Buchan Life
WELCOME
We endeavour to provide a broad range of opportunities for all our pupils, not only within the classroom, but also by taking full advantage of the 13.5 acres of partially wooded grounds in the heart of which our school buildings are set.
PASTORAL CARE
Pastoral care at the Buchan is linked with teaching and learning and is rooted in all areas of school life. We believe in promoting students’ personal and social development and fostering positive attitudes. This is achieved through the quality of teaching and learning and through the relationships amongst students, teachers and adults.
Our small class sizes and Form Tutor system enables staff to monitor students’ overall progress (academic, personal and social). Pastoral support systems are in place to ensure the wellbeing of all students. Each child is valued and as a school we support all pupils and staff.
HOUSES
The House system encourages leadership, responsibility, involvement, loyalty, cooperation and good discipline amongst all students. They become members of a House when they reach Prep and are expected to do their best for it in their work in lessons and in their commitment to extracurricular activities. At the Buchan we are very proud of all of the children and look to celebrate their achievements throughout each term.
One way that we do this is through the House Points system and children can be awarded any number of House Points for completing an excellent piece of work;for spontaneous acts of kindness; for meeting a personal target and each week we aim to highlight those children who have earned a notable number of House Points by inviting them to stand up in Friday assembly to be applauded by the rest of the School.
We also award a range of certificates from Bronze to Platinum to highlight those children who have reached certain milestones in a term. Each House is led by House Tutors and individual House lunches are held so that the children can bond with pupils in other year groups. The four Houses commemorate famous Viking rulers of the Island; Godred, Lagman, Magnus and Olaf.
FOOD AND HEALTH
Children eat a healthy and homemade lunch in The Buchan School dining hall each day. There are a variety of hot and cold options to choose from. We cater for all dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances.
WRAPAROUND CARE
BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CARE
At The Buchan School we understand how important pre and post school care is to many parents and we provide full wraparound care from 8am to 5.30pm.
Our Breakfast Club runs from 8am to 8.30am for parents who need to drop off their children early.
The After-school Club provides care for those Buchan pupils whose parents are unable to collect them at the end of the formal school day. The children are given a light snack and can then play, read or enjoy the outside, if the weather permits. There are various pick-up times at the end of the school day with the club starting at 3.30pm and finishing at 5.30pm.
HOLIDAY CARE
The Buchan School hosts an exciting Buchaneer Holiday Club during the school holidays for children aged 4 to 11 years old. It is organised by trained and qualified staff and provides a high-quality and adventurous programme for Buchan students.
Based at the school, the Club takes advantage of our superb facilities within the 13.5 acres of our private grounds. We offer a range of activities both on and off site. Our action-packed days include various art and craft activities, visits to Manx heritage centres and trips to exciting places in the Isle of Man.
TRANSPORT
COACH AND MINI BUS SERVICES
The College runs a mini bus and coach service. The coach goes down the east coast to Douglas and Onchan. In addition to the coach service, we also provide a mini bus service from Ramsey through Kirk Michael and Foxdale to King William’s College, and another which runs from Peel through Glen Vine via the College to The Buchan School.
Children coming on any service via KWC can transfer to the minibus going to The Buchan. We also provide a dedicated Mini Bus Service, for Buchan pupils only, from Douglas to The Buchan School on a daily basis. Details of these services can be provided on request.
Coaches and Mini Buses will only stop at the designated stop-off points on the schedule, and for road safety reasons we regret that it is not possible for the drivers to make unscheduled stops.
All children are required to wear their seatbelts. The charges are added to the fee bills termly in arrears. Coaches can be booked termly, part booked or ad hoc subject to availability. All trips must be booked. The service runs during term time from Monday to Friday, excluding TT fortnight.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE FROM:
coaches@kwc.im or +44 (0) 1624 820455.
ST THOMAS’ CHAPEL
The Buchan School has a Christian foundation. Our own beautifully decorated Chapel is the spiritual heart of the School. The place where it is possible to find a space in the midst of the business of day-to-day school life, to bring our hopes, joys, fears and sorrows, and reflect. The Chapel is the on site at King William’s College.
For the whole school significant dates and seasons are marked by services in St Thomas’ Chapel, including a welcome for new pupils early in the academic year, honouring the fallen at the war memorial and with the reading of the role of honour, carol services for the school and wider community and an Ascension Service for The Buchan School.
There is a wealth of contributors to Chapel during the year – readers, intercessors, choristers and preachers, each bringing their unique qualities and gifts to join those of our Christian forebears in this place.
CHAPEL GALLERY
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