely to be the first point of contact for pupils and their parents if there are pastoral concerns. For boarders, the first point of contact will generally be Houseparents.

In each year, Guidance Staff include a Head of Year and an Assistant Head of Year. In addition, all pupils in the Senior School meet daily with a Form Tutor. Form VI pupils are allocated a Personal Tutor and UCAS Advisor to give extra guidance for their transition onwards from Dollar Academy, and all pupils have access to our pupil counsellor

In the Prep and Junior School, guidance of pupils is directly overseen by the Class Teachers and is fully supported by the Head and the Deputy Heads of the Prep and Junior Schools, who all play a full and active part in promoting positive values to all Prep and Junior School pupils, parents and staff alike.

An exciting new resource to the Health and Wellbeing programme at Dollar is our new Wellbeing Room. It was designed to look completely different to the school classrooms and offices.  This was achieved by using calm paint colours and comfortable and relaxing furniture. There are sofas and chairs, a cosy rug and relaxing room diffusers.  The carpeted flooring and mood lighting also contributes to the ambience of a de-stress zone.

Miss Langley, Assistant Rector, in charge of Health and Wellbeing, describes it as a place where pupils can go to talk to staff if they need support; the school counsellor, Mrs Mackie also uses the room for her counselling sessions and Guidance staff use it for parent pastoral meetings.  ‘It’s impossible to go into the room without feeling instantly different,’ says one pupil. ‘ It feels relaxed and comfortable and at home.’

Dollar Academy Medical Centre is led by Registered Nurses, Karen Finnie and Krissy Scott. The Medical Centre is open Monday to Friday during term time, from 8:30am until 5pm.

The School Nurses attend to injury and illness amongst pupils and staff on site, and are responsible for the provision of health screening, medical examinations and vaccination programmes in line with National Health Service guidelines. They work in close conjunction with senior management and Guidance Staff with regard to pupil welfare, participate in the delivery of health related topics in the School’s PSE programme, and support Dollar Academy’s Health and Wellbeing programme.

If you have a concern about the well-being of any pupil in our school, please contact your child’s Head of Year on 01259 742511 or via email.

Whilst Miss Langley has responsibility for the overview of well-being needs in the School, the day to day care of pupil welfare and well-being remains in the Prep and Junior School with the class teacher and in the Senior School with the relevant Head of Year.