Advisory in Grades 5-8

MAKING BELONGING VISIBLE

At the heart of the Grades 5-8 experience is the Advisory System – an essential structure designed to ensure every student is known, supported, and connected. Advisory provides students with a consistent adult mentor and a small peer group that meets regularly to foster personal growth, build community, and help navigate the academic and social journey of school. Whether it's through structured discussions, quiet reflection, or check-ins with teachers, the Advisory System is where meaningful relationships begin and thrive.

ASPECT

Who has an advisor?

Advisor’s Role

Advisory Meetings

PSHEE Sessions

Tutorial Sessions

DETAILS

Every student is part of an advisory group that has an assigned faculty advisor.

Advisors support their advisees in all areas of school life: monitoring academic progress, offering guidance, listening, and advocating for them when needed, including in disciplinary matters. Advisors are regularly updated on student progress. They are also the main teachers of our PSHEE curriculum.

Advisories meet at least three times per week. These sessions include structured activities, house challenges, visiting speakers and gatherings.

One Advisory meeting per week is dedicated to PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education), where students explore age-appropriate topics that foster personal and emotional growth.

Two 45-minute sessions per week are Tutorials, where students:

Are supervised by their advisor
Can meet subject teachers to get additional support
Work quietly on assignments as a Study Hall
Read the Daily Bulletin to keep up with the weekly news
Take a short break and have a snack
Seek help as needed

Town Meetings: Town Meetings are assemblies held bi-weekly to share information and discuss issues of interest to the community. This time is also used for short presentations, competitions, and recognitions.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE): PSHEE is an area of study required by the UK Department for Education. Throughout the year, Advisory and Town Meetings are used to enhance the PSHEE curriculum, which covers topics and themes including anti-bullying, online safety, healthy lifestyles, emotional and mental health and well-being, healthy relationships, and many more. All of our advisors teach PSHEE to their advisees, but selected topics in the Relationships and Sex Education section are delivered by the counselor. Whenever sensitive topics are being delivered, parents are informed beforehand so they can be aware of the issues that are being discussed in school. Our Counselor and the Deputy Head select the topics and devise the curriculum for each grade level.

Page updated

Report abuse