POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR POLICY
NORTHFIELD SCHOOL & SPORTS COLLEGE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR POLICY Key aim: The aim of Northfield School is to provide an outstanding education for all students. This is achieved by creating a calm and purposeful environment where all students can flourish by working hard and without distraction. Whenever possible, positive sanctions and rewards are utilised to encourage students to develop their own controlled and purposeful behaviour which allows them, and enables others, to reach their full potential. Ofsted 2011: ‘Students’ good behaviour, both in lessons and around school, ensures a harmonious and calm atmosphere on both sites’. ‘Behaviour in lessons is good’. ‘Students show respect for one another’. ‘Most students are polite and relationships across school are harmonious’.
Promoting high expectations: 1. Success Club – This scheme was introduced into school to promote excellent behaviour, punctuality and high attendance from the outset. Each and every student is a member of success club on entering school and will remain as such until negative points are recorded against them. The School Council have been responsible for devising the sanctions and rewards for this scheme. 2. Achievement Points – These are used by classroom teachers to reward excellent effort and mature behaviour. Three points are awarded each lesson and entered onto the school’s data base. Tutor groups at the top of the ‘league tables’ are rewarded and the highest scoring individual students receive certificates in the end of year assembly. 3. Curriculum Awards – Each department is asked to nominate students for excellent effort and attitude leading to certificates and/or prizes being awarded during year group assemblies. 4. Headteacher’s Special Awards – Subject departments sponsor individual students for special recognition by applying for Headteacher’s awards. These are given out by Mr. Walker during year group assemblies. 5. Final Assemblies – are held annually for each year group to recognise and applaud success. A variety of awards are given out based on excellent effort and exemplary behaviour. These awards are frequently given to students who have improved most significantly rather than having the highest scores to start with. 6. Communication with parents and carers – members of teaching and guidance staff will endeavour to keep parents and carers fully informed of any behavioural problems and remedial actions taken via
September 2010
phone calls, letters and emails. Members of staff are also encouraged to send positive communications to acknowledge improvements made by students in school. 7. Student Voice – school prefects, peer mentors and school councillors all contribute to the day to day running of an effective positive behavioural policy in school. Inclusion in these teams is for recognition of exemplary behaviour and students are given opportunity to contribute to new systems, manage behavioural control strategies on a daily basis and to act as role models for the whole school community. 8. In the Classroom – all staff are committed to providing a supportive atmosphere, based on mutual respect, and improving motivation and confidence levels by sensitive use of oral praise and constructive written feedback in exercise books. This level of support is essential to minimise minor disruptions resulting from disaffected students.
Corrective Strategies:
A range of strategies are in place to encourage students to develop mature and responsible behaviour. These are utilised in a consistent manner by all staff and are only engaged when more positive measures have not been successful. 1. In the classroom: seating plans are utilised to ensure the optimum social mix of students to allow excellent progress. Students may be asked to move seat or may be removed from the classroom for a very short period to allow a ‘cooling off’ time’. 2. Points on SIMS: All teachers are encouraged to log behavioural incidents on the school data base so that patterns of behaviour can be identified, parents informed and remedial action taken. The Headteacher will use this data as an evidence trail in support of more serious actions such as a fixed term exclusion. 3. Reports: Students can be placed on report by their Head of Year or, for more serious incidents, by a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Weekly targets are set and progress towards these targets is recorded by each classroom teacher. Reports must be signed by parents or carers on a weekly basis to encourage students to reach their targets. 4. Entry in planners and/or letters home: Minor disruptions may be recorded in student planners by teaching staff. Parents and carers are requested to respond to these when checking the planners on a weekly basis. More serious misdemeanours will be notified by means of letters sent to the student’s home. 5. Teacher detention: is usually of a short duration for example during break or lunchtime and is given without notification to parents or carers. However, the teacher may include a note in the student’s planner. This would usually be given for minor disruptions and/or failure to complete work. 6. Departmental detention: is normally for one hour after school and is given by curriculum areas for more serious behavioural problems or a pattern of poor effort for example several missing homework assignments. A letter is sent home at least 24 hours in advance of the detention and the main office maintain a list of students in detention for individual departments on any one date. 7. Whole school detention: is given for more serious disruption in the wider school environment or for punctuality and/or attendance issues such as unauthorised absence. A letter will be sent home at least 24 hours in advance of this detention and a list will be maintained by the main office and guidance team. 8. Mentoring within school: Small groups of students are withdrawn from lessons to work towards specific targets with regard to improving their behaviour and work output in school. Recommendations for this support are made via the Guidance Team.
September 2010
9. Withdrawal Room: The school operates an isolation room where students causing significant disruption can be educated for one full day, including break-time and lunch. This facility is manned by the Senior Leadership Team and students are set appropriate targets to support improvement in their behaviour. Parents and carers will be notified if their child has been placed in the isolation facility. 10. Social Inclusion Unit A small number of older students who experience long-term problems in complying with normal classroom procedures are educated on a full-time basis in the Social Inclusion Unit which operates with a very low staff to student ratio. This facility has been very successful in providing an alternative to permanent exclusion and ensuring that the students involved leave school with appropriate qualifications. Parents and carers are fully involved with the decision to support their child by inclusion in this facility. 11. Governors Discipline Committee: Students experiencing continuous difficulty in complying with school rules will be invited to attend a meeting with a team of school Governors together with their parents or carers. This is to agree a contract between all 3 parties with an aim of modifying behaviour. These meetings are fully documented. 12. Fixed term exclusions: Students can be excluded from school for between 1 to 5 days dependent on the severity or frequency of their offence for example verbal or physical abuse. Parents and/or carers must attend a ‘return to school’ meeting before the student is re-admitted to agree positive ways forward which may include a specific contract for behaviour. 13. Permanent exclusions: This will only be used in the most extreme cases where all other supportive measures have broken down. All evidence will be presented to the Governors prior to the exclusion meeting. The decision will be forwarded to the Local Authority and parents/carers will have the opportunity to appeal. The Local Authority will be responsible for providing alternative education which may include a managed move to another school.
Special Policies:
Northfield operates detailed individual policies for a range of behavioural issues in school. The following are brief summaries for parents’ information only. Mobile Phones and E-Safety: Mobile phones and electronic gadgets can be brought into school providing the risk of damage and/or loss is accepted by parents or carers. This equipment can only be used in social areas outside of the school building and will be confiscated if used in areas which are not designated. Students must ask permission if they wish to use a mobile phone in lessons, for example to photograph a diagram or record homework. Phones and I-pods which have been confiscated will be held in the school safe, located in the main office, and parents must come to school to collect this equipment. Students must not use the internet, including social networking sites, in school time other than instructed by a member of staff for example to complete homework or carry out research. Inappropriate internet sites are blocked by the school’s ICT systems in order to protect both students and staff. The school provides regular training updates for all students on e-safety, for example inappropriate use of social networking sites, and these are often delivered by external consultants who specialise in child protection. Smoking: Smoking is not permitted by any person, either adult or student, on any part of the school site. Students will receive education on the dangers of smoking through their guidance lessons. Details of students caught smoking by a member of staff, or recorded by CCTV, will be entered onto the behavioural database. An hour long detention will be given for the first offence, one day’s isolation from lessons
September 2010
will be given for a second offence and a day’s exclusion from school will be given for a third offence. Parents and carers will receive written notification of each offence. These rules also apply when students are taking part in off-site visits or residential experiences. Alcohol abuse: Consumption of alcohol is considered a serious contravention of the behavioural policy and a danger to any student involved. A serious disciplinary action will be taken against any student who has consumed alcohol in school or during an off-site visit. Alcohol found in a student’s possessions will be confiscated and parents or carers will be notified immediately. The dangers of alcohol abuse are covered during guidance lessons as part of the measures to protect the mental and physical well-being of Northfield’s students. Illegal Substances: The Governors of Northfield School will not tolerate the use, or trading, of illegal substances and/or controlled drugs (other than specifically prescribed and authorised for use in school). Any student caught with such substances about their person or in their personal possessions will be immediately excluded pending an official enquiry. The police will be notified and involved in all subsequent investigations and legal proceedings. Possession of such substances can lead to permanent exclusion from Northfield School together with a court prosecution. Bullying: The school will not condone bullying under any circumstances and any suspected incidents will be immediately investigated with disciplinary actions put into place where appropriate. This includes sexual abuse, homophobic discrimination and racism. However, although the school recognises the serious consequences of bullying, a highly positive approach is taken to its prevention with valuable lessons delivered through the guidance and peer mentoring systems. Northfield is a leader in the development of anti-bullying strategies and this invaluable work has been recognised by several national awards including the Princess Diana Award. Physical violence and dangerous weapons: Northfield School provides a very caring and mutually respectful society in which physical violence will not be tolerated. Any students involved in fighting or the promotion of a fight will be immediately disciplined which, in most circumstances, will result in exclusion from school for a period of time. The police will be notified of any actions which are perceived as a danger to the students of Northfield School and this would include the possession of a dangerous weapon.
In summary:
although the school must operate a strict behavioural policy which is designed to cover all eventualities, in practice most scenarios are never encountered. Northfield is a calm and purposeful learning environment in which staff and students work together in a mutually respectful and supportive way. The excellent standards of behaviour demonstrated by students allow the school to maximise achievement and thrive as a highly successful and enjoyable centre of education. If any parent or carer wishes to discuss any aspect of the behavioural policy in more detail please contact the Headteacher or Chair of Governors. Policy updated January 2013
September 2010
September 2010
Promoting high expectations: 1. Success Club – This scheme was introduced into school to promote excellent behaviour, punctuality and high attendance from the outset. Each and every student is a member of success club on entering school and will remain as such until negative points are recorded against them. The School Council have been responsible for devising the sanctions and rewards for this scheme. 2. Achievement Points – These are used by classroom teachers to reward excellent effort and mature behaviour. Three points are awarded each lesson and entered onto the school’s data base. Tutor groups at the top of the ‘league tables’ are rewarded and the highest scoring individual students receive certificates in the end of year assembly. 3. Curriculum Awards – Each department is asked to nominate students for excellent effort and attitude leading to certificates and/or prizes being awarded during year group assemblies. 4. Headteacher’s Special Awards – Subject departments sponsor individual students for special recognition by applying for Headteacher’s awards. These are given out by Mr. Walker during year group assemblies. 5. Final Assemblies – are held annually for each year group to recognise and applaud success. A variety of awards are given out based on excellent effort and exemplary behaviour. These awards are frequently given to students who have improved most significantly rather than having the highest scores to start with. 6. Communication with parents and carers – members of teaching and guidance staff will endeavour to keep parents and carers fully informed of any behavioural problems and remedial actions taken via
September 2010
phone calls, letters and emails. Members of staff are also encouraged to send positive communications to acknowledge improvements made by students in school. 7. Student Voice – school prefects, peer mentors and school councillors all contribute to the day to day running of an effective positive behavioural policy in school. Inclusion in these teams is for recognition of exemplary behaviour and students are given opportunity to contribute to new systems, manage behavioural control strategies on a daily basis and to act as role models for the whole school community. 8. In the Classroom – all staff are committed to providing a supportive atmosphere, based on mutual respect, and improving motivation and confidence levels by sensitive use of oral praise and constructive written feedback in exercise books. This level of support is essential to minimise minor disruptions resulting from disaffected students.
Corrective Strategies:
A range of strategies are in place to encourage students to develop mature and responsible behaviour. These are utilised in a consistent manner by all staff and are only engaged when more positive measures have not been successful. 1. In the classroom: seating plans are utilised to ensure the optimum social mix of students to allow excellent progress. Students may be asked to move seat or may be removed from the classroom for a very short period to allow a ‘cooling off’ time’. 2. Points on SIMS: All teachers are encouraged to log behavioural incidents on the school data base so that patterns of behaviour can be identified, parents informed and remedial action taken. The Headteacher will use this data as an evidence trail in support of more serious actions such as a fixed term exclusion. 3. Reports: Students can be placed on report by their Head of Year or, for more serious incidents, by a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Weekly targets are set and progress towards these targets is recorded by each classroom teacher. Reports must be signed by parents or carers on a weekly basis to encourage students to reach their targets. 4. Entry in planners and/or letters home: Minor disruptions may be recorded in student planners by teaching staff. Parents and carers are requested to respond to these when checking the planners on a weekly basis. More serious misdemeanours will be notified by means of letters sent to the student’s home. 5. Teacher detention: is usually of a short duration for example during break or lunchtime and is given without notification to parents or carers. However, the teacher may include a note in the student’s planner. This would usually be given for minor disruptions and/or failure to complete work. 6. Departmental detention: is normally for one hour after school and is given by curriculum areas for more serious behavioural problems or a pattern of poor effort for example several missing homework assignments. A letter is sent home at least 24 hours in advance of the detention and the main office maintain a list of students in detention for individual departments on any one date. 7. Whole school detention: is given for more serious disruption in the wider school environment or for punctuality and/or attendance issues such as unauthorised absence. A letter will be sent home at least 24 hours in advance of this detention and a list will be maintained by the main office and guidance team. 8. Mentoring within school: Small groups of students are withdrawn from lessons to work towards specific targets with regard to improving their behaviour and work output in school. Recommendations for this support are made via the Guidance Team.
September 2010
9. Withdrawal Room: The school operates an isolation room where students causing significant disruption can be educated for one full day, including break-time and lunch. This facility is manned by the Senior Leadership Team and students are set appropriate targets to support improvement in their behaviour. Parents and carers will be notified if their child has been placed in the isolation facility. 10. Social Inclusion Unit A small number of older students who experience long-term problems in complying with normal classroom procedures are educated on a full-time basis in the Social Inclusion Unit which operates with a very low staff to student ratio. This facility has been very successful in providing an alternative to permanent exclusion and ensuring that the students involved leave school with appropriate qualifications. Parents and carers are fully involved with the decision to support their child by inclusion in this facility. 11. Governors Discipline Committee: Students experiencing continuous difficulty in complying with school rules will be invited to attend a meeting with a team of school Governors together with their parents or carers. This is to agree a contract between all 3 parties with an aim of modifying behaviour. These meetings are fully documented. 12. Fixed term exclusions: Students can be excluded from school for between 1 to 5 days dependent on the severity or frequency of their offence for example verbal or physical abuse. Parents and/or carers must attend a ‘return to school’ meeting before the student is re-admitted to agree positive ways forward which may include a specific contract for behaviour. 13. Permanent exclusions: This will only be used in the most extreme cases where all other supportive measures have broken down. All evidence will be presented to the Governors prior to the exclusion meeting. The decision will be forwarded to the Local Authority and parents/carers will have the opportunity to appeal. The Local Authority will be responsible for providing alternative education which may include a managed move to another school.
Special Policies:
Northfield operates detailed individual policies for a range of behavioural issues in school. The following are brief summaries for parents’ information only. Mobile Phones and E-Safety: Mobile phones and electronic gadgets can be brought into school providing the risk of damage and/or loss is accepted by parents or carers. This equipment can only be used in social areas outside of the school building and will be confiscated if used in areas which are not designated. Students must ask permission if they wish to use a mobile phone in lessons, for example to photograph a diagram or record homework. Phones and I-pods which have been confiscated will be held in the school safe, located in the main office, and parents must come to school to collect this equipment. Students must not use the internet, including social networking sites, in school time other than instructed by a member of staff for example to complete homework or carry out research. Inappropriate internet sites are blocked by the school’s ICT systems in order to protect both students and staff. The school provides regular training updates for all students on e-safety, for example inappropriate use of social networking sites, and these are often delivered by external consultants who specialise in child protection. Smoking: Smoking is not permitted by any person, either adult or student, on any part of the school site. Students will receive education on the dangers of smoking through their guidance lessons. Details of students caught smoking by a member of staff, or recorded by CCTV, will be entered onto the behavioural database. An hour long detention will be given for the first offence, one day’s isolation from lessons
September 2010
will be given for a second offence and a day’s exclusion from school will be given for a third offence. Parents and carers will receive written notification of each offence. These rules also apply when students are taking part in off-site visits or residential experiences. Alcohol abuse: Consumption of alcohol is considered a serious contravention of the behavioural policy and a danger to any student involved. A serious disciplinary action will be taken against any student who has consumed alcohol in school or during an off-site visit. Alcohol found in a student’s possessions will be confiscated and parents or carers will be notified immediately. The dangers of alcohol abuse are covered during guidance lessons as part of the measures to protect the mental and physical well-being of Northfield’s students. Illegal Substances: The Governors of Northfield School will not tolerate the use, or trading, of illegal substances and/or controlled drugs (other than specifically prescribed and authorised for use in school). Any student caught with such substances about their person or in their personal possessions will be immediately excluded pending an official enquiry. The police will be notified and involved in all subsequent investigations and legal proceedings. Possession of such substances can lead to permanent exclusion from Northfield School together with a court prosecution. Bullying: The school will not condone bullying under any circumstances and any suspected incidents will be immediately investigated with disciplinary actions put into place where appropriate. This includes sexual abuse, homophobic discrimination and racism. However, although the school recognises the serious consequences of bullying, a highly positive approach is taken to its prevention with valuable lessons delivered through the guidance and peer mentoring systems. Northfield is a leader in the development of anti-bullying strategies and this invaluable work has been recognised by several national awards including the Princess Diana Award. Physical violence and dangerous weapons: Northfield School provides a very caring and mutually respectful society in which physical violence will not be tolerated. Any students involved in fighting or the promotion of a fight will be immediately disciplined which, in most circumstances, will result in exclusion from school for a period of time. The police will be notified of any actions which are perceived as a danger to the students of Northfield School and this would include the possession of a dangerous weapon.
In summary:
although the school must operate a strict behavioural policy which is designed to cover all eventualities, in practice most scenarios are never encountered. Northfield is a calm and purposeful learning environment in which staff and students work together in a mutually respectful and supportive way. The excellent standards of behaviour demonstrated by students allow the school to maximise achievement and thrive as a highly successful and enjoyable centre of education. If any parent or carer wishes to discuss any aspect of the behavioural policy in more detail please contact the Headteacher or Chair of Governors. Policy updated January 2013
September 2010
September 2010
