Maesteg Comprehensive, Bridgend

The leadership team at Maesteg decided to use its RAISE funding to adopt a holistic approach to pupils’ emotional and social well-being. Several of the projects initiated dovetailed with the development of learning pathways at KS4, while all sought to offer individualised support to pupils throughout the school.

RAISE funded initiatives at Maesteg:

The development of the role of Senior Learning Coach to offer small group and individual counselling in academics, bereavement, anger management and a host of other personal and emotional support services.
The development of the role of Learning Support Officer to staff a personalised learning centre and offer academic support and alternative curricular options such as the Prince’s Trust and ASDAN.
The development of the role of Behaviour Support Officer to promote inclusion through links with the Restorative Justice programme.
The development of the role of a School Welfare Officer to offer First Aid, training and health related services and education.

Statement from Marian Jarvis,
Deputy Headteacher

When the school first was informed that we were receiving help from RAISE, my first instinct was "how will this benefit the community and the young people in it?" Society today can be a difficult place to be and the better equipped our young people are the better opportunities they have. We chose to look at those who were having difficulty in coping with a mainstream curriculum and to set up a pathway that would cater more for the individual person. RAISE gave us the chance to do this and there is no doubt in my mind that it has been a success. Our dedicated and committed staff has helped to turn around the young people in their charge. We have produced young responsible citizens who will be an asset to a community and who also have achieved accreditation to use in the world of work.