BEHAVIOUR POLICY
‘The personal development of pupils is good. They behave well and show good attitudes to learning.’ Ofsted 2007
The Code Of Conduct | href=”#rules”>Rules | Rewards | Sanctions | Bullying | Responsibilities | Attendance
Policy Summary
Our goal at Kirkburton Middle School is to create an orderly community in which effective learning can take place, in which there is mutual respect between all members and where there is proper concern for the environment. We seek to develop in pupils a sense of self-discipline and an acceptance of responsibility for their own actions. We seek to reinforce positive qualities of friendship, good manners and tolerance of diversity along with racial and sexual equality within a caring community. We are committed to providing clear examples to children that bullying and the abuse of power are not acceptable. The policy is derived from and supports the agreed aims of the school.
The policy is founded on a Code of Conduct and a system of rules, rewards and sanctions. Good behaviour is the joint responsibility of each member of the school community and depends upon a successful partnership between pupils, parents, teaching and support staff, governors and the Local Education Authority.
Our Code of Conduct states that we should be calm, respectful, caring, tolerant and supportive of one another. At the start of the year each class draws up its own Code of Conduct together. Copies are displayed in the classroom and sent home to parents.
Rules
Rules describe what the pupils should ‘do’. They are positive, where possible, kept to a minimum, enforceable, reasonable, clear and consistently applied. Our key rules are explained to pupils at the start of each year and are displayed in classrooms.
Key Rules of the School:
- We are calm and courteous in our attitude, manner and behaviour to all members of the school community and the public
- We listen to and respect other peoples’ opinions and differences
- We do what all members of staff ask us to do straight away without argument
- We put up our hand and wait to be asked if we want to speak during lessons
- We ask permission before leaving our place in lessons and do not disturb or distract other pupils in the class
- We walk quietly on the right of corridors when moving within the building
- We are silent during assemblies except when invited to speak
- We follow the rules laid down in the bus information leaflet
- We follow the rules we are given by staff in charge when on trips and visits
- We wear the approved school uniform in the approved way
- We have the correct equipment with us at the start of each lesson
- We put all litter in a bin
- We take care of the school environment and report any damage immediately to a member of staff
- We do not interfere with property belonging to others
- We do not bring valuables or prohibited items to school and hand them in straight away if we find them
- We follow the lunchtime and break time rules
- We acknowledge that bullying, harassment, name-calling, aggressive or threatening behaviour are completely unacceptable
- We report any anti-social behaviour to a member of staff
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Rewards
Rewards are used to promote good behaviour and are given for academic and non-academic achievements. The emphasis is on the positive approach of encouragement and praise, rather than negative criticism.
- Informal praise
- Written comments on pupils’ work
- Pupils may be sent to a more senior member of staff for commendation
- Public praise in front of a group, class or the whole school
- A system of house points. Pupils receive certificates at various stages as they accrue points. Housepoints are also turned into ‘Burtons’. These are tokens which can be used to purchase food or stationary items from the weekly ‘Swap Shop’
- Public written acknowledgement through postcards home from subject teachers
- Prizes that reflect endeavour, such as service to the community
- Favourable comments on behaviour and attitude in school reports
- Personal letters to parents informing them of praiseworthy action or achievement
- Extrinsic rewards, such as visits to the local ice-cream parlour for lunch!
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Sanctions
Despite the emphasis on the positive, sanctions are also necessary. They need to be clearly defined, stepped for severity, fairly and consistently applied and enforceable. In all disciplinary actions, it is important that the pupil understands fully that it is the behaviour that is not acceptable rather than it being the pupil as a person.
Sanctions used include:
- Removal from the group (in class)
- Community Service
- Withdrawal of break and lunchtime privileges
- Use of a daily report system*
- After-school detention*
- Banning pupil from travelling on a school bus*
- Withdrawing pupils from school trips and sports events that are not an essential part of the curriculum
- Withdrawal from a particular lesson or peer group*
- Exclusion, fixed term or permanent*
* Parents are always notified in such circumstances or if behaviour gives serious cause for concern. Where pupils are felt to be at serious risk of exclusion or disaffection parents will be involved in the establishment of a Pastoral Support Programme.
Note:Rewards and Sanctions are continuously reviewed. Changes in procedures are notified to pupils and parents as they are made.
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Bullying
Bullying is worthy of special mention. Although surveys and inspections show that there is relatively little bullying at our school, it will occur from time to time, as happens elsewhere. When this happens it is vital that it is reported so that we can deal with it as swiftly and effectively as possible.
Bullying involves the abuse of power, is persistent and is personal to an individual child or children. It is different to a one-off act of random violence against a child who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, though this is also unacceptable.
A bully is someone who knowingly commits unprovoked, unkind acts, verbal or physical. Bullying can cause immense damage to children, challenges the school’s commitment to promoting mutual respect and equal opportunities and will not be tolerated.
Examples of Bullying may include:
- Physical attack or threatening behaviour
- Verbal abuse, including “name-calling” and “teasing”
- Extortion, demanding money, property or favours
- Destroying or damaging property
- Psychological abuse, e.g. spreading rumours or social isolation
- Racial or sexual harassment
Parents can help by encouraging children to report bullying, whether directly to staff or to parents, in the knowledge that matters will not be taken out of their hands but that the matter will be properly and fairly investigated and that school and parents will work together to ensure that there is no continuation or retribution.
Pupils who are being bullied tend to show changes in behaviour, which could include:
- Reluctance to come to school
- Reluctance to walk home by a particular route or use a bus
- Unlikely or repeated excuses about property being lost or damaged
- Sleeping problems
- Lack of appetite or eating disorders
- Depression
- Attention seeking behaviour
There may be other explanations for these changes but any significant change in your child’s behaviour may be a cause for concern and should be monitored carefully.
School can help by recognising the problem and acting with speed and sensitivity. Additionally, the structure of daily routines and effective supervision reduce the potential for bullying to occur. We work hard through the curriculum and in assemblies to create a positive climate and an anti-bullying culture where bullying is unlikely to take place because the children themselves recognise that this is unacceptable and anti-social behaviour.
Specific guidance is given to staff in identifying bullied pupils and in approaches to be used in dealing with bullying. Punishment and the use of sanctions in the case of significant incidents, has a place alongside a range of positive and constructive measures designed to prevent any re-occurrence. Instances of bullying are logged and the dates of follow-up meetings with victims of bullying are kept. These are monitored by Mrs Jackson, Assistant Head (Pastoral Support).
Parents of bullies and bullied are contacted in the case of serious or persistent bullying.
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Responsibilities
Good behaviour is the joint responsibility of each member of the school community and steps are taken to ensure that everyone knows what their specific responsibilities are with regard to the behaviour policy.
Attendance
Parents are asked to keep holidays in term time to a minimum. A letter should be sent to the Headteacher to request leave of absence for pupils to go on holiday during term time. Provided this is done, permission will usually be given for up to ten days leave of absence during term time. It will be the responsibility of the pupil to complete any work as required.
Parents are asked to notify school by 10.00 a.m. if children are not well enough to come to school. School will normally contact parents by ‘phone on the first day of absence to check on the reason for absence if we have not been told.
School will discuss any concerns about irregular attendance with the Education Social Worker.
Parents of Year 6 pupils are requested not to remove children from school during the week of the Key Stage 2 Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs).
