Governors' Principles of Behaviour Statement 2023 - 2024

Governors’ Written Statement of Behaviour Principles 2023 - 2024

Rationale and Purpose

The Education and Inspectors Act 2006 and DfE guidance (Behaviour in Schools, 2022) requires the Governors to make and frequently review a written statement of general behaviour principles to guide the Head teacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour.

This is a statement of principles, not practice.

Practical applications of these principles are the responsibility of the Head teacher. The statement as been adopted by the Governing Body as a whole and is informed by our mission and value statements.

The purpose of this statement is to provide guidance for the headteacher in drawing up the Behaviour Policy at St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School so that it reflects the shared aspirations and beliefs of governors, staff and parents for the children in the school, as well as taking full account of law and guidance on behaviour matters.

It is intended to help all school staff to be aware of and understand the extent of their powers in respect of discipline and sanctions and how to use them. Staff should be confident that they have the Governor’s support when following the school’s Behaviour Policy.

The Behaviour Policy must be publicised, in writing, to staff, parents/carers and children each year. It must also appear on the school’s website.

Our Ethos

At the heart of our school are our core Catholic values. These underpin our whole ethos, curriculum and school life and aim to ensure our pupils leave St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School as happy, secure, caring and responsible citizens.

The values we promote are important within the school community and are values which will be important throughout life. In all that we do we strive to share, encourage and demonstrate positive values with our children; in order that they understand them and strive to live by them.

Our school rules are for the whole school community and embrace our values, these are visibly displayed around the school and set out in the Behaviour Policy:

Ready
Respectful
Safe

As a school we aspire to deliver the highest possible standards of education. For this to be effective, we know we must also create an environment where both our children and parents feel safe, nurtured and respected. The Governors at St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School aspire to be sensitive to the needs of every child, reducing barriers to learning and making the curriculum accessible to every pupil.

Our aim is to enrich the lives of all our pupils by pursing an inclusive policy towards our pupils which celebrates diversity, understands the importance of common identity and reflects our gospel values.

At St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School we are a caring faith community where everyone feels valued, safe and adopts an “I can’ attitude. All we do is underpinned by our gospel values which means we celebrate individuality and achievements through mutual respect and high aspirations. We believe that each one of us has the ability to achieve our highest potential and dreams, through a journey of life-long learning.

Principles

We believe that all members of our school community should be able to learn and achieve in a safe, secure and purposeful environment.

We value the development of strong, positive and appropriate relationships among all members of our school community so that everyone feels welcome and included.

We have high expectations of everyone and we will actively promote equality of value whether race, gender, age, sexuality, religion or disability.

The behaviour policy is based on our belief in, and respect for, the value and contribution of all members of our community and their right to succeed.

We seek to eliminate all forms of discrimination, harassment and bullying.

The policy will be applied with consistency and fairness, with regard to each individual situation.

The emphasis will be on encouraging positive behaviour through high expectations; a focus on learning; appropriate praise and celebration of outcomes.

When children do not meet the expectations, either through consistent low level disruption or more severe incidences, we will always try to teach the child what is expected, without humiliation or in public view.

At these points, we will enable the child to reflect on, and learn from, their behaviour and to make reparation wherever possible.

On occasions sanctions may be necessary to demonstrate that challenging behaviour is not acceptable; to provide boundaries and make our expectations clear.

Sanctions should be known and understood by all staff and pupils and applied fairly, consistently, proportionally and reasonably. It is recognised that the use of rewards and sanctions must have regard to the individual situation and the individual student.

The Governors expect the Head teacher to use her discretion in the use of sanctions and to balance the needs of staff, children and parents when considering measures to manage unacceptable/challenging behaviour.

For those children with special educational needs, physical or mental health needs, and looked after pupils can experience particular difficulties with behaviour and the school will seek to ensure that such pupils receive behavioural support according to their need.

However, when making decisions the school must balance the needs of the individual with those of the school community and where pupil behaviour places others at risk, the safety of the pupil body as a whole is paramount.

The Governing body support the school’s authority to consider exclusions, particularly those that are permanent, as the very last resort and expect pupils and parents to cooperate to maintain an orderly climate for learning.

Given the overriding need to keep children safe, the school will utilise its powers to search and to use reasonable force in order to keep individuals from harming, or further harming, themselves or others.

All such difficult situations will be handled with utmost respect of all the individuals involved, including children, their families and staff.

The Governors wish to emphasise that violence, threatening behaviour or abuse by pupils or parents towards the school’s staff will not be tolerated.

If a parent does not conduct himself/herself properly, the school may ban them from the school premises and, if the parent continues to cause disturbance, he or she may be liable to prosecution

The Governors expect the Head teacher to include guidance on the use of reasonable force, within the Behaviour Policy.

We will always work with parents and carers to understand their children and their circumstances and believe this relationship is an important part of building a strong learning community.

Similarly, given our duty of care to the pupils, this written statement and the policies that both stem from it and are influenced by it (for example, appropriate contact, behaviour, anti- bullying and exclusions) applies to all pupils when in school, when travelling to and from school, and when engaged in extra-curricular activities such as educational trips and visits (residential and non- residential).