Behaviour Policy

FOSTERING A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY…….

Behaviour
The academy's behaviour policy is developed through the Catholic family atmosphere which pervades the whole school. The staff and children of our school have high expectations of what is considered to be acceptable and appropriate behaviour.  Children are expected to be polite, considerate, diligent and obedient.  For good work, effort, honesty, helpfulness, success, courage and other qualities, children are praised verbally or in writing, offered commendations or mentioned in assemblies. Certificates of merit or of service to the academy are awarded.  Parents are informed of their child’s success.  Children who display outstanding behaviour throughout the year are invited to share an afternoon tea with the Headteacher of the academy and are awarded certificates throughout the year indicating the academy’s acknowledgment  of the outstanding behaviour that is displayed by the majority of our pupils.

We have established Academy Rules and a Code of Conduct which all are expected to follow.

For disobeying rules or instructions, for laziness, dishonesty, vandalism and other unpleasant practices, pupils will be reprimanded and will be invited to apologise to those injured.  For some offences children may be deprived of their free time by detention.  In other cases letters are sent home and parents are invited to visit the academy to discuss the pupil’s behaviour.

Rarely, if  a child’s behaviour should become very poor, he or she may be excluded from attending the academy.  This may be on a short term or permanent basis.  Parents are always informed in writing, and use of  this sanction is always reported to the Chair of the Governing Body.  Parents have the right to appeal against the Headteacher’s decision to exclude their child.

For further information, please ask for a copy of the academy’s Behaviour Policy.

Parents are asked to note the following important academy regulations:
1.    Pupils must be punctual. Lateness without a valid reason is unacceptable.
2.    If a pupil is absent from school parents are asked to telephone the academy on the first day of absence.  A note outlining the reason for absence must be sent to academy upon the child’s return.  (Failure to notify the academy  in writing of the reason for your child’s absence will result in the child’s absence being classed as being unauthorised and this will appear on the child’s academy attendance record).
3.    If a pupil is to be absent for any reason other than illness permission must be sought from the Headteacher and the governing body of the academy.
4.  Children are only to enter and leave the premises through the designated gate into the academy site.
5.  Only those children who have passed the Cycling Proficiency test may cycle to academy.
6.  At all times the children must walk about the academy.
7.  No jewellery is to  be worn other than watches or studs where children have had their ears pierced.
8.  All money and valuables brought to academy must be handed to the class teacher for safe keeping.
9.  Sweets are not to be eaten in academy as they spoil the midday meal, besides damaging the children’s teeth.
10. Except for those who go home to dinner, no child may leave the academy during the day unless collected by a responsible adult and the academy is notified beforehand.
11.     All visitors to the academy must first call at the office and see the secretary, Headteacher or other member of staff.  All visitors must sign the visitor’s book and also sign to state the time when they arrive or leave the building..

Academy Code of Conduct
1.    Everyone should act with courtesy and consideration to others at all times.
2.    In class pupils should make it easy for everyone to learn and for the teacher to teach. (Children should get to desks quickly and in an orderly fashion, they should listen carefully, follow instructions, help each other where appropriate, be quiet and sensible).
3.    Pupils should move quietly around the academy (never run, push or shout.  Remember to let people pass and help to carry things).
4.    Speak politely to everyone.
5.    Be silent when required to be.
6.    Keep the academy clean and tidy.  (Pick things up, put things back.  Keep the toilets tidy).
7.    In the playground be friendly and considerate.  (Don’t fight).
8.    When engaged in out of academy activities be mindful that they represent the academy.
9.    Always listen and try to understand others point of view.
10.    Be in the right place at the right time.

Information to Parents re. the Implementation of the Academy’s Behaviour Policy

In 2010 the academy’s behaviour management policy was first reviewed and revised following a range of consultation meetings with both parent representatives and children.  The revised policy was first put in place in September 2010 and since that date we are pleased to report that incidents of poor behaviour in the academy has been minimised to the extent that pupil behaviour is now considered to be good and often outstanding.  Inspectors who have visited the academy have made positive comments that “pupils’ behaviour (and the strategies in place to address any potentially disruptive behaviour) both within classrooms and around the academy is good”.

As the new academic year begins I am taking the opportunity to write to parents to inform you of the behaviour policy and practice that will be followed this year and to ask you as parents for your full support as the behaviour policy is implemented in daily practice throughout the academy year.

Daily Behaviour Management Practice
On a daily basis children are given many opportunities to be praised for their good behaviour.  At the start of each morning and again at the start of each afternoon all children begin the teaching periods with a ‘clean slate’.  If the children behave well on a daily basis this behaviour will lead to the children taking part in a ‘Golden Playtime’ session that is held on Friday afternoons.

There may be occasions when a pupil does not behave in line with academy expectations.  The child is given up to three separate warnings to address their behaviour and it is at this point when the child has received the third warning that their name will be placed in the Consequence Book.

If your child has his or her name placed in the Consequence Book then they will not have the ‘Golden Play’ session.  If they are in the Consequence book three times in one week they will be placed in a lunchtime detention.

Parents should be aware that certain codes of unacceptable behaviour will lead to a member of staff issuing an immediate detention to a pupil.  Such unacceptable behaviour, which is referred to as a Red Card Offence, includes:

•    Any behaviour or action that could be considered to be racist (the academy also has separate procedures for dealing with any racist incidents should they arise).
•    Fighting
•    Bad Language
•    Wilfully defacing or damaging the property of other children or academy property.
•    Stealing

If a child’s behaviour leads to them being placed in a detention on three occasions in a half term parents will be invited to meet with me in order that we can discuss ways in which home and academy can work together to address their child’s behaviour.

Behaviour Awards
During the year all children have the opportunity to work towards achieving up to three behaviour awards, Bronze, Silver and Gold.  

If your child is noted for their good behaviour for 10 weeks of the year they will receive a Bronze Behaviour Award.  If they behave well for 20 weeks of the year they will receive a Silver Behaviour Award.  If your child displays exemplary behaviour throughout the academic year and over a period of 30 weeks, they will receive a Gold Behaviour Award.  For the children who behave well for the whole year, 40 academy weeks in total they will be invited to attend an end of term picnic with me.  (Review of the behaviour management system indicated that the children valued the picnic and would wish the picnic to remain as the end of year treat for all those who had displayed exemplary behaviour throughout the academic year).

A review of the behaviour management system at the end of the last academic year indicated that the system is working very well with very few pupils now behaving poorly and with the vast majority of pupils showing exemplary behaviour throughout the year and joining me for the end of year picnics.

The aim of our academy is to ensure that the behaviour of each one of our pupils is judged to be exemplary.  We are confident that with the full support of parents we can work together to ensure that all pupils behave well and are a credit to their families and to their academy.

I trust that parents will find this communication informative and useful in assisting you to understand the academy’s behaviour management system more fully.  Should any parents have any queries or require clarification about any aspect of the academy’s behaviour management system policy please do telephone the academy and make an appointment to meet with me.