Sense of Belonging: The Key to Success

For any school to be truly successful, the students need to have a strong sense of belonging to the College. Sense of belonging reflects the extent to which students perceive themselves as an important part of the school context and feel accepted and supported by school members. Numerous studies have found that sense of belonging is an important factor that makes a significant contribution to students’ learning and academic success. 

Furthermore, increased sense of belonging has been associated with students’ academic engagement, persistence, positive school affect and performance. There are a number of different terms that have been used to examine students’ sense of belonging, including: sense of relatedness, sense of connectedness and sense of community. Sense of relatedness can be directly linked with student engagement and the students internal motivation to achieve. To ensure we are giving our students every opportunity to develop that crucial sense of belonging, a desire to continue to improve, and a safe and supportive environment to learn and flourish, at the beginning of 2021 a Pastoral Structure Review Working Party was established.

The Pastoral Structure Review commenced with approximately 12 staff members. The working party was responsible for analysing school data to investigate any areas that they considered were of concern or required further development. From this investigation student engagement was identified as an area that could be further developed at Saint Ignatius College. 

When considering all the research in the area of students’ sense of belonging, it was hypothesised that if a school was to improve the relationships that increase a student’s sense of belonging, it should directly relate to the improvement of student outcomes in the class. Furthermore, by assisting the students and staff to develop and create those important professional teacher/student relationships, we will further develop the necessary internal motivation that is required for students to become fully engaged in their learning.

This hypothesis allowed the group to develop specific Guiding Objectives that needed to be achieved to enhance our students’ sense of belonging and connectedness to our College. From the Guiding Objectives the Pastoral Structure Review Working Party provided three recommendations to the Executive leadership team of the College.

1. A vertical structure be adopted at the Senior School (Years 10-12), to assist in the development of student connectedness and sense of belonging and to maintain current Years 7-9 structure with the inclusion of specific actions that will continue to foster the important relationships at these particular levels. The revised structure would also include Mentor Teachers that remain with their House and their Mentor group for three years, continuity of one House Leader for three years and YLC’s at year 7 and 8 to remain with their year levels for two consecutive years.
2. A weekly Mentor Time be adopted across the whole school within the current timetable structure to allow for the important relationships to develop between the Mentor Teacher and their Mentor / Homeroom group. The Mentor Time needs to be structured to ensure its meaningful and purposeful. The role of this Mentor Teacher and Mentor Time would allow each student to be known and feel valued within our College.
3. A new House system needs to be implemented that is inclusive of all activities for all students. There would be a requirement that this House system would significantly shift the current focus and culture of the College from sport to a more inclusive House system. Shifting this focus would allow all students to associate themselves with a particular House, further establishing the specific connection to the College and developing that important sense of belonging.

These recommendations will be further developed throughout next year, with some areas trialled throughout 2022. The aim is to have these recommendations fully implemented into the College in 2023. The College will be seeking feedback from parents through the PFA early in 2022.

This will be an exciting change to Saint Ignatius College and one that I am sure will enhance not only our students’ sense of belonging, but further develop the capacity in all areas of our young people.

Michael Timms  Deputy Principal [Students]