St Louis Grammar School
Pastoral Information
Including Child Protection /
Safeguarding Policies
2013/2014
St Louis Grammar School
Cullybackey Road
Ballymena
BT43 5DW
Telephone: 028 2564 9534
Fax: 028 2563 0287
Email: mail@stlouisgrammar.com
Promoting: Excellence Endeavour Empowerment
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Mission
Statement
St Louis Grammar School is a
Catholic Voluntary Grammar
School committed to providing
excellent educational
opportunities for each pupil to
develop his/her unique talents to
the full, in a secure, caring
environment.
Promoting: Excellence Endeavour Empowerment
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PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS – WHO TO CONTACT?
The well being of your child is very important to us and all teaching staff are
available to listen to any concerns you may have about any aspect of your child’s
experience at school.
You can expect that:
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Your concerns will be listened to
Complaints will be investigated
Every step possible will be taken to resolve difficulties
The outcome will be reported to you as soon as possible
The Principal will advise you of other courses of action you may take
including recourse to the Board of Governors in the event of the issue not
being resolved to your satisfaction.
Who to Contact?
Year Head
Year 8 pupils
Mrs Byrne
Year 9 pupils
Mrs McAuley (Acting Head of Year)
Year 10 pupils
Mrs McCollum
Year 11 pupils
Mrs Doherty
Year 12 pupils
Mr Mussen
Year 13 & 14 pupils
Mrs O’Neill
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If you prefer you may contact:
Vice Principal – Mr Whiteford
Head of Pastoral Care – Mrs Byrne
HOW?
(028) 2564 9534
mail@stlouisgrammar.com
PROMOTING AND SUSTAINING GOOD BEHAVIOUR
If pupils are to gain maximum benefit from their time at St Louis Grammar
School, it is essential that they work to the best of their ability and behave in a
responsible manner, showing respect for other pupils, staff and property.
Our school discipline policy is based on the Catholic ethos of our school. We
believe that children will learn best in an ordered environment where there are
good relationships based on mutual respect for all in the school community. All
aspects of discipline are dealt with in the context of our Pastoral Care
Programme.
It is expected that parents will fully support the school in seeking to ensure
that their child’s work and behaviour are of a high standard and that he/she
does not behave in a manner which is harmful to the education or well being of
others.
The school will seek to promote and sustain good behaviour in the following ways:
 by actively seeking the co-operation of all pupils in their learning
 by encouraging self discipline and a sense of responsibility
 by having clear expectations of behaviour for our pupils in all situations
 by insisting on high standards in relation to uniform, attendance and
punctuality
 by respecting the rights of all pupils to learn and all teachers to teach
 by ensuring that sanctions are fair and appropriate and are applied
consistently and persistently
 by respecting the dignity and self-worth of all members of the school
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community
 by actively seeking out, promoting and rewarding good behaviour in our
pupils [through our House System]
 by providing a curriculum which is appropriate to the needs of pupils
 by providing a range of extra-curricular activities which pupils can enjoy
 by promoting strong links with parents so that school and parents can cooperate fully in ensuring pupils’ progress and happiness
 by enlisting the help of outside agencies eg. New Life Counselling, school
Psychologist or the Education Welfare Officer to help pupils who are
experiencing difficulties
 by providing a Pastoral Care System in which Form Teachers and Year
Heads are available to advise pupils who are experiencing difficulties of
any kind
Discipline Procedures
The vast majority of pupils work hard and behave appropriately. In the small
minority of cases, where pupil behaviour falls below acceptable standards,
disciplinary action may be taken as follows:
In the classroom
In order to establish a positive school climate and a classroom atmosphere
conducive to learning, teachers in St Louis Grammar School employ a
consistent, dignified approach to discipline, in which pupils are taught and
encouraged to choose responsible behaviour, thereby raising their selfesteem and increasing their academic success. We provide reinforcement
in a clear, concise, understandable manner for pupils.
In order to help pupils to choose responsible behaviour, each teacher
devises a Classroom Behaviour Plan which incorporates a set of classroom
rules, positive recognition if pupils adhere to the rules, and consequences
should pupils choose not to observe the rules.
If pupils are to succeed, they need to know what is expected of them, and
that their good behaviour will be recognised and supported. They also need
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to know the limits – what will occur if they choose not to comply with those
expectations.
The Benefits of a Classroom Behaviour Plan
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protects pupils’ right to learn
protects teacher’s right to teach
ensures that everyone feels safe and secure in the classroom
Pupil behaviour will be monitored and if a pupil chooses irresponsible
behaviour, there will be consequences for that behaviour. Consequences
are not punishment – they are actions that pupils know will occur should
they choose to break the rules of the classroom.
Depending on the severity of irresponsible behaviour the Discipline Policy
will be followed and the matter may be reported to: Form Teacher, Year
Head, Vice-Principal or Principal.
Consequences are organised into a discipline hierarchy as part of the
discipline plan and might include: a verbal warning
 staying behind after the bell
 a note in the pupil diary to inform parents
 break time detention
 lunch time detention
 after-school detention (after parental consent)
 placed on Report/Individual Behaviour Plan
 exclusion from class – fully supervised by other members of staff
 suspension
Serious misdemeanours include: use of foul/abusive language to a teacher or other pupil
 abusive/hurtful remarks to another pupil or teacher
 outright refusal to accept direction/authority of the teacher
 ongoing disruptive behaviour which stops teaching and learning
etc……
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THE ROLE OF THE YEAR HEADS
The Year Heads have a keen interest in the welfare and well being of all pupils
within each year group. He/she plays a vital role in planning and implementing
the Pastoral Care Policy of the school, and in maintaining the caring atmosphere
of St Louis Grammar School. The Year Head has responsibility in the areas of
attendance and punctuality, promoting good behaviour, monitoring academic
progress and management.
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Builds a sense of belonging and loyalty among pupils to the school and to
each other
Maintains accurate records relating to child welfare and safety in keeping
with the school’s Child Protection Policy
Monitors the attendance and punctuality of all pupils in the year groups
Assists in the maintenance of good discipline and a sense of order
Monitors the academic progress of all the pupils in each year group
Monitors and evaluates all aspects of the pastoral programme
Arranges meetings with parents on a variety of issues
If a pupil fails to respond to strategies used to improve behaviour/attitude
etc.. he/she may be required to attend a meeting with the Board of
Governors Disciplinary Committee.
SUSPENSION
This may be for a period of up to five days and, with approval of the Board of
Governors, it may be extended to a maximum of forty-five days in any one school
year. When a pupil is suspended, parents, the Chairman of the Board of
Governors and the NEELB are notified in writing.
Suspended pupils and their parents may be required to attend a meeting with
either the Principal, the Vice Principal, Year Head and the Chairman of the
Board of Governors.
The outcome of the meeting may be:(a)
(b)
to re-admit the pupil subject to terms specified in writing
OR
to propose transfer of the pupil to another school (if another school
can facilitate), an Educational Guidance Centre or other establishment
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The Principal may suspend/begin formal expulsion processes for students who in
his/her opinion, are guilty of very serious consistent breaches of discipline, such
as the following: physical assault
 fighting
 bullying
 destruction/vandalism of school premises/property
 destruction/vandalism of teacher’s property
 verbal abuse of school staff
 severe disruption of class
 persistent disruption of class
 persistent abuse of school rules (eg. smoking, leaving premises without
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permission)
Flagrant disobedience and refusal to accept direction
Breaches of school’s dress code
Theft/damage of school/pupil’s/teacher’s/outside school property
Possession of and taking of alcohol/illegal drugs in school
Substance abuse
Coming into school under the influence of alcohol/illegal drugs
EXPULSION
Expulsions usually occur for one of two reasons:
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‘single major incident’ involving gross misconduct
As a ‘last resort’, that is:
(i)
where the school has taken all reasonable steps to avoid
expelling a pupil
(ii)
where allowing the pupil to remain in school would be
seriously detrimental to the education and welfare of the
pupil, or that of others in the school’ (DE Circular No 10/94)
where an incident occurs which is clearly or may possibly be of a criminal
nature, the police, parent/guardian together with Social Services must be
consulted by the Principal and a suspension invoked immediately, pending
arrangements being made for the consideration of an expulsion.
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FOR BREAKAGES, DAMAGE OR LOSS OF PROPERTY
Parents will be required to pay the full cost of the following:
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school or library books – lost, defaced or otherwise damaged
school equipment lost or damaged
interference with fire equipment – fire bells, extinguishers, signs
repair of damage to the school building and its furniture and fittings
where this is the result of a pupil’s behaviour
replacement or repair of another pupil’s or teacher’s property which is
lost or stolen.
To ensure your child receives the best education, in a caring and
safe environment, we ask for your support. A supportive homeschool partnership is vital for all our pupils to succeed.
Please note that we may contact you through our text messaging
service as a means of fast-track communication system. If you
change your mobile contact details please let the school know as
soon as possible.
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Child Protection/Safeguarding Policies
St Louis Grammar School seeks to protect vulnerable children and
young people by ensuring that all staff, employed by the education
and library board have guidance on the detection and multidisciplinary management of situations where abuse or neglect is
evident or suspected.
St Louis Grammar School have a primary responsibility for the care,
welfare and safety of the pupils in our charge, and we will carry out
this duty through our pastoral care policy, which aims to provide a
caring, supportive and safe environment, valuing individuals for their
unique talents and abilities, in which all of our young people can learn
and develop to their full potential.
One way in which we seek to protect our pupils is by helping them
learn about the risks of possible abuse, helping them to recognise
unwelcome behaviour in others and acquire the confidence and skills
they need to keep themselves safe.
The purpose of the following procedures on Child Protection is to
protect our pupils by ensuring that everyone who works in our school
– teachers, non-teaching staff and volunteers – has clear guidance on
the action which is required where abuse or neglect of a child is
suspected. The overriding concern of all caring adults must be the
care, welfare and safety of the child, and the welfare of each child
is our paramount consideration. The problem of child abuse will not
be ignored by anyone who works in our school, and we know that some
forms of child abuse are also a criminal offence.
Types of child abuse
Neglect - the persistent or significant neglect of a child, or the
failure to protect a child from exposure to any kind of danger,
including cold or starvation, or persistent failure to carry out
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important aspects of care, resulting in the significant impairment of
the child’s health or development, including non-organic failure to
thrive.
Physical - physical injury to a child, whether deliberately inflicted or
knowingly not prevented.
Sexual - the sexual exploitation of a child or young person for an
adult’s or another young person’s own sexual gratification; the
involvement of children or young people in sexual activities of any
kind (including exposure to pornography) which they do not
understand, to which they are unable to give informed consent or
that violate normal family roles.
Emotional - persistent or significant emotional ill-treatment or
rejection, resulting in severe adverse effects on the emotional,
physical and/or behavioural development of a child.
Bullying - Bullying is a highly distressing and damaging form of abuse
and is not tolerated in our school. All staff are vigilant at all times to
the possibility of bullying occurring, and will take immediate steps to
stop it happening, to protect and reassure the victim and to
discipline the bully. Parents of both victim and bully will be personally
contacted immediately when bullying behaviour is identified (includes
cyber bullying: see Mobile Phone, E-Safety and Camera Policy –
available on school website)
Any complaint by a parent that their child is, or may be, being bullied
will be fully investigated by Mr Rafferty (Principal)/Mrs Byrne
(Designated Child Protection Officer) and Senior Leadership Team.
Action will be taken to protect the victim. This will usually include
ensuring that another child or small group of children befriends and
supports the child being bullied during the school day.
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A parent making a complaint about bullying will have a personal
response from the designated teacher within one week of making the
complaint, indicating the investigation which has been carried out and
the action being taken.
The sanctions taken against a pupil who bullies will depend on the
seriousness of the case, but will include the loss of any privileges or
position of responsibility he/she holds in the school. His/her
behaviour will be carefully monitored until staff are satisfied that
the problem has stopped.
If a pupil’s bullying behaviour persists, the second stage will be to
investigate the child protection procedures described below.
Procedures for reporting suspected (or disclosed) child abuse
1. Mrs Byrne is in charge of Child Protection. In her absence,
Mr Rafferty will assume responsibility for child protection
matters.
2. If a child makes a disclosure to a teacher or other member of
staff which gives rise to concerns about possible abuse, or if a
member of staff has concerns about a child, the member of staff
must act promptly.
3. He/she should not investigate – this is a matter for the Social
Services – but should report these concerns immediately to
Mr Rafferty/Mrs Byrne, discuss the matter with them and make
full notes.
4. Mrs Byrne will discuss the matter with Mr Rafferty as a matter of
urgency to plan a course of action, and ensure that a written
record is made.
5. Mr Rafferty, in consultation with Mrs Byrne, will decide whether,
in the best interests of the child, the matter needs to be
referred to Social Services. If there are concerns that the child
may be at risk, the school is obliged to make a referral. Unless
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there are concerns that a parent may be the possible abuser, the
parents will be informed immediately.
6. Mrs Byrne may seek clarification or advice and consult with the
NEELB or the Senior Social Worker before a referral is made. No
decision to refer a case to Social Services will be made without
the fullest consideration and on appropriate advice. The safety of
the child is our first priority.
7. Where there are concerns about possible abuse, the Principal will
inform:
• The Social Services
• The NEELB and Child Protection Services
This will be done in an envelope marked
‘CONFIDENTIAL – CHILD PROTECTION.’
If a complaint about possible child abuse is made against a member
of staff, Mrs Byrne (or Mr Rafferty, if she is not available) must be
informed immediately. The above procedures will apply (unless the
complaint is about Mr Rafferty/Mrs Byrne). Where the matter is
referred to Social Services, the member of staff will be removed
from duties involving direct contact with pupils, and may be
suspended from duty as a precautionary measure pending
investigation by the Social Services. The Chairman of the Board of
Governors will be informed immediately.
If a complaint is made against the Principal, Mrs Byrne must be
informed immediately. She will inform the Chairman of the Board of
Governors and together they will ensure that necessary action is
taken.
If any member of staff feels unsure about what to do if he/she has
concerns about a child, or unsure about being able to recognise the
signs or symptoms of possible abuse, he/she should speak to
Mr Rafferty or Mrs Byrne.
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It should be noted that information given to members of staff about
possible child abuse cannot be held ‘in confidence’. In the interests
of the child, staff may need to share this information with other
professionals. However, only those who need to know will be told.
How a parent/teacher makes a complaint:
I have a concern about my/a child’s
safety.
I can talk to the Class/Form Teacher.
If I am still concerned, I can talk to either
Mr Rafferty or Mrs Byrne
If I am still concerned, I can talk/write to
the Chairman of the Board of Governors
At any time I can talk to a Social Worker or the
Police (PSNI).
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Procedures for Reporting Suspected
(or Disclosed) Child Abuse
Mrs Byrne is the Designated Child Protection Officer in St Louis
Grammar School. In her absence, Mr Rafferty will assume
responsibility for child protection matters. Both child protection
staff will work closely together on matters affecting any child
protection issues in the school.
If a child makes a disclosure to a teacher or other member of staff
which gives rise to concerns about possible abuse, or if a member of
staff has concerns about a child, the member of staff must act
promptly.
Listen …
Reassure …
React …
without displaying any shock
do not question what is being said or interrupt
make brief notes
you could say ‘you are not to blame’, ‘it will be
alright’
you cannot promise confidentiality
you do not investigate or interrogate
do not ask leading questions
you could say ‘anything else to tell me?’
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Record …
use your notes to write up the conversation
include date, time, actual words if possible
record non-verbal behaviour
attach the original notes to your statement
Refer …
explain to the child what you have to do next
report the matter to Mrs Byrne/Mr Rafferty
Mrs Byrne will decide whether, in the best interests of the child,
the matter needs to be referred to Social Services. If there are
concerns that the child may be at risk, the school is obliged to
make a referral. The Child Protection Support Service for Schools
Team [CPSSS] will be contacted also.
The case is referred to Social Services and the school will be
advised of further action eg. PSNI involvement.
If a complaint about possible child abuse is made against a member
of staff, the Principal must be informed immediately. The above
procedures will apply. When the matter is referred to Social
Services, the member of staff will be removed from duties involving
direct contact with pupils, and may be suspended from duty as a
precautionary measure pending investigation by Social Services. The
Chairman of the Board of Governors will be informed immediately.
If a complaint is made against the Principal, Mrs Byrne must be
informed immediately. She will inform the Chairman of the Board of
Governors and together they will ensure that the necessary action is
taken.
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If any member of staff feels unsure about what to do if he/she
has concerns about a child, or unsure about being able to
recognise the signs or symptoms of possible abuse, he/she should
speak to Mr Rafferty/Mrs Byrne.
SUMMARY OF GUIDELINES FOR STAFF
Private Meetings with Pupils
Be aware of potential dangers and where possible interviews
should take place:
 In a room with windows
 With the door open
 In a room likely to be frequented by others
 Inform another adult the interview is taking place
 Where possible another adult/pupil should be nearby
Physical Contact
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Do not make unnecessary physical contact with pupils
Physical contact which may be misconstrued should be avoided
Obvious or more intimate contact should never occur
Use your discretion with a distressed child to ensure that what
is said/seen by others is normal, natural contact
Physical Education
 PE teachers should be aware of the limits within which contact
may take place eg. using equipment, demonstrations etc..
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School Trips
 See policy on school trips/extra curricular outings
 The school should have a mobile phone that teachers on school
trips can use to contact parents in case of emergencies.
 If a child on a school trip makes a disclosure of child abuse to a
teacher he/she will immediately contact the
Referral Gateway Team on
0300 1234 333 9am – 5pm (Monday – Friday)
Regional Emergency Social Work Service on
028 9504 9999
5pm – 9am (Mon – Fri) / 24 Hour at weekends
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