Senior School
Behaviour Management Policy
Title of Policy Behaviour Management Policy
Applies to Senior School: Staff and volunteers
Endorsed by Board of Governors
Responsibility Deputy Head (Senior School, Pastoral)
Date reviewed September 2023
Next review September 2024
Behaviour Management Policy
Purpose of this Policy
The aim of this policy is to provide guidance for staff as to the expectations of behaviour they should have for pupils and how they manage such behaviour. This policy operates alongside the Care Manifesto, School Rules, Pupil Code of Conduct, Alcohol, Drugs Misuse and Smoking Policy, Anti-bullying Policy, Child on Child Abuse Policy, Permanent Exclusion Policy, Physical Restraints Policy, Search and Confiscation Policy, eSafety Policy, Low Level Concerns Policy and IT-related Sanctions Policy
Please also see
Prep School Behaviour Management Policy
Prep School - Little Wellies Behaviour Management Policy
Aims of the School
At Wells Cathedral School we aim to provide all pupils with a family environment within a kind and caring community where they can be happy, healthy and most importantly, who they are.
Our mission is working to ensure all members of our community have a sense of belonging and are contented, balanced and confident individuals who have the necessary tools to live safe, joyful and fulfilling lives. We understand growing up is a learning process - children and young adults will make mistakes and need to be allowed to learn from them in a safe, supportive environment. We seek to make sure that all members of the community have a high level of spiritual awareness, emotional intelligence and self control and are also active and responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to the School and the wider world.
Positive Behaviour Management
At Wells Cathedral School we seek to promote citizenship and positive relationships by discussing and managing issues in a productive way using coaching and restorative approaches before seeking to apply sanctions. A child centred and flexible approach is at the very core of what we do - every child is an individual and no two situations are the same. The use of regular formal and informal positive feedback is strongly encouraged and may come in the form of rewards, prizes and, most frequently, verbal recognition of good behaviour or achievement by role models from across our community. We also seek to promote positive behaviour through participation in the School’s extensive co-curricular programme. This programme provides opportunities to play, work, live and learn key life skills with others whilst developing positive health and well-being.
Team Around a Child
At Wells we use a team around the child approach. Available to each pupil is a team of dedicated role models, which includes pupil leaders, form teachers, tutors, houseparents, heads of year, professional counsellors, qualified nurses and doctors and Deputy Head are responsible for pastoral care whose primary role is to support pupils through the challenges that growing up presents. Having such a range of staff available to help with anything and everything ensures each pupil has someone they can trust to turn to if they need it. We believe that we must work in close partnership with parents and to ensure each child can develop into their best self. We seek to initiate and always welcome frequent, open and honest communication. When appropriate, we also involve outside agencies.
Rewards
Reward | Reason for awarding | Who can award? | Action | Notes |
Merit | Very good work, achievement or conduct | Teaching staff | Record on iSAMS | Automated email to: Tutor, HP, parent Displayed on Portal |
Commendation | Excellent work, achievement or conduct. Repeated very good work | Teaching staff | Record on iSAMS | Automated email to: Tutor, HP, parent, HoY Displayed on Portal |
Head Master’s Commendation | Outstanding work, achievement or conduct | HoY | Record on iSAMS | Automated email to: Tutor, HP, parent Displayed on Portal Awarded in EoT assembly. |
Sanctions
Teachers may at times be required to manage pupil misbehaviour which may occur in school and, in some circumstances, outside of school through the use of sanctions or other disciplinary procedures. All staff with responsibility for managing pupils’ behaviour may apply appropriate sanctions. Other sanctions and procedures are listed in the Anti-bullying Policy, Expulsion Policy, Physical Restraints Policy, Search and Confiscation Policy, Low Level Concerns Policy and IT-related Sanctions Policy
When applying sanctions the needs of the individual should always be taken into consideration. The School does not operate in a way where particular offences receive particular sanctions and professional judgement is used at all times.
Recording: All major sanctions are recorded in the School’s iSAMS database, with more minor House infractions being recorded in the Pastoral Manager.
Monitoring: Sanctions, including detentions, are reviewed at the end of each long-term by the Head Master and/or Deputy Head (Pastoral).
Review: The review of serious disciplinary matters and appeals against sanctions is governed by the School’s Complaints Procedure.
Sanction | Types of Offence* * these are exemplar offences and reserve the right to adjust sanctions according to context | Who can award? | Action | Notes (including communication) |
1. FIRST RESPONSE | ||||
Tutor Alert | To flag initial concerns. | Teaching Staff | Notification to tutor only. | Automated email to: Tutor |
De-Merit (Y7-8 only) | To sanction low level misdemeanours with immediate impact | Teaching Staff | Notification to tutor and Head of Year | Automated email to: Tutor HoY |
2. WARNING | ||||
Academic Warning | Minor classroom or academic infringements, for example: Persistent disruption for a whole lesson Repeated lateness Incomplete, very poor or missed prep/work | Teaching Staff | Academic Warning issued on iSAMS Meeting with tutor | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent |
Pastoral Warning | Minor pastoral or behavioural infringements, for example: Not registering/ signing out Child on child abuse (low level or first offence) | Teaching Staff and House Staff | Pastoral Warning issued on iSAMS Meeting with tutor | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent |
Uniform Warning | Incorrect uniform | Teaching Staff and House Staff | Uniform Warning issued on iSAMS | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent |
Mobile Phone Warning | Mobile phone infringement | Teaching Staff and House Staff | Mobile Phone Warning issued on iSAMS | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent |
3. DETENTION | ||||
Academic Detention | More serious offence/ repeated warnings as appropriate Poor work standards 3 warnings per short term | HoY / HoF | Meeting with HoY and put into Academic Detention as necessary Issued on iSAMS 4.00-5.00 pm after school on Friday in the HoF classroom | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent HoY After school detention takes priority over all other activities |
Pastoral Detention
| More serious offence/ Repeated warnings as appropriate Missed academic lesson/games/activities/ study period Rudeness - also mentioned under internal exclusion Anti-social behaviour 3 warnings per short term Child on child abuse (higher level or repeat offence) | HoY / HP | Meeting with HoY and put into Pastoral Detention as necessary Issued on iSAMS 4.00-5.00 pm after school on Friday in the HoY classroom | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent HoY After school detention takes priority over all other activities |
4. REPORT | ||||
Academic Report | Offences of more serious nature than the above, or persistent infringement. | HoY / HoF | A card requiring signatures by HoY / HoF (normal maximum 7 days) | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent HoY Deputy Head (Academic) |
Pastoral Report | Offences of more serious nature than the above, or persistent infringement. Significant out of bounds Repeated Anti-social behaviour | HoY / HP | A card requiring signatures by HP (normal maximum 7 days) | Automated email to: Tutor, HP Parent HoY Deputy Head (Pastoral) |
5. DEPUTY HEAD SANCTION | ||||
Deputy Head Detention / Report (Full Report) | Offences of more serious nature than the above, or persistent infringement Smoking (including vaping) Unsupervised Drinking (Sixth Form) Serious Anti-social behaviour Missing After School Detention/repetition of detentions Rudeness to members of staff Bringing the school in disrepute Dangerous behaviour Child on child abuse (serious or repeated pattern of behaviour) Inappropriate physical behaviour of a sexual nature on school site | Deputy Head (Pastoral or Academic) | A card requiring signatures by Deputy Head or nominated representatives only (normal maximum 7 days) Agreed targets (3) during Report | Issued only following interview with Deputy Head (Pastoral or Academic) with HP or HoY Letter home to parents from Deputy Head |
6. SUSPENSION | ||||
Internal or External Suspension (depending upon circumstances) | Significant breach of good behaviour Drinking Alcohol (Y7-11) Unsupervised drinking involving spirits, excessive consumption or supply Vaping/smoking on the school site during the school day Insolence or insubordination to members of staff Cumulative poor behaviour and failure to live up to School expectations Bullying Theft Excessive Physical Violence Significant abuse of IT facilities Inappropriate access to boarders’ dorms Inappropriate physical activity of a sexual nature (more serious or repeated) Possession or use of drugs/illegal substances Bringing the school into disrepute Significant dangerous behaviour Child on child abuse (very serious or re[eated refusal to learn from previous offences) | Head (currently delegated to Deputy Head) | HoY or HP notifies Deputy Head (Pastoral or Academic) The pupil is required to be at home with parents or guardian for a period to be determined (normal maximum is 7 days); in some circumstances an internal suspension at School may be appropriate | Pupil meets with Deputy Head (accompanied by HP) Accompanied by letter to parents including a reference to the School’s complaints policy Pupil to meet with the Head on return to School (accompanied by HP) Chairman of Governors informed |
7. EXPULSION | ||||
Expulsion or Permanent Exclusion | Sustained bullying or any serious act of bullying Any offence deemed by the Head to be incompatible with membership of the School | Head by recommendation to the Governors
| The pupil is required permanently to leave the School | School expulsion procedures refer (see Permanent Exclusion (Expulsion) Policy for further details. |
Link to Rewards and Sanctions Diamond