Behaviour

CHARD SCHOOL - BEHAVIOUR POLICY

Rationale

High standards of behaviour are central to the school's objective in aiming for excellence, in all aspects of school life and the following principles are followed:

1. Good behaviour is based on common sense and Christian principles.
2. The maintenance of good discipline is essential if we are to fulfil our aims for the pupils and if we are to ensure the health and safety of all members of the school community.
3. It is assumed that standards expected by staff and parents are the same and therefore the school expects backing from parents on matters of discipline.
4. Mutual respect between staff, parents and pupils is expected.
5. Encouragement and the reinforcement of good behaviour are essential both at school and in the home.
6. Pupils are expected to develop a respect for others, themselves, for property, the school and the wider community and good manners are encouraged as a way to achieve this respect.

Guidelines

1. School rules are based on common sense and there is no exhaustive list written down. Silence is expected at certain times eg in line-ups, assemblies and lessons. Running in buildings is not acceptable.

2. The following behaviour is also considered unacceptable:

(a) poor behaviour in lessons
(b) deliberate damage to property
(c) physical or verbal abuse of other pupils
(d) failure to wear uniform correctly

3. Pupils will be made aware of rules, as they arise (often in Assembly) and they will be expected to act within these rules.

4. Where sanctions are necessary, at school, then they will be appropriate and in proportion to the offence, carried out as soon as possible, so that the child may "wipe the slate clean" and make a fresh start.

Sanctions

Criteria
(a) Should be capable of being clearly understood by staff, pupils and parents.
(b) Should be applied consistently.
(c) Should be appropriate, ie. match the offence both in nature and scale.
(d) Should have a deterrent and/or remedial value.
(e) Should aim to raise standards, act as a spur to improvement.
(f) Should be practical and enforceable in terms of the school situation and staff demands.
(g) Should be progressive, ie. have a further line of action in the face of intractability.

1. Staff present at the time of infringements should deal with the problem appropriately and immediately.

2. Pupils will be given "break detentions", ie made to stay at break, for breaching rules, particularly those regarding silence and for offences at play times.

3. There is an "on report" system - whereby a pupil has to report to each member of staff who teaches them at the end of a lesson and at the end of each break period, for a written comment on work and behaviour. These are shown to the Headmaster at the end of each day and taken home to be shown to parents, who have to sign and make comments if necessary, before being brought back to the Head the next day. This sanction will only be used for persistent poor work or extreme behaviour and will be linked to a specific problem, eg. meeting deadlines, low quality of homework, poor presentation, etc. Comments should then be specific to the problems.

4. Parents may be informed about offences, if it is felt necessary.

5. In the case of persistent or extreme lapses of behaviour, the Headmaster would contact parents for a discussion on the child's future welfare and any sanctions that may be necessary. Suspension or exclusion can be used, as a last resort.

6. Corporal punishment, of any kind, is NOT allowed.

Staff and Behavioural Procedures

In the light of the abolition of corporal punishment and changing social attitudes towards discipline and the role of the teacher, it is vital that staff do not place themselves in untenable positions by actions which contravene the law and school policy, and which might open them to disciplinary and/or legal action.

The position is made clear in staff meetings. However the essential issues are as follows:
? FORMAL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS BANNED
? STRIKING A PUPIL, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IS BANNED
? THROWING OBJECTS OR MISSILES OF ANY KIND, AT A PUPIL, FOR WHATEVER REASON, MUST NOT HAPPEN
? PHYSICALLY RESTRAINING A PUPIL/GRABBING HOLD OF A PUPIL MUST BE APPROACHED WITH CAUTION. WHILST OBVIOUSLY BEING ACCEPTABLE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT PUPIL VISITING VIOLENCE ON OTHERS OR INDEED TO PREVENT THAT PUPIL DOING HIS/HERSELF DAMAGE, IF USED AS A GENERAL DISCIPLINARY MEASURE, OR AS A REACTION TO PROVOCATION, IT MAY WELL LEAD TO PROBLEMS.

The school will always do its utmost to protect staff who are victims of provocation, or of unreasonable over-reactions to incidents, it must be clear that staff who wilfully disregard school policy will have to face the consequences of those actions.

It is also worth noting, in this regard, that the recent publicity given to child abuse cases, places an even greater pressure on those who work closely with children. The essential message for all is, unfortunately, only too clear. The only safe course of action for any teacher these days is, TO ESCHEW COMPLETELY ALL FORMS OF PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH PUPILS.

JOHN STOTESBURY
Updated April 2007 Back to top