| Behaviour and Discipline |
|
The Barclay School Rationale The Education Act 1997 requires the governing body of all LA-maintained schools to agree a written statement of general principles for an overall behaviour and discipline policy. The governors must periodically review this statement, which should include: • The ethos of the school, offering a clear and defensible set of values and making clear the acceptable behaviour; Good discipline is based on mutual knowledge. Our students are aware of the standards we expect of them; they are actively involved through the School Council in policy formulation so that they are better able to respect the setting of known standards. To assist our management of student behaviour and improve student performance, two mnemonics are displayed in every room:1 For Key Stage Three Groups A ttendance is essential Aim To promote high standards of positive behaviour and attendance at all times and ensure that every student realizes their full potential and completes their education successfully. In line with “Every Child Matters” – Every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, should have the support they need to:- • Be healthy Objectives • To emphasis how positive behaviour and attendance are essential foundations for an effective learning and teaching environment Code of conduct The Barclay School does not have a lengthy set of rules, which list proscribed activities for students. Rather we operate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding and operate a code of conduct that reflects this way of working. We encourage good behaviour by repeating our expectations at every opportunity. In addition to the positive attitudes expected of students to staff on a daily basis, school rules, for example, are displayed in all teaching areas and students planners, senior staff regularly visit assemblies and reinforce specific expectations, and parents are kept informed of relevant issues via regular letters and the school website. • We should be polite and considerate to others and treat everyone with respect We all have a part to play in creating and maintaining a caring atmosphere where everyone feels involved and valued. Classroom Code of Conduct We encourage good behaviour by repeating our expectations at every opportunity. In addition to the positive attitudes to students expected to staff on a daily basis, school rules, for example, are displayed in all teaching areas and students planners, senior staff regularly visit assemblies and reinforce specific expectations, and parents are kept informed of relevant issues via regular letters and the school website. • Everyone arrives on time and students will sit according to the teachers seating plan without argument.
Homework is an essential part of our students’ work. It builds upon and reinforces work introduced within lessons, allows for preparation for a new classroom topic, and helps improve problem-solving skills. We wish our students to continue in learning when they have left school and no longer have the on-going support of a teacher. Homework helps develop good student organisational habits, independent learning and self-discipline. Each student has a Planner in which (s)he records homework set, date of setting and date it is due in for marking. If no homework is set by the subject teacher on the evening it is normally set, (s)he will ensure that students enter the fact in their Student Planners. Planners are examined on a weekly basis by Group Tutors and parent. Each will sign it to indicate satisfaction that work has been set, recorded and completed. We welcome parents’ interest in their child’s class work and homework and encourage the use of the Planner as a means of communication. Students who persist in failing to complete homework or hand it in on time may be interviewed by their Group Tutor or appropriate Subject Leader and a detention may be imposed. Learning Mentors and House Leaders will be informed. A parental interview will take place if the difficulty is not resolved.
We have a straightforward and simple uniform for all students in Years Seven to Eleven. Consultations with parents have indicated that our uniform policy is one that they support. It is, therefore, very important that all students are dressed in full uniform: • Boys: plain buttoned white shirt and school tie, dark grey/black tailored trousers, school sweatshirt and black formal shoes • Girls: plain white blouse with collar and no ribbing with buttons to the collar, dark grey/black full length tailored trousers (not narrow leg) or skirt which should be an appropriate length for school, school sweatshirt and black formal shoes Please note: students wearing training shoes without good reason will not be admitted into school. Jewellery, Hair and Make-Up For reasons of safety and security students should avoid wearing jewellery to school. A small ring, one neck chain, a pair of studs/sleepers and a watch may be worn if necessary. Make-up,if worn, should be discreet and nail varnish should be in natural to skin tones. For safety reasons, nose studs, facial, or body piercings are not allowed. Parents are asked not to allow youngsters to come to school with valuable items or items of sentimental value. Extremes of hair style, either in cut or in colour, are unacceptable to the school. Physical Education Clothing Physical Education is an essential part of the curriculum of Barclay School. Kit must be brought to all lessons even if students are injured or have notes. They can still undertake roles such as Coach, Manager or Referee. The Subject Leader needs to be alerted to any long term injuries; project work will be set for students and they will be allowed to use the Library and Internet resources to complete projects ranging from: fitness investigations, rule booklet for specific sports, sports advertising and sports posters. There is a growing concern within our society about the health of young people and we endeavour to make every lesson an active, enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Watches, earrings, and chains are not allowed to be worn in any PE activity and should be handed in to the staff at the beginning of each lesson. We will endeavour to keep these items safely but we cannot guarantee their safety. We have two distinct sets of kit: Indoor PE: Barclay white polo shirt, white ankle socks, royal blue shorts, non-marking training shoes. We expect all articles of PE kit to be permanently marked with its owner’s name in order to ensure that lost or mislaid items can be returned to the correct individual, therefore saving parents the expense of purchasing expensive replacements. Rewards It is very important that the positive aspects of praise and reward should have great emphasis. Youngsters respond to systems, which recognise their strengths and difficulties. We aim, therefore, to recognise when youngsters have achieved what has been asked of them: • Teachers are very willing, and indeed welcome the opportunity, to praise individuals for pieces of good work or for good effort. We use praise and encouragement as much as possible in lessons and will supplement this with a private word or publicly in Assemblies. • Students’ work is displayed as much as possible for it is apparent that this recognition reinforces success. Classroom displays are augmented by exhibitions in the corridor. • Merits are awarded to students who have produced consistently good effort, behaviour and homework. They are awarded during Merit Fortnight. Certificates are awarded in Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond categories. The merit totals for each tutor group are counted towards the overall total for the House and prizes awarded accordingly. • In Years 10 and 11 students achieve commendations on a regular basis. Students receive gift tokens and cinema vouchers, dependent on the number awarded. These are awarded as a result of staff nominations. Sanctions There will be occasions when poor or inappropriate behaviour is displayed. A set of guidelines is used to produce a consistent response to such behaviour. In the classroom teachers may: • remind the student of what behaviour is considered appropriate and explaining why the behaviour is inappropriate; moving the student(s) within the room to work in a different place; speaking with the student outside the room to set out clearly and quietly how and why they are behaving unacceptably; • speak with the student after the lesson in a quiet, private way; • seek support from Emergency Cover rota who will remove the student from the room and supervise him/her until the lesson ends • complete Incident Sheet or Emergency Cover Sheet as appropriate. When a problem occurs outside the teaching situation, teachers may: • speak with the student about the behaviour, either at that place or by going somewhere quiet to speak; noting the incident and taking advice from a senior colleague at the earliest opportunity; • take the student to the Student Support Team or House Leader to explain the situation • complete Incident Sheet or Emergency Cover Sheet as appropriate. Having followed one of the above procedures, a sanction may be applied: • It might be very appropriate that extra or repeated work is set for a student who has not completed a set task as the result of inappropriate behaviour. This may be during break, after school in a detention session, or at home. If it is the latter a parental signature, confirming that the work has been completed, will be sought. • Any member of the teaching staff may detain students who misbehave. Such detentions will be reasonable and proportionate to the offence; the school will continue to give at least 24 hours written notice of the detention or parents will be contacted and asked for their support in keeping a student on the same day as the incident; and it will normally last for about 40 minutes. The notice will explain to the parents why the detention has been given, when it will take place and how long the student will have to remain at school. In some circumstances it may be necessary for a student’s release from school to be delayed for up to ten minutes in order to undertake immediate investigation of an alleged instance of misbehaviour. Parents are notified by text through Parentmail. • Occasionally, a student may go ‘on report’ where a check is made on every lesson and the individual sees someone at the end of each school day. This has been found to be very effective up to approximately two working weeks; after this time it gradually loses its effectiveness. This measure will be decided by a House Leader, or very occasionally by the Subject Leader, and will be formally managed by the Deputy Headteacher. • Working in isolation is a response to very serious difficulties, decided by a member of the Leadership Group and organised in conjunction with the relevant House Leader. Parents will be informed should this sanction be enacted. • For most students the greatest sanction at our disposal is contact with, and support from parent(s) through telephone, written messages or email. • Our most serious, and final, sanction is to exclude formally the student from school, either on a temporary basis for a fixed time or permanently. The school’s Exclusion Policy (attached) explains how this operates. Pastoral Support (Student Support Team) The Student Support Team is a team of staff responsible to the Deputy Headteacher for student support and the Headteacher. The team has dedicated support leaders for students Behaviour, Social and Learning needs. The Student Support Team works with all school staff, students and parents/carers to create and maintain a safe school environment for all. The team actively promotes good school attendance, effective timekeeping and good behaviour. The staff within the Student Support Team will assist students with any emotional, behaviour, educational or social needs and offers advice and alternative strategies to promote learning and assist with their mainstream education. By providing a visible and accessible presence within the school, the team will ensure a high level of co-ordination and co-operation in responding to the needs of the individual student. The team encourage and promote the aims of the “Every Child Matters” policy and as such, every child whatever their background or circumstances, should have the support they need to:- • Be Healthy Staff within The Student Support Team work towards improving students understanding of personal and social issues such as consequences of crime and misuse of drugs, associated life skills/good citizenship as well as dedicated learning needs and are always available to assist students with pastoral issues that include:- • Bullying The team work closely with other statutory agencies such as the Police, & Children, Schools and Families for the benefit of students. Members of the team frequently liaise with parents and carers and actively encourage communication with them and are always available. Racist Behaviour – see Anti Racist Policy Bullying including Cyber and Telephone Bullying – See Anti Bullying policy Physical violence As a school we do not accept that violence will resolve difficulties or disputes. We accept that there will be times when students feel provoked and are drawn into confrontation. We will remind students in Year and House assemblies that under such circumstances they must approach an adult on site for assistance – they have the right to expect assistance. Students will be reminded during Year and House assemblies that where they resort to acts of violence, exclusion will normally result. It is unacceptable for any student to display violence towards another student or any member of staff. If any student is found being violent then exclusion will normally result. Misuse of Substances The Headteacher has overall responsibility for all aspects of the school, the school has a substance abuse designated teacher – Miss Bibby - who has general responsibility for co-ordinating our actions. Barclay School is committed to the Health & safety of its students and staff and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The school therefore totally opposes the misuse or supply of illegal substances by members of the school. The school operates a zero tolerance to all illegal substances. The school does acknowledge the importance of its pastoral role in relation to the welfare of young people. This section of the policy incorporates both national and county guidelines for drugs and health. Barclay school will: • Provide accurate information about substances Barclay school will also actively co-operate with other agencies and organisations such as police, social services, LA and other health and drug agencies to deliver its commitment to drugs education and to enforce any incidents or potential incidents of substance use and misuse. Mobile Phones, iPods, MP3s, Cameras, etc We have concerns about mobile phones and other items and would very much prefer them not to be brought into school at any time. In our experience they are susceptible to loss or damage and they may be used at inappropriate times. If it really is necessary for them to be brought to school, they must be switched off during all lessons and during registration / assembly periods. If a student is seen using an item during these times a member of staff will confiscate it for a day; it will be held by the Headteacher and returned the following day. If a second confiscation occurs, the item will be held by the Headteacher for a week! We hope that all parents will assist us and will not allow their children to talk them into trying to retrieve an item during the ‘confiscated period’. If, for safety reasons, it is necessary for a student to have a mobile phone for the weekend, it will be returned at 3.00pm on Friday but must be handed in again on the following Monday morning, when it will be returned on Tuesday.
|
|
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 January 2010 ) |
