Advice and Counselling

Tutors and staff

The academy are proud to have a range of ways in which to support students with any pastoral concerns they might have. These include:
• Personal tutor / co-tutor
• Head of Year / Assistant Head of Year
• 48 trained peer mentors
• the ‘Big School Buddy’ and ‘Aunties and Uncles’ transition programme
• ‘Listening Service’ scheme including the academy chaplaincy team

If students have any concerns or simply need to talk about an issue that is making them anxious, unhappy or scared, then all of the above individuals will be able to support. All staff members have received training to listen to any concerns, and can provide expert support on issues relating to the curriculum – there are plenty of places to get the help needed at the academy; ultimately we want all students to enjoy their National experience and get the most out of their learning.

Counselling service

Student Counselling/Drop in Service

• Many people will at some stage experience bereavement or loss, family issues, relationship difficulties, anxiety or bullying and at the moment, there may be lots of things worrying or upsetting you, especially at the moment.
• Talking these issues through with a friendly and qualified professional has shown to help manage difficult emotions & help you gain a better understanding of yourself and relationships with others.
• Our Academy Counsellor works within our Academy every Monday to Friday, and provides a confidential service, and gives the chance to talk to an impartial person who is not going to judge you or tell you what to do, or how to think.
• Our students constantly feedback positively about the service and many would recommend a friend and the majority see positive improvements in their behaviour, friendships and emotional health.

How to access the service

• Students can access the service by filling in a “Let`s talk” self-referral form (available in Student Reception and Inclusion) or speak to their tutor and post the form in the blue drop-off box (Student Reception) 
• Student drop-in sessions: Mon-Fri Break/Tutor Time, there is no need to book in advance.
• Counselling Sessions take place in room 12b. (Humanities corridor)

If you access counselling it does not mean you have failed. We all experience occasions when it feels hard to speak to those closest to us about things that are bothering us.

Academy Counsellor

Monika Kmieckowiak

Tootoot

Further to the above, we are partnered with Tootoot – the student e-service. It is a safe and secure web-based safeguarding tool, which allows our students to report any issues, incidents or concerns in an anonymous, confidential and discrete manner.

Find out more about this service here: https://tootoot.co.uk/