Outstanding Education

Discovery College is committed to Safeguarding, which is “what we do as a society to protect individuals (in particular, children and vulnerable adults) from harm such as abuse, neglect, and sexual exploitation. Safeguarding ensures children grow up with the best life chances and that all individuals are given safe and effective care.” (Source: Child Protection Company)

Discovery College has four Child Protection Officers (two Primary, two Secondary) who work to ensure the wellbeing of students by monitoring incidences of suspected abuse or neglect, convening teams of relevant colleagues to make decisions about student welfare and making referrals, internally and externally, to specialist colleagues in order to support students who are in need.

Any member of the school community with a Safeguarding / Child Protection concern should contact the below colleagues.

Mark Jobling, Deputy Head of College - joblim3@dc.edu.hk 

Brian McCann, Director of Student Support & Wellbeing - brian.mccann@dc.edu.hk 

Annette Garnett, Deputy Head of Secondary - annette.garnett@dc.edu.hk 

Lucy Wood, Deputy Head of Primary - lucy.wood@dc.edu.hk

Wellbeing is a core aspect of Discovery College’s holistic approach to education, enabling all students to be the best they can be. One of our 5 DC outcomes is to flourish. To pursue this outcome we make wellbeing visible within our programmes and across College life, equipping and enabling students to manage their wellbeing effectively and develop the skills of self-management they need for the rest of their lives. The development of student wellbeing is fostered across the College through a considered and aligned approach, with all students from Year 1 to Year 13 participating in a comprehensive wellbeing programme delivered by classroom teachers, Learning Advisors, and outside providers.

Student Counsellors

At Discovery College, two trained Student Counsellors are available to support our school community. Ms. Zara Pugh primarily assists secondary students and their families from her office on the 4th floor of the DC Guidance Centre, while Ms. Jordana Velasco focuses on primary students and is located on the lower ground floor.

Working closely with HK government-funded Social Workers, the counsellors provide comprehensive support. Students can access counselling through self-referrals via email, appointment slips, or in-person visits. Parents can also seek assistance for their children or parenting support by contacting the counsellors directly, using the contact details below.

The Student Counsellors offer therapeutic counselling, skills building, advocacy, and in-class support, addressing issues such as self-esteem, anxiety, depression, family relationships, and more. They collaborate with a network of Hong Kong professionals to provide additional resources and referrals as needed.

Meet Our Student Counsellors

Jordana Velasco, Primary Student Counsellor (velasj2@dc.edu.hk)

Zara Pugh, Secondary Student Counsellor, (Zara.PUGH@dc.edu.hk)

Social workers

Ellie Fong ellie.fong@dc.edu.hk and Kyo Wong kyo.wong@dc.edu.hk are Discovery College’s HK government-funded Secondary School Social Workers. Ellie and Kyo work closely with the Student Counsellors and teachers to facilitate group work and workshops to alleviate factors that may be interfering with a student’s learning. Both work with individuals and groups around issues such as resilience, self-esteem, and social skills, and are available through self-referrals, teacher referrals, and parent referrals. The service may involve long or short-term intervention plans according to the student’s needs, together with social and emotional factors. Ellie and Kyo also liaise with other agencies to develop programmes to increase the range of support available.

Kyo Wong, Social Worker, (kyo.wong@dc.edu.hk)

Ellie Fong, Social Worker, (ellie.fong@dc.edu.hk)

Would you like to connect with us?

Primary parents you can contact Jordana directly.

Secondary parents, you can either email us directly, or fill in our confidential referral form.

Secondary Referral Form

We take online safety and security very seriously at DC and want to ensure that our students are equipped with the necessary skills to navigate the digital world safely. Our infused learning opportunities are designed to promote positive digital citizenship and provide our students with the tools they need to be responsible digital citizens.

To support this, we use the ESF Digital Citizenship Framework, which covers the key elements of digital citizenship from Year 1 to Year 13. Through this framework, we aim to create a consistent set of expectations for positive digital citizenship that is shared between home and school. We recognize that parents play a crucial role in shaping their child's online behaviour, and we are committed to strengthening the partnership between home and school.

We offer presentations and workshops related to online safety and security to help parents stay informed about the latest trends and encourage positive behaviour online. The aim is to form positive digital citizenship expectations that are consistent between home and school, with parents and the school keeping each other informed about current positive and negative online trends to be aware of.