Tutor time

Tutor time at Garden International School (GIS) is a comprehensive and essential component of our educational framework, tailored to address the diverse needs of our students in a holistic manner. It serves as a central pillar of student well-being and support within our school community. Every student at GIS is assigned to a tutor group, and their tutor plays a pivotal role in overseeing their academic care, progress and overall wellbeing. Tutors are responsible for monitoring and nurturing the growth and development of the learners in their group, ensuring that each student receives personalised attention and care as well as forming the first point of contact at the school for parents.

In addition to the class tutor, each tutor group also benefits from the presence of a support tutor. This additional point of contact further enhances the level of care and support available to the students in the group, fostering a sense of community, safety and belonging. Our tutor program is thoughtfully designed to provide a curriculum tailored to the age and developmental stage of each learner. This age-appropriate curriculum is aimed at nurturing and supporting every individual as they progress through the key stages, ensuring that they are well-prepared for their academic journey.

Beyond academic support, GIS students benefit from a comprehensive and bespoke programme that sees each day of the week dedicated to a key area of holistic development:

• Mondays: Organisation and learning habits are developed, where we focus on age-appropriate self-management skills to ensure our learners are organised, independent and on top of their workload.

• Tuesdays: Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) is taught, which helps students develop essential life skills and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, our Extended Tutor Sessions (ETT) dive deeper into relevant and age-specific issues, and with the guidance provided by our PSHE survey, we offer a tailored personal and social curriculum that ensures the needs of our learners are met. These sessions provide a platform for students to explore and discuss topics that are pertinent to their age group, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

• Wednesdays: Every tutor group engages in dedicated reading time, either from a self-selected book or using The Day, an online daily newspaper for young people that publishes analysis of the news and provides context for debates that explore the deeper currents shaping our world. All resources are created by a team of journalists to help develop critical thinking, real-world knowledge and civic engagement. While the reading takes place, the tutor and support tutor engage in the all-important one-to-one learning conversations essential is 

• Thursdays: Wellbeing & Tutor choice. This day enables tutors to select from a range of appropriate activities for the group to engage in to allow them to catch up on important aspects of the week, engage in wellbeing activities and continue to engage in one-to-one learning conversations.

In summary, tutor time at GIS is not just a routine part of the school day; it is a robust and carefully crafted support system that addresses the unique needs of each learner. It focuses on academic progress, personal development, social and emotional wellbeing, and the nurturing of responsible and informed individuals who are ready to face the challenges of the future.