As our students come towards the end of their schooling, Senior College offers support, assistance and advice to students and parents negotiating this significant age and stage of development.
We take a comprehensive approach to student wellbeing, and Senior College’s highly relational environment ensures every student is valued, known and supported. We have high expectations of all our students because we believe that each student matters. Research shows that student wellbeing and growth in character are tied to the experience of successful learning, and therefore we believe in the importance of a disciplined, challenging and stimulating classroom environment.
Character Strengths sit at the centre of our student wellbeing framework. Our approach to teaching character has been incorporated into Approaches to Learning Skills (ATLs) and the IB learning dispositions.
Our structures and programmes are delivered by staff who genuinely care for students and seek to develop in students a strong sense of identity, resilience and connectedness in all areas of school life – from the classroom to the playing fields.
House system
Every Senior College student is a member of a House and year-level-based Tutor Group. Students meet as a Tutor Group in tutorial periods twice a week for one pastoral tutorial and one academic. The Houses meet on a regular basis and sit together during Chapel and Cathedral gatherings each week. These regular gatherings allow Tutors and the Head of House to develop a sound relationship with the students in their care.
In most cases, Tutors remain with the students through to Year 12, following their progress through the senior years. The Tutorial Programme incorporates study skills, social and community education, leadership and life skills. As such, sessions are structured and planned, based on the age, experience and knowledge of students. The House system enables students at the School to participate in and contribute to a comprehensive range of activities. Students are awarded House Points for both participation and success in the swimming and athletics carnivals, Inter-House debating, SACSFactor (talent show), Big City Bake Off (a themed cupcake competition fundraiser) and Gala Day (sports/team activities). Points go towards The Dean Pitt Shield, which is awarded to the winning House at the end-of-year Evening of Celebration and Prize-giving.
Classroom teachers, Tutors, Heads of House, Heads of Division and Directors of Learning monitor the academic progress and wellbeing of all students. This ensures that every student is known and cared for throughout the School.
St Andrew’s Cathedral School has been acknowledged within the sector for its innovative use of data to determine the progress of students, and to allow for goal setting, reflection and timely interventions.
Senior College also has two dedicated counsellors who are experienced in providing advice and support on pastoral and academic issues affecting students.
Timetable structure
Senior College has continually honed its timetable structure to match the needs of students, as they reach the final years of school life.
Based on research findings that students learn most effectively in the morning, pastoral periods are strategically scheduled for the time slot just before lunchtime, allowing students to maximise their learning potential in the mornings. Similarly, study skills workshops are scheduled for strategic times over the course of the three senior years, not just in Year 12 or before important exam periods.
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