St Christopher’s School

BEHAVIOUR POLICY
March 2012

This policy applies equally to the Early Years Foundation Stage setting, KS1 and KS2 as taught at St
Christopher’s School.

Policy contents:

1. Guiding principles
2. Aims of the policy
3. Code of conduct
4. Behaviour around the school
5. Behaviour outside school
6. Sanctions
7. Complaints

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

This policy takes as its guiding principle ‘respect for each other and the building in which we work’. It is
dovetailed to be used with the Anti-Bullying Policy.

St Christopher’s is an inclusive community. We welcome pupils from a wide variety of ethnic

backgrounds and faiths. We treat everyone as an individual and aim to develop the whole person
equipped to take her place in the modern world.

AIMS OF THE POLICY

The school aims to promote good behaviour through a culture of mutual respect. PSHCE, assemblies,
golden rules and form time provide opportunities within the classroom for good behaviour to be
discussed and promoted.
CODE OF CONDUCT

The school community of Governors, staff, parents and pupils adhere to an established routine and code
of conduct, rather than to lists of rules. We see education as a partnership. Staff are committed to
excellence, aiming to achieve a spirit of trust and cooperation. We expect the highest values and
standards of behaviour inside and outside the classroom, as well as outside the school and in any
written or electronic communication concerning the school.

At St Christopher's School we have high expectations of pupil behaviour and we believe that:
• The most effective learning takes place in a quiet, well ordered atmosphere.
• The most effective discipline is self-discipline not imposed discipline.
• Each child must learn to be responsible for her own learning.
• Each child must show consideration for the welfare and rights of both other children and adults.
• Each child must be aware that bullying is unacceptable.

Good discipline will be maintained if parents and teachers have the same standards and we expect all
parents who accept places for their children to fully support our school policies.

• All adults, including parents, should provide good role models for the children.
• Uniform contributes to the ethos of the school and parents should undertake to provide the
correct uniform from the official stockist at all times.
• Parents must support their child by ensuring regular attendance and punctuality.

BEHAVIOUR AROUND THE SCHOOL

We believe that the school should be a calm, orderly place at all times. Therefore, the children should
be taught and encouraged to show respect in everything they do. ‘Respect for each other and the
building in which we work’ is the cornerstone of all good behaviour at school.
Involvement of Pupils
We believe the most effective discipline is self-discipline and we endeavour to ensure that the pupils are
involved in and committed to the behaviour policy. Through PSHCE lessons, P4C enquiries and ‘circle
time’ pupils are encouraged to think about the importance of ‘respect’; House Captains and Form
Captains are encouraged to promote respect; and School Council gives the pupils a sense of involvement
and pride in the running of the school.

Encouraging Good Behaviour

Classrooms
At the beginning of each new academic year the class will work out a set of GOLDEN RULES with their
teacher. These are clearly displayed in each room so that parents and children know what is expected.
All are positive statements. In the general running of lessons, pupils are expected to:
• Be on task – not distracted or distracting others.
• Strive to achieve the best results possible.
• Bring in the correct equipment (including PE clothes) each day.
• Help ensure that noise level is kept to a minimum.
• In and around school, show respect towards each other.

Wet Playtimes
During wet play the children stay in their classrooms with adult supervision. They are expected to:
• Behave in a responsible and safe way.
• Follow the class rules.
• Use equipment from the selection available for wet play.
• Respond positively to adults other than their own class teacher.

NB: No child is allowed to stay in a classroom unless accompanied by an adult. Pupils are aware that
this is for their own safety.
Playground
All playground areas are supervised by appropriate adults during playtimes. Pupils report any accidents/
incidents to one of the adults on duty. Pupils are not allowed to enter the school building during
playtime without asking permission.
Pupils are encouraged to:
• Be sensitive to and aware of the needs of all pupils and to be aware of any who are being
bullied.
• Include other children in their games and ensure no child is excluded.
• Treat playground equipment with care.
• Tidy away any equipment then return, as quickly as possible, to their classrooms when the bell is
rung at the end of play.

The school building

Pupils must respect and look after the fabric of the building. Parents may be asked to pay for damage to
the building.

Lavatories and cloakrooms

Children are expected to behave appropriately, respect the privacy of others and maintain a high
standard of hygiene. Pupils must ask permission before going to the lavatories or cloakroom.

BEHAVIOUR OUTSIDE SCHOOL (School Trips/Off-Site Activities/Clubs):

We expect all pupils to uphold the high standards of the school when taking part in an off-site activity.
These are carefully planned by the staff and will extend the curriculum for the children. We would not
wish to exclude any child from such an activity.
However, the welfare and safety of all the children in a group is our prime concern so if a child is not
able to demonstrate responsible behaviour in school, it is possible that this could pose a problem for the
group as a whole whilst off-site, and the teacher may have to exclude a pupil from a trip if there are
problems with general behaviour.
In certain circumstances, it may be possible to include a child if the parent accompanies the child.
For clear guidelines and expectations of behaviour please see the School Trips Policy.
Clubs are extracurricular activities therefore we reserve the right to exclude a child if her behaviour
disrupts the group as a whole.

SANCTIONS

Sanctions are determined by the nature of the behaviour on a case to case basis. All incidents should be
reported to the pupil’s Form Teacher in the first instance and the pupil should be reprimanded
accordingly. Incidents of a more serious nature should be referred to the Head or Deputy Head.

Suitable punishments include:

• Setting the pupil a specific task, e.g. a piece of writing connected with the incident (e.g. the
child’s version of the incident) or writing a letter of apology.
• Contacting parents by phone or by speaking to them at the end of the day in the presence of the
child to ensure that the correct version of events is reported.
• If it is considered appropriate, a writing task as above may be set, to be done at home so that
parents are involved and are asked to sign it.
• Continual disruption in class, despite warnings, will result in the pupil being put on report,
signed at the end of each lesson by the teacher.
• Inappropriate behaviour in the playground may result in a similar report and the pupil
concerned may have to spend a given number of breaks with the staff member on duty.

NB
• It is not acceptable for any pupil to be sent to stand in a corner of the classroom or outside the
classroom at any time.
• It is also not acceptable for a child to be required to work on her own in a classroom or the
library unless there is a member of staff with her at all times.
• No member of staff should ever strike a pupil or threaten to do so.
• Physical restraint should only be used in extreme circumstances e.g. when another child is
seriously threatened, and then only the minimum physical contact e.g. holding the upper arm,
should be used (please see separate policy document).

The school’s policy on Discipline and Exclusions is set out in the Parent Handbook and on the web, and
all parents and pupils should be aware of the more serious sanctions, including suspension and
expulsion that the Head can impose for serious breaches of the rules and regulations, including criminal
behaviour. Examples of serious breaches of the rules and regulations include
• Drug abuse
• Theft
• Bullying
• Physical assault/ threatening behaviour
• Fighting
• Damage to property
• Persistent disruptive behaviour
• Parental behaviour
• Racist or sexist abuse
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual misconduct
• Alcohol and tobacco abuse

Physical Restraint – Please see separate policy.

COMPLAINTS:

We hope that you will not feel the need to complain about the operation of our behaviour management
policy, and that any difficulty can be sensitively and efficiently handled before it reaches that stage.
However, the school’s complaints procedures (which apply equally to Reception) are on our web site.
We will send you copies on request. We undertake to investigate all complaints and to notify you of the
outcome of investigation within 28 days. We maintain records of complaints for three years after your
child has left our school.