Behaviour Code

Sanctions

Sanctions are designed to promote positive behaviour rather than to punish students who break the code of conduct. They are most useful when seen by everyone as a deterrent. Sanctions are best dealt with on the spot by the member of staff concerned. The most effective sanctions are likely to be simple reprimands backed up by the authority of staff within the school. Consistency is essential and reprimands should be used effectively and sparingly.

General guidelines

Members of staff should:

• make it clear that they are criticising the behaviour and not the person;
• avoid early escalation to more severe sanctions;
• avoid whole group sanctions that punish the innocent as well as the guilty;
• take account of individual circumstances and needs.

Stage 1

Initially poor or inappropriate behaviour/poor work should be identified and dealt with by the class teacher.

• Appropriate comments should be written in the student planner and recorded on SIMS. Parents/form tutors should be aware of this problem. Suitable action should then be initiated to address the problem. Classroom sanctions are best arranged as a hierarchy:
• verbal warning;
• being moved;
• losing some of their time eg break or part of;
• lunchtime detention;
• exit from classroom – short “cooling off” period outside classroom;
• exit from classroom to colleague. Pupils must not simply be sent to “find” a certain member of staff.

Stage 2

If unacceptable behaviour continues, the Head of Department (HoD) must be informed via SIMS and parents informed via planner. The HoD may decide on an appropriate course of action e.g.

• Interview with HOD;
• pupil placed with another member of the department or HoD for lesson;
• pupil placed in lunchtime detention;
• phone call home (record on SIMS);
• departmental report monitored by HoD

Stage 3

If problems are unresolved, persist or are of a more serious nature a referral is made to the relevant Head of Year. The relevant Head of School may also become involved at this stage.

• Pupils placed in after school detention or complete lunchtime duties. Parents are informed.
• After referral, pupils may be placed on extended report and parents are informed.
• If problems persist HoS must be informed.

Stage 4

• TARGET CARD/ACHIEVEMENT RECORD – possibly leading to a Pastoral Support Plan or Individual Behaviour Plan.
• Or Inclusion

Stage 5

Fixed term exclusion.

Stage 6

After a period of exclusion the pupil would return and sign a contract which, if breached, would result in either further periods of exclusion or permanent exclusion.

Exclusion

Exclusion can take place:

• in response to serious breaches of the school’s behaviour policy;
• once a range of alternative strategies have been tried and have failed;
• if allowing the pupil to remain on site would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or of others in the school.
• Only the Headteacher has the power to exclude.
• All exclusions must follow WAG guidelines and require formal documentation.
• We are not allowed to exclude for poor attendance or truancy; the failure of parents to co-operate; minor behaviour code infringements.
• WAG guidance discourages exclusions of more than a day or two. Exclusions should always be seen as the sanction of last resort.

Rules – Pupils Must:

• arrive on time;
• line up outside classroom;
• be prepared and equipped for learning;
• be in appropriate uniform;
• stand at beginning of lesson;
• follow directions immediately;
• have their planners;
• listen to the person who is meant to be talking;
• put hands up when asking a question;
• must not talk over the teacher;
• must not eat/chew in class;
• must remain focused;
• must be polite;
• meet all deadlines.
• not use mobile phones, ipods etc. without permission;
• stand behind desks at the end of the lesson. Litter check.
• be dismissed in orderly fashion row by row/table by table;
• treat the learning environment with respect.

Basic Rules Which are Published in Classrooms

In class we expect you to:

• Arrive on time, properly prepared for learning
• Follow teacher directions immediately.
• Keep hands, feet and unkind remarks to yourself.
• Listen to the person who is meant to be talking.
• Take care of all materials, equipment and the learning environment.

There are 5 consequences of poor behaviour in class. These are:

• A verbal warning.
• Being moved seat.
• Losing some of your time eg break/lunch detention.
• Being removed from the classroom.
• After school detention.

Common Behaviour Issues

Uniform

• All must abide by policy.
• Responsibility of all colleagues to enforce uniform code.
• Particular responsibility of form teachers.

General “Scruffiness” Or Inappropiate Clothing – shirt, tie, trousers, short skirts etc.

• Verbal warning (usually form tutor).
• If no improvement - letter home.
• If no improvement – Head of Year lunchtime detention.
• If no improvement – after school detention.
• If no improvement – inclusion.

Trainers

If have letter:

• 2 days grace to sort out. FT (Form Tutor) first response.
• If not resolved FT to liaise with HoY. Phone call home – HoY or Key Stage Pastoral Support.
• If not resolved by day 3 – pupil to work in isolation.

If no letter:

• Phone call home on first day to establish facts. FT to make HoY or Key Stage Pastoral Support aware. Phone call home from HoY/ Key Stage Pastoral Support.
• If no adequate reason – pupil in break and lunch detention.
• As above, if issue not resolved after 2 days – pupil to work in isolation.

Hoodies

Jersey style tops / hoodies / tracksuits tops / sweatshirts forbidden (including school tops designed for tours and visits).

• Instant confiscation - can be returned at end of day.
• 2nd offence – confiscation – parents informed by HoY or Key Stage Pastoral Support. Parents to collect items from school.

Jewellery

Only a watch allowed.

• Instant confiscation - any teacher can do this. Jewellery to be placed in fully labelled envelope in office safe. Office will keep record.
• Refusal to remove jewellery - parents contacted; after school detention; all breaks and lunch times in detention until jewellery removed.

Phones/ Ipods

Must not be visible at any time, unless being used as a teaching and learning aid.

• Instant confiscation. Place in envelope in office safe. Pupils can collect at end of day. Classroom teacher to issue sanction.

• 2nd offence – parents need to collect.

• After school detention.

Puntuality

• Form tutors to take main responsibility for lateness to school.
• Sanctions arranged on half-termly basis.
• If pupils are late twice in half term with no good reason –half hour lunchtime detention with Head of Year.
• If pupils are late 4 times in half term with no good reason– after school detention.
• If pupils late again – 2nd after school detention and Educational Welfare Officer involvement – letter home.

Environment

• Chewing gum is forbidden.
• Classroom teacher and FT to monitor and enforce.
• Head of Year lunch detention for persistent offenders in addition to any sanction applied by class teacher.

Dropping Litter

• Weekly rota of pupils from forms.
• Any offenders on “community service” for as long as necessary.

Smoking – after school detention and letter home.

Out of Bounds– lunchtime detention and letter home.

Off Site Without Permission – after school detention and letter home.

Rudeness to Staff – we must have an expectation of good manners.

In a classroom/lesson - for lower level incidents the classroom teacher and department must deal initially e.g. departmental lunchtime detention.

For more serious incidents use the school referral system.

For incidents outside the classroom- a range of sanctions can be applied ( eg lunchtime or after school detention) in line with the seriousness of the incident.