Behaviour and Expectations

We have high expectations at St Michael’s Church of England High School. Our students represent the school impeccably. Consequently, adherence to the uniform policy and behaviour codes of conduct are non-negotiable. Ofsted (2017) describes our students as having “caring and welcoming attitudes to each other, to staff and to visitors”. Relationships in classrooms are “warm and respectful”, the school is “calm and orderly throughout the school day” and at break time and lunchtime, students “behave maturely and show consideration for others”.

In our school, our Christian vision shapes all we do. All members of the school community are committed to upholding the St Michael’s Church of England Christian values:

• to show love, care, and kindness to all in our community
• to value what we have and to share with others
• to enable everyone to achieve their full potential

This document is not policy or practice; rather it is a statement to set out St Michael’s Church of England High School’s broad principles and values with regard to behaviour that is both expected and promoted within the school.

Actual, practical applications of these principles are the responsibility of the Headteacher, who will view each case in light of these principles and any relevant policies.

The governing board is aware and approves of this statement, believing it accurately reflects the school’s ethos and that effective learning and development relies on good standards of behaviour.

This is why, at St Michael’s Church of England High School, we seek to uphold high standards of behaviour that are guided by the principles within this statement.

Principles

• The school will create a calm and orderly environment to enable students to learn effectively.
• The school’s primary concern is the safety, wellbeing, and education of all students; actions taken in cases of unacceptable behaviour are with the intention of upholding their wellbeing and academic progress, as well as fulfilling our safeguarding responsibilities.
• All members of the school community must be treated inclusively and be free from any form of discrimination or prejudice – whether it be racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, ableism, religious or age-based.
• The school will create and maintain an atmosphere and ethos of tolerance, equality, diversity, respect, understanding, kindness, and a sense of citizenship throughout the school community in everyday practice.
• All children, staff, and visitors should feel safe in the school environment at all times through a high quality of care, support, and guidance.
• All students have a right to fulfil their greatest academic and personal potential and feel they are valued members of the school by both their peers and school staff, and should be free from bullying, discrimination, and distracting peer behaviour.
• Rules are to be consistently applied across the school and where sanctions and punishments are exercised, they should be proportionate to the misdemeanour, in line with the school’s Behaviour Management Policy.
• Good behaviour around school is to be acknowledged and rewarded at the discretion of staff, who will judge appropriately.
• At St Michaels’ Church of England High School, we want to foster a community and collective ethos amongst all members of the school and promote values of caring, empathy, teamwork, and coordination.
• In cases of problematic student behaviour, regardless of how sustained and disruptive, the student’s out-of-school circumstances and possible special educational needs and disabilities will be taken into account. Comprehensive support is given before or alongside disciplinary measures – fixed term exclusions and permanent exclusions are to be used only as a last resort where other measures fail.
• Any kind of violence, threatening behaviour or abuse between students, or by students/parents/carers towards the school’s staff, will not be tolerated. If a parent/carer does not conduct himself/herself properly, the school reserves the right to ban them from the school premises and, if the parent/carer continues to cause disturbance, he or she may be liable to prosecution.
• Guidance on the use of reasonable force will be agreed upon by the Headteacher and governing board and clearly set out within the school’s Physical Restraint/Physical Force Policy.

General expectations

• All members of the school community should be aware of behavioural expectations and the relevant policies and agree to them as fair and reasonable. These will be made readily available to read and general expectations will be displayed in classrooms and around the school.
• Polite and considerate behaviour is to be maintained by all around the school, both in and out of the classroom.
• Offensive or insulting language is not to be used in any circumstances, deliberately or otherwise.
• Each student receives the necessary behavioural support according to their specific needs.
• Bullying (and cyberbullying) is not tolerated and students should report any case of bullying they experience or observe to school staff.
• Students should help staff by showing good behaviour in the classroom, not distracting themselves or others from important learning.
• Staff will lead by example and model their conduct in line with the school’s standards.
• To keep the students and staff safe, the Headteacher will utilise their powers to search or use reasonable force in order to keep individuals from harming, or further harming, themselves or others.
• Everyone in the St Michael’s Church of England High School community should understand that the school’s emphasis is on encouraging and praising good behaviour and supporting individuals who are struggling to meet the expected behavioural standards.

This written statement and the policies that are influenced by it apply to all students and staff inside and outside of school when acting as ambassadors when engaged in extra-curricular activities, such as educational trips and visits (residential and non-residential) and when being educated as a member of St Michael’s Church of England High School.

St Michael’s has instituted an Expectation Card Consequence System to monitor the behaviour of pupils outside of the classroom.

The following breaches of behaviour are covered by this system:

• failure to meet the expectations of the uniform policy
• use of inappropriate language
• out of lesson without a pass
• failure to follow the one-way system
• use of mobile phone
• inappropriate behaviour in corridors
• inappropriate behaviour at break time
• inappropriate behaviour at lunchtime
• chewing gum
• littering

The sanctions that will be used as part of this system are listed below:

Students will also be rewarded for positive behaviour, support of other pupils and staff as well as contribution to school life. These rewards will be focused around St Michael’s Core Values/Wings, these being:

• Mercy
• Integrity
• Care & Compassion
• Humility
• Achievement
• Equality
• Leadership
• Service