Page 5 - The Bellfort - Summer 2015

Dunclug College achieved was much enthusiasm for dents spoke highly of the IQM status three years ago the outcomes that students relationships and friendships and this visit was to measure achieved. they had developed with the against the set criteria how students from other coun- the inclusion ethos of the The personalised pro- tries and with others who school has been sustained grammes of learning, IEPs had transferred to the and developed. The school and target setting have en- school. Likewise the new- also indicated that it wanted sured that no student is ne- comers told me that they to be considered for Flagship glected. As soon as the stu- had a ‘buddy’ to show them status. This visit and in par- dent arrives at Dunclug Col- round and very quickly the ticular conversations with a lege the focus is immediately teachers got to know their wide range of stakeholders on their learning. Conversa- preferred learning styles. confrmed that the practice tions not only with the stu- was in place across all as- dents but also with parents The students enjoyed the pects of the school commu- always go back to the learn- range of extracurricular ac- nity. ing environment and the ex- tivities which enriched their periences available to sup- school experience and gave Students, staf, parents, the port their progress. There them an opportunity to ex- Board of Governors, and ex- was extensive praise for the cel in a particular area like ternal providers all positively Pathways programme which sports, music and art. Every- endorsed the inclusive val- gives the students the skills one’s achievements are cele- ues of the school under the and resilience to cope. brated by the school com- visionary leadership of the munity and beyond. One stu- Principal, VP and SLT. In the Parents of students with dent felt he was part of a prospectus, the ethos, aims ‘SEN’ chose Dunclug College ‘big team”. This team works and objectives all promote particularly for its inclusion successfully through its com- the inclusion values and they policy and practice, conf- mitment to the inclusive are evident throughout dent that their child’s educa- ethos of the school where school publications and on tion was important to all the everyone’s viewpoint is the website. The practice staf. In practice that was sought and valued. was also prominent from the evident from the agendas of way that students from all purposeful meetings, the abilities, socio-economic consultations on policy deci- backgrounds and diferent sions, the intervention strat- cultures are cared for and egies and self-evaluation respected. The approach to process. learning was also inclusive, giving all students the oppor- The student voice is listened tunity to succeed and in to and can efect change for many cases progress beyond all the students. The stu- their potential. This commit- dents were able to give sev- Enjoy the pics! ment was evident from all eral examples of this when I the staf I spoke to and there spoke to the council. All stu- THE BELLFORT SUMMER 2015 5