All schools need rules to run efficiently and effectively. At St Richard’s we have in place a Code of Conduct. This enables us to safeguard the right of every child to learn without hindrance. It also ensures our pupils learn self-discipline and the need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. These are lessons that will serve them well through life. The basic principle of the Code of Conduct is ‘respect for the person and respect for a person’s property’. Pupils must:
High standards of behaviour and discipline need to be maintained to ensure a good working atmosphere for all staff and pupils at St Richard’s. We strive to be consistent while allowing a certain flexibility to respond to particular cases in our care for the individual’s social, spiritual, moral and academic needs. By creating a climate within which appropriate teaching and learning can take place, we can achieve our aims and prepare our young people to contribute to the wellbeing of a just and caring society.
As we are a Catholic school we expect pupils to abide by Christian principles and to show respect and concern for the wider community.
Pupils must treat each other with respect and kindness at all times. We have a clear Friendship and Anti-Bullying Policy that recognises different types of bullying, including cyber bullying, prejudice- based and discriminatory bullying.
It is a whole community responsibility to recognise bullying and to take appropriate action. All staff, both teaching and non-teaching, are committed to the creation of conditions which discourage bullying through: consequences that are applied fairly, consistently, proportionally and reasonably; vigilant supervision of areas such as toilets, corridors, staircases, the changing rooms, the playground and the back area of the school. The full range of interventions, support and consequences attached to incidents of bullying can be found in the Friendship and Anti Bullying Policy. The school sets out an approach of education and strong moral values that puts at its heart the dignity of every young person and each person’s role in ensuring the wellbeing of others.
Pupils are encouraged to report any negative behaviour, even if they are not sure whether it is bullying. They can do this through:
This can take place in school, out of school and online. It covers a range of concerns including sexual harassment and assault. The school follows the East Sussex protocol for managing Peer on Peer Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Schools, September 2020.
The school adopts an ‘It can happen here’ approach to safeguarding and bullying and seeks to ensure environment in which young people are able to access support from staff. Staff are regularly trained in a range of safeguarding procedures and topics and will never accept hurtful, hate (sexual comments) as banter or part of growing up. From September 2021, a new confidential reporting system is in place so that young people always have a way to share concerns anonymously. It is called Whisper and pupils can access it on their home page and via the school website.
Please see Appendix 1 in our Pastoral Care and Behaviour Management Policy on the website for our policy statement regarding searching for prohibited items in school.
When expectations are met and our Code of Conduct adhered to, praise and encouragement should be expressed to give positive reinforcement. Our current rewards system includes:
In all years, the award of House Points is possible for the following reasons:
The successful use of this House point system depends on the contribution and participation under the Be St Richard’s banner of all staff. There are clear stages of rewards which are shared with pupils, parents/carers and staff. Copies of these are up in all classrooms.
St Richard’s operates a discipline procedure based on the Christian values of dignity, love and reconciliation. Where a pupil’s conduct is unacceptable or disruptive in any way, or where a pupil fails to meet required standards in work or discipline, corrective action must be taken. Staff are expected to address small infringements of courtesy, behaviour and uniform immediately so that the minor misdemeanours do not grow into more challenging behaviour from pupils. It is essential that misdemeanours are quickly discovered and dealt with firmly, without undermining the integrity of the individual personality. In every case, the consequence should be appropriate to the offence and the child. A list of common offences with consequences has been drawn up for the use of all staff (see Appendix 11). It is recognised that pupils may, at times, require sensitive handling, without undermining the principles of fairness and justice. The school takes a therapeutic thinking approach to support pupils who may require a supported approach to modifying behaviours. Consequences currently imposed at departmental and pastoral levels include the following:
Departmental
Pastoral
In addition, use can be made of support from other agencies such as the Counsellor, the Educational Psychologist or the Education Behaviour and Attendance Service.
Whatever consequences are imposed, it is essential that parents are kept fully informed and that reconciliation and support always have a role. The responsibility for this lies with individual teachers as well as Subject and Pastoral Leaders. The successful management of pupil behaviour relies on the close partnership between home and school which has a high priority in our community. Good communication should ensure that misdemeanours or concerns are dealt with appropriately, through a staged system of referral, according to the seriousness or frequency of the offence.
The principles of equal opportunities and social inclusion underpin our management of pupil behaviour. Measures counteracting disaffection are put in place as necessary through BfL targets and strategies, with early intervention and suitable use of pastoral support programmes for those at risk of permanent exclusion. However, for serious offences, such as abuse of staff, theft, substance misuse or persistent or aggressive behaviour, the Principal may decide that a pupil should be suspended from school. In such a case, the Principal will follow the procedure laid down by the East Sussex County Council.