Heathfield School and Day Nursery – Behaviour & Discipline Policy

1. Introduction

1.1. Heathfield is a very happy school where there exist high standards of behaviour and discipline. It is a primary aim of the school that pupils learn to combine high personal and social standards within an ethos of respect and mutual tolerance. Good behaviour and polite and quiet movement around the school is expected. Pupils are encouraged to be honest in their relationships with one another and with staff, practice good manners and be reliable and punctual.

1.2. Inevitably in any community there will be occasional lapses of behaviour and discipline and misdemeanours occur. Sanctions are in place to demonstrate to the pupil when he/she has done something wrong. These usually consist of a withdrawal of a privilege, a blue star (junior school), or some form of 'community service'. In more serious instances parents are consulted and in an extreme case the headmaster has the right to suspend or expel a pupil, or in line with the Admissions policy, where a disruptive pupil is due to move from the junior to senior school his/her offer of a place may be reviewed or withdrawn.

2. Basic School Rule

2.1. The behaviour expected of pupils should stem from a requirement to observe respect for others, be they staff or pupils, and respect for property, be it their own or that of others. This list is not exhaustive but contains the main rules, which would, if transgressed, require a sanction to be imposed.

2.2. Bounds are directly connected with safety and the requirement that all children are within the sight of the member of staff on duty. Roofs, Fire escapes, Store rooms, changing rooms (at times other than changing times), the kitchens (unless during a supervised club or lesson), the Laboratories unless a teacher is present, are all out of bounds.

2.3. No child is allowed to leave the school grounds between the normal times of their arrival and departure without school permission.

2.4. Pupils must not harass or bully any other pupil.

2.5. Pupils must respect the property of others; stealing, damaging or de-facing property will not be tolerated.

2.6. Smoking and the consumption of alcohol are not permitted on the school premises by pupils.

2.7. The taking of non-prescribed drugs on the school premises is strictly forbidden.

2.8. No pupil should have prescribed medication on him/her during the school day (unless exceptional permission has been granted).

2.9. Pupils should not carry money around with them during the school day, other than that which will be used for tuck shop. If valuable articles, or sums of money, are brought to school they must be deposited at the front desk.

2.10. All pupils should, at all times, be smartly and appropriately dressed. This means abiding by the rules relating to clothing, hair and the wearing of jewellery as outlined in Notes to Parents.

2.11. The following items are banned from school – guns, including BB and toy, knives, electronic hand held games, mobile telephones and laptop computers (unless exceptional permission has been granted), MP3 players or similar.

3. Sanctions - Junior School

3.1. Class teachers handle all matters of discipline in the first instance and the main structure of disciplinary procedure relate to the Star system. It is hoped that discipline will be exercised through positive reinforcement, i.e. rewarding good behaviour/effort through the giving of red stars. Should it be necessary to reprimand or punish a pupil this should be done by the class teacher and if necessary a blue star given. With younger children the threat that a blue star might be given should be sufficient to bring about the change in behaviour desired.

3.2. The reason for giving a blue star should be noted on the reverse of the star card and the Head of the Junior School should be informed. She will advise on or give a relevant detention or another sanction. One warning should be sufficient before giving a blue star. The awarding of a blue star negates the possibility of the winning of the yellow badge for the highest number of red stars that week and the chance of being awarded the termly/yearly prize for red stars.

3.3. A pupil who repeatedly falls short of what is required in attitude/behaviour will be placed on a Report Card by the Head of the Junior School after consultation with the Headmaster. This would be reviewed at the end of each week. The placing of the child on a Report Card would be notified to the parents.

4. Sanctions - Senior School

4.1. Senior School discipline is handled in the first instance by the Subject Teacher who may administer punishments for minor offences; these should be noted in the Punishment Book. All pupils carry House Point cards and should be rewarded with positive house points as a sign of approval for good work, effort and good conduct. Negative house points are not given.

4.2. A pupil who is disrupting lessons or is rude to a member of staff should be asked to report to Mr. Wilson either immediately or at the next break. Should a pupil be a repeat offender it will be necessary for the pupil's parents to be informed. This will be organised by Mr. Wilson who will arrange a meeting and keep the headmaster notified. Any serious offence should be notified to the Headmaster immediately.

4.3. Attempts should be made to keep punishments in proportion with the severity of the offence. Written impositions may be given and it is preferable that this extra work be in the subject of the lesson during which an offence took place. A set written passage is available for copying up to a maximum of five times for any one incident. Lines should not be given. If a pupil is given Community Service as a punishment he/she will be provided with the appropriate materials. Care should be taken to ensure that a pupil who is accused of an offence and punished is actually guilty of that offence.

5. Suspension, Expulsion and Removal

5.1. The main categories of misconduct which may result in suspension, expulsion or removal are:

5.1.1. supply/possession/use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs
5.1.2. theft, blackmail, physical violence, intimidation, racism and persistent bullying
5.1.3. misconduct of a sexual nature; supply and possession of pornography
5.1.4. possession or use of unauthorised firearms or other weapons
5.1.5. vandalism and computer hacking
5.1.6. persistent attitudes or behaviour which are inconsistent with the School's ethos
5.1.7. other serious misconduct towards a member of the school community or which brings the School into disrepute (single or repeated episodes) on or off school premises.

5.2. A Pupil may be required to leave if, after all appropriate consultation, the Headmaster is satisfied that it is not in the best interests of the Pupil, or of the School, that he or she remains at Heathfield.

5.3. The Procedure relating to suspension, expulsion or removal will accord with the rules of natural justice. Investigation of a complaint or rumour about serious misconduct will normally be co-ordinated by the Headmaster. A Pupil may be suspended while a complaint is being investigated. At the conclusion of the investigation the Pupil and his or her parents will be asked to attend a disciplinary meeting with the Headmaster. The Headmaster will not suspend, expel or require the removal of the Pupil without giving the parent and the Pupil a reasonable opportunity to know the grounds on which he proposes to take such action and an opportunity to be heard as to why that action should not be taken. If in the Headmaster's opinion the complaint has been proved to a civil standard (more likely than not) he will outline the range of disciplinary sanctions which he considers are open to him. He will take into account any further statement which the Pupil and their parents wish to make. Then, or within 24 hours, the Headmaster will give his decision, with reasons.

5.4. If the Headmaster decides that the Pupil must leave the school, he will consult with the Pupil's parents before deciding on the Pupil's leaving status which will be one of "expelled", "removed" or "withdrawn by parents".

5.5. The Headmaster will follow the procedure adopted by the Trustees from time to time regarding the right to appeal a decision to expel or remove a Pupil (copy available from school). The procedure will include an opportunity to a Parent to seek a review of the decision by the Chairman of Governors or by a Committee of Trustees. The decision will be effective unless and until the review directs that the Pupil be reinstated.