Year Heads & Pastoral Care at Scoil Pól
At Scoil Pól, pastoral care sits at the heart of everything we do. Our school motto, Omnibus Omnia — "all things to all" — reflects our belief that every student should feel known, supported and valued as an individual, not just as a name on a class list. Our Year Head and pastoral care structures exist to make sure that no student ever falls through the cracks, and that every family has a clear, familiar point of contact throughout their child's time with us.
The Year Head System
Every year group at Scoil Pól, from First Year right through to Sixth Year, has a dedicated Year Head. The Year Head is the central pastoral figure for that year group and typically the first point of contact for both students and parents on day-to-day matters.
A Year Head's role includes:
- Getting to know the students in their year group as individuals, and monitoring their wellbeing, behaviour and attendance over time
- Acting as the first point of contact for parents and guardians with a question or concern
- Working closely with class tutors, subject teachers and the Deputy Principals to identify students who may need extra support
- Liaising with the Guidance and Special Educational Needs (SEN) teams where additional support is required
- Recognising achievement and encouraging students to get involved in school life
- Supporting students through key transition points — into First Year, into Senior Cycle, and out into further study or work
Because a Year Head generally stays with their year group for the duration of their time in the school, students build a real, trusted relationship with one member of staff who knows their story from First Year onward.
Year Heads 2026/2027
| Year Group | Year Head |
| 1st Year | Ms. Noreen O’Riordan & Ms. Sarah Collins |
| 2nd Year | Ms. Niamh Masterson |
| 3rd Year | Mr. David Lowe |
| Transition Year | Ms. Susan Lowe & Mr. Jason Murphy |
| 5th Year | Mr. Pat Kelly |
| 6th Year | Ms. Margaret Convey |
| LCA 1 & 2 Years | Ms. Bríd Donovan |
| Hub | Mr. Kevin O'Leary |
Pastoral Care Teachers —Support for Every Class
Every class also has its own Pastoral Care Teacher, who meets with the class twice a week — on Tuesday and Thursday mornings — for a short, structured session. It's a chance to take the roll, share notices, check journals, and take the pulse of how students are getting on, both academically and personally. Pastoral Care Teachers are usually the first, most familiar face students see each week, and they work closely with their Year Head to make sure any concern, however small, is noticed early.
Pastoral Care Teachers
| 1st Year | 1A | Ms. Eadaoin Loughman |
| 1st Year | 1B | Ms. Michelle Enright |
| 1st Year | 1C | Mr. Jack Owens |
| 1st Year | 1D | Mr. Billy Finn |
| 2nd Year | 2A | Mr. Conor Bourke |
| 2nd Year | 2B | Ms. Gillian Power |
| 2nd Year | 2C | Ms, Laura Donnellan |
| 2nd Year | 2D | Mr. Aidan Lunn |
| 3rd Year | 3A | Mr. Ed Kiely |
| 3rd Year | 3B | Ms. Leanne Doyle |
| 3rd Year | 3C | Mr. Peter Droog |
| 3rd Year | 3D | Ms. Lauren Bourke |
| 3rd Year | 3E | Ms. IIona Hartnett |
| 4th Year | 4A | Ms. Edel Hayes |
| 4th Year | 4B | Mr. Paul O'Riordan |
| 4th Year | 4C | Ms. KerryAnn Finucane |
| 4th Year | 4D | Ms. Kate Geary |
| 4th Year | 4E | Ms. Orla Shiel |
| 5th Year | 5A | Ms. Sarah Tobin |
| 5th Year | 5B | Mr. Richard Lenihan |
| 5th Year | 5C | Mr. Peader McCarthy |
| 5th Year | 5D | Ms. Eibhlin Leonard |
| LCA 1 | LCA 1 | Mr. Billy McHugh |
| 6th Year | 6A | Ms. Paula Bateman |
| 6th Year | 6B | Mr. Anthony Punch |
| 6th Year | 6C | Ms. Carol McLoughlin |
| 6th Year | 6D | Mr. Billy O' Donoghue |
| LCA 2 | LCA 2 | Mr. Stephen Penny |
| Hub | Hub 1 | Ms. Eileen Doyle |
| Hub | Hub 2 | Ms. Sarah Joy |
The Wider Pastoral Care Team
Year Heads don't work alone. They are part of a wider pastoral care team that brings together specialist support from across the school:
- Guidance Counsellors — Ms. Sarah Condon and Ms. Siobhán O'Neill provide one-to-one guidance, personal counselling, and academic and career advice to students at every stage of their journey through the school.
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) — Mr. Kevin O'Leary coordinates additional support for students with special educational needs, working with teachers and outside agencies to make sure the right supports are in place.
- Programmes Co-ordinator — Ms. Susan Lowe supports the coordination of school programmes that contribute to students' personal and social development alongside their academic studies.
- Class Tutors and Subject Teachers — every student's day-to-day teachers are often the first to notice a change in mood, motivation or friendships, and work hand-in-hand with Year Heads to keep that picture complete.
- Student Support Team (SST) — a central team that meets weekly to co-ordinate support for students with additional wellbeing, behavioural or learning needs, so that needs are identified early and the right support is put in place.
- Senior Leadership — Principal Ms. Mairéad Finucane and Deputy Principals Mr. Eoin Walsh and Mr. Ryan Kennelly provide overall oversight of pastoral care and wellbeing across the school.
Working Together for Every Student
Pastoral care at Scoil Pól works as a team, not a single office. Pastoral Care Teachers see their class twice a week and are usually the first to notice a concern; anything ongoing is brought to the relevant Year Head, who builds a fuller picture over time and, where needed, brings in Guidance, the SENCO, or the Student Support Team. Senior Management and the Board of Management review the wellbeing of the school community on an ongoing basis, so that our pastoral structures keep pace with the needs of our students.
This joined-up approach means a concern raised in a classroom can be picked up quickly, followed through consistently, and never left to fall between two people.
Getting in Touch
Parents and guardians with a question or concern about their son or daughter are always welcome to contact the school office, who will put you in touch with the right Year Head. For more specialised support, our Guidance Counsellors and SENCO are also available through the school office.
At Scoil Pól, every student is known, every concern is heard, and every young person is supported to reach their full potential — Omnibus Omnia.
