St. Dominic's International School

St. Dominic's has a Pastoral Support programme that emphasises supportive relationships between students and staff, and among students. The Pastoral Care Programme includes the Tutor Programme, new student inclusion programmes, community and service projects, and sports competitions. Its three main objectives are to balance a student's cognitive, emotional and social life; develop self-reliance through self-confidence and self-awareness; and support and enhance the curriculum so learning extends beyond the classroom. The approach provides personalised attention to support academic and personal growth. Pastoral care fosters wellbeing and social development across the school.

The Learning Support at St. Dominic's is a whole-school responsibility aimed at helping students achieve their full academic potential. An individualized approach is provided, tailored to each student's needs in the classroom and in small groups. An experienced team of psychologists and special education specialists delivers counselling and psychoeducational support. The school collaborates with local specialists, including speech and occupational therapists, to address specific needs. The team supports students across all grade levels, working with mainstream teachers, teaching assistants and parents to achieve the best possible outcomes.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) support welcomes students from around the world, with an EAL department dedicated to integrating learners into an English-speaking environment. The four language skills—reading, writing, listening and speaking—are treated as interconnected in a holistic approach. After assessing each student's language needs, a programme is designed to support academic success, which may include in-class support, differentiated lessons and targeted English skills lessons. EAL classes are generally small, with EAL teachers working alongside class teachers to plan, teach and assess understanding of the curriculum. EAL assessment takes place during the first week to determine whether EAL classes are required, and EAL classes are available for students from Grade 1 to Grade 10.

Mental wellbeing is supported through a robust pastoral framework and the Learning Support team. The Pastoral Care Programme focuses on relationships, wellbeing and personal growth, including the Tutor Programme, new student inclusion, community and service projects and sports, to foster balance and resilience. The three aims are to balance cognitive, emotional and social life; develop self-confidence and self-awareness; and support and extend the curriculum beyond the classroom. The Learning Support team comprises psychologists and specialists who provide counselling and psychoeducational support and may collaborate with external professionals such as speech and occupational therapists to support wellbeing and learning. The combined pastoral and learning support aims help students develop self-confidence, resilience and holistic growth.