Introduction to Guidance
Guidance and Counselling is at the heart of our Pastoral Care System in Wesley College. The Guidance Department has a caring and supportive role where it strives to empower students, help them to develop problem solving skills, build resilience and to make informed decisions. The Guidance Counsellors meet with students in a confidential environment where they can be cared for and supported throughout their time in the school. Guidance is viewed as a process, which evolves and grows as students transition from year to year.
The Guidance Counsellors liaise with the Principal, Deputy Principals, Year Heads, SEN Department, School Chaplain, School Nurse and Subject Teachers. They also have regular contact with parents, psychologists, employers, colleges, and other outside agencies.
The role of our Guidance Counsellors falls into three areas:
- Personal and Social - this area empowers students to make decisions, solve problems, change behaviour, and resolve issues in their lives, through - (a) individual counselling, (b) referral to a counsellor or other outside agency.
- Educational - recognising students' different learning abilities and their inherent talents. Each student is encouraged to optimise their learning skills. This involves - (a) helping students with choices as with subjects, courses and levels, (b) aiding motivation and management learning, (c) showing students how to use available resources, study skills and exam techniques, (d) demonstrating how to use computer aided research.
- Career and Vocational - helping students to identify career and vocational goals by developing their self-analysis skills and sourcing and managing career information. This involves - (a) having an understanding of the pathways into higher education, (b) making and carrying out appropriate life choices and plans, (c) practising interview techniques, CV writing and cover letters, (d) identifying their strengths and weakness from the results of various interest and aptitude tests, (e) making students aware of employment opportunities.