Our School Intervention Dog
🐾 Our School Intervention Dog 🐾
At President Kennedy School, we’re always looking for ways to support our students’ wellbeing and create a calm, positive learning environment.
We’re delighted to introduce our school intervention dog, Rupert!
Why we have a school dog
Research shows that spending time with dogs can help young people feel calmer, reduce anxiety, and improve focus, confidence, and communication.
Our school dog works with students in a variety of ways – from reading or mindfulness sessions to helping with emotional regulation and attendance support.
About Rupert
- Rupert is a friendly and gentle spaniel
- He is specially trained, health checked, and temperament assessed to work safely in a school environment
- Mr Arnett, our Pastoral Leader in Year 9 is the dog’s trained handler and always supervises him on site
- Rupert has regular vet checks, is vaccinated, wormed, and flea-treated, and has a quiet space to rest during the day
Safety and wellbeing
The safety and comfort of both students and Rupert are very important to us
- The dog is never left alone with students
- All interactions are supervised and risk-assessed
- Students are taught how to behave calmly and respectfully around the dog
- Handwashing is encouraged after any contact
- The dog is not allowed in food areas or around students who have allergies or do not wish to take part
Parental consent
Students will only have direct contact with Rupert if their parent or carer has given written consent via the Student Data Collection form.
If your child has a fear of dogs or an allergy, please let us know – we’ll make sure they are fully comfortable and included in other ways.
Questions?
If you’d like to know more about Rupert or how the school dog works with our students, please see our School Intervention Dog Policy below or contact Mr Arnett at ArnettT@pks.coventry.sch.uk
We’re proud to have Rupert as part of our school community — bringing smiles, calm, and comfort to everyone he meets!