BEHAVIOUR POLICY

Introduction

At Mount St Mary's we believe that the behavioural policy must reflect and support the stated aims and philosophy of the school. This means:

• establishing an ethos where the Christian concept of life can flourish.
• ensuring that the school community is caring, supportive and friendly.
• ensuring that the atmosphere and conditions are conducive to effective
• teaching and learning.
• encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

At Mount St Mary's ALL members of the school community - staff, pupils and parents need to work together to support Good Behaviour.

Right and Responsibilities

Pupils have the right to learn; staff have the right to teach; parents have the right to expect effective teaching and learning to take place.

It is the responsibility of all members of the community - staff, pupils and parents to ensure a happy and safe learning environment for everyone.

Staff have these responsibilities:
(a) towards pupils:
To create an ethos of honesty, respect, understanding, courtesy and willingness to listen.
(b) towards colleagues:
To communicate appropriately and be prepared to listen and appreciate different points of view.
(c) towards parents:
To ensure parents have full and accurate information concerning their child.
To encourage parents to be actively involved in their child's education.

Pupils have these responsibilities:
(a) towards other pupils:
To respect and care for each other's individuality, personal space & belongings and allow others to learn.
(b) towards staff:
To demonstrate appropriate behaviour and to allow staff to teach.
(c) towards parents:
To be helpful and co-operative.

Parents have these responsibilities:
(a) towards their children:
To respect their right to learn by providing support and encouragement at home and at school.
(b) towards the school:
To work with the school to ensure the acceptable behaviour of their child.
To work in partnership to create a good home school relationship.
(c) towards other parents:
To respect all members of the school community - other parents, pupils and all staff.

Expectations for Behaviour

Mount St Mary's High School expects members of the school community to:

• Show a high level of commitment to all they do in school, both in and out of the classroom, making every effort to achieve the highest standard possible.
• Allow staff to teach and other pupils to learn.
• Act with courtesy and consideration towards each other at all times.
• Respect the property of others, the fabric of the buildings and the school environment.
• Be properly prepared for all lessons with correct equipment.
• Show the same level of commitment to work and consideration for others during extra curricular activities and school outings.
• Adopt a high standard of personal appearance at all times and wear the full school uniform.

Unacceptable Behaviour

The following are inconsistent with the school's expectations and are not acceptable behaviour at Mount St Mary's:

• Lack of punctuality
• Refusal to work
• Defiance and insolence
• Disobedience to staff
• Disrespect for property
• Truancy
• Disruptive conduct
• Rudeness and discourtesy
• Malicious damage
• Theft
• Bullying
• Violence
• Physical, verbal abuse
• Racist behaviour or racist language
• The introduction of tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs
• Carrying dangerous implements
• Making others feel uncomfortable because of differences in race, religion, cultural or social & economic background

Rewards, Support Strategies and Sanctions

The school has positive expectations of behaviour, as stated previously. These form clear guidelines to help our pupils in their personal growth, so high standards of self discipline can be developed. This process is supported by rewarding expected behaviour and implementing strategies and, if necessary, sanctions where behaviour is not acceptable.

Good behaviour is recognised, and rewarded by the use of a commendation
system. In addition to verbal praise and comments in planners, `Gems' are used to recognise, reinforce and support good behaviour. `Gems' are an acknowledgement of real consideration, commitment and care. They are a fair reward for sustained effort and good conduct. When a pupil has received 20 Gems they will be awarded a special `Topaz` certificate. The school will also write to parents to inform them of the positive achievements of their child. Further Gems result in a second 'Emerald' certificate and another letter. Gift vouchers will also be awarded as appropriate. Exceptional pupils will merit further rewards.

Some pupils will encounter difficulties in meeting the school's expectations for behaviour. Such pupils will be helped and supported by a range of strategies, including staff counselling, discussion with parents, being placed on report, agreeing on PSP and referral to outside agencies. For KS4 pupils individual amendment to their curriculum to include WRL may be available. Where a pupil does not respond to support but chooses to behave in an unacceptable way, sanctions will be used to respond to misconduct.

Such sanctions include loss of recreational time, extra work being set, reporting to Form Tutor, Head of Year and Leadership group and internal and external formal exclusion. Detentions will be held after school for pupils whose work and behaviour warrant it, provided parents have been given 24 hours notice. If pupils are placed on report, they may be detained at the end of the day for up to 30 minutes if the report is unsatisfactory. However, pupils will only be placed on report after discussion with parents. Parents will also be kept informed and consulted if behaviour is unacceptable. If all other remedies fail, pupils may be excluded from class.

All pupils are made aware that outright defiance and gross insolence to staff is very serious and will result, at the very least, in withdrawal from class and isolation from peers. Physical aggression/violence will almost certainly result in exclusion from school for a fixed period of time.

Physical aggression/violence directed at a member of staff will almost certainly result in permanent exclusion from school. Behaviour which puts the Health & Safety of the school community at risk will also almost certainly result in permanent exclusion from school.

In serious cases, permanent exclusion will be considered if all other measures have failed and if the well-being and safety of pupils or staff is threatened.

Bullying

It follows from the school's Mission Statement that any incident of bullying, whether physical, verbal, racially motivated or in any other form is totally unacceptable at Mount St Mary's and is always taken seriously. Incidents are handled differently depending on the nature of the incident and a variety of approaches may be used. Bullying is the concern of every member of staff at Mount St Mary's. Pupils are encouraged to report incidents of bullying.

• Every person has a right in a Catholic/Christian community to be able to go about their daily lives feeling secure. In our community workers and pupils have a right to be treated with respect.
• Mount St Mary's believes as a school in the safety and happiness of its pupils.
• At Mount St Mary's we believe that any bullying, whatever form it takes, is wrong.

Any pupils who observe unchallenged bullying are likely to copy this anti-social behaviour. We believe the whole school community must challenge anti-social behaviour such as bullying, promote respect between individuals/groups and contribute to the healthy well being of our school community.

• Guidance for parents / pupils is attached as an appendix.

• Published notices advising pupils on what to do if they are bullied are in all classrooms.

• Guidance for staff on responding to incidents of bullying is included as a discrete item in the staff handbook.

Racism can be seen as behaviour or language that makes a pupil feel unwelcome, marginalised, excluded, powerless or worthless because of their colour, ethnicity, culture, faith, community, national origin or national status. 

A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.

The school has a comprehensive Racial Equality Policy available in the staffroom.  The school will not accept racial harassment or racially abusive behaviour under any circumstances, whether verbal or physical.

Any pupil or member of staff who is aware of, or suspects, racially abusive behaviour must report it immediately to a Head of Year or the Head/Deputies.  The incident will be investigated and dealt with immediately.  Any pupil who has been racially abusive/harassing will be excluded from Mount St Mary’s for a fixed period, as a clear statement that such behaviour is not acceptable in our school community.  The pupil will also receive counselling.  Every effort will be made to reassure the ‘victim’ and to encourage them to have the confidence to report any further problems.  All incidents, including action taken must be recorded by the Head of Year/LDG in the ‘Racist Log Book’ and will be reported by the Headteacher to the Governors each term and to Education Leeds.

APPENDIX

Bullying - School Strategies

Advice to Teaching Staff

Advice to Non-Teaching Staff

Advice to Pupils

Advice to Parents

School Strategies for Combating Bullying

ADVICE TO TEACHING STAFF

There are several ways in which teachers can be proactive in reducing the level of bullying:

Through the Curriculum

• Various aspects of bullying behaviour are covered in the PHSCE programme.
• Other subject areas are ready forums for discussion and work on bullying: eg English; RE; History; Drama.
• Teaching methods used should encourage co-operative work and a variety of groupings.

Through the Pastoral System

• Assemblies.
• Opportunities provided to increase self esteem and improve social skills (eg. being awarded a certificate; invited to help at parents' evenings; participating in social skills course given by PRU).

Through Displayed Posters

• Around the school.

Through Encouragements to Tell

• It is important that we create an atmosphere in the school where pupils who are being bullied, or others who know about it, feel that they will be listened to and believed, and that action taken will be swift but sensitive to their concerns.
• Not telling protects the bully or bullies, and gives the message that they can continue to bully others.

Through Vigilance

Staff need to be observant and vigilant at break times and between lessons, in the corridors and toilets. These are times and places where victims are vulnerable.

ADVICE TO NON-TEACHING STAFF

Bullying is the concern of everyone within the school community. If you see, or suspect, bullying behaviour then it must be referred to a member of the teaching staff.

Referral may be made to any member of the teaching staff - form tutor, Head of Year, Head of Department or member of Leadership Group.

In an emergency, incidents should be reported immediately to the main office.

ADVICE TO PUPILS

What is Bullying?
Bullying is repeated behaviour which makes other people feel uncomfortable or threatened whether this is intended or not.

There are different sorts of bullying, but the three main types are:

PHYSICAL - hitting, kicking, taking or hiding belongings including money.
VERBAL - name calling, teasing, insulting, writing unkind notes.
EMOTIONAL - being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, spreading rumours, looks.

RACIST – behaviour or language motivated by difference in colour, ethnicity etc.

This is your school. You have the right to feel safe and secure here. No-one has the right to bully anyone else.

If you are being bullied . . .

• Try to be firm and clear - look the bully in the eye and tell him/her to stop.
• Get away from the situation as quickly as possible.
• Tell a teacher straight away - your form teacher, Year Head or any teacher you feel you can talk to.
• If it helps, ask a friend to come with you.
• Be clear about what happened and how serious it was.
• If you cannot tell a teacher tell your parents who will contact school.

If you know that someone else is being bullied . . .

Tell a teacher straight away, so it can be dealt with. Not telling means it will carry on. We all have a responsibility to make sure that bullying is not allowed to continue in our school.

ADVICE TO PARENTS

Any incident of bullying, whether physical, verbal or in any other form is always taken seriously. The school has a clear policy on bullying. Incidents will be handled differently depending on the nature of the incident. Bullying is the concern of EVERY member of the school community. All pupils are encouraged to talk to their form tutor or Year Head if there are problems. Bullying behaviour can be effectively 'nipped in the bud' if we are told about it early on. If parents have any concerns about their son/daughter being bullied, they are urged to contact the Form Tutor. If we are informed about such behaviour, swift and effective action will be taken.

Parents and families have an important part to play in helping schools deal with bullying:

• Discourage your child from using bullying behaviour at home or elsewhere. Show them how to resolve the difficult situations without using violence or aggression.
• Watch out for signs that your child is being bullied, or is bullying others. Parents and families are often the first to detect that a problem exists. Don't dismiss it. Contact the school immediately if you are worried.

If your child has been bullied:

• Calmly talk with your child about his/her experience. Make a note of what your child says - particularly who was said to be involved; how often the bullying has occurred; where it happened and what has happened.
• Reassure your child that he/she has done the right thing to tell you about the bullying.
• Explain to your child that should any further incidents occur he/she should report them to a teacher immediately, make an appointment to see your child's Head of Year, explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing.

Talking with teachers about bullying:

• Try to stay calm - bear in mind that the teacher may have no idea that your child is being bullied or may have heard conflicting accounts of an incident.
• Be as specific as possible about what your child says has happened - give dates, places and names of other children involved.
• Make a note of what action the school intends to take, ask if there is anything you can do to help your child or the school.
• Stay in touch with the school; let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue.

If you are not satisfied:

Families who feel that their concerns are not being addressed appropriately by the school might like to consider the following steps:

• Make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher; keep a record of the meeting.
• If this does not help, write to the Chairman of Governors explaining your concerns and what you would like to see happening.