Loreto Grammar School
Behaviour Management Policy
At Loreto Grammar School Altrincham, students, staff, parents and governors form a
Catholic community. We aspire to create a caring, structured environment in which
teaching and learning and the experience of school
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are characterised by joyful and loving service to others
challenge each of us to realise our full potential in a spirit of joy and creativity
encourage the pursuit of excellence
uphold honesty, justice and mutual respect
enable us to be questioning and “seekers of truth”
prepare each of us to meet with confidence the challenges of a changing world
improve and enrich the life of the wider community and enable us to be an example
of Christian values in the world as witnesses to God’s Living Kingdom
Our values are centred in God, rooted in gospel values and derive from the vision of Mary
Ward.
1. General Principles
At Loreto Grammar School we believe that
a) in order to enable effective teaching and learning, good behaviour in all aspects of
school life is necessary;
b) the school should provide a safe and structured environment in which teachers can
teach and students can learn;
c) all students are expected to behave with respect and courtesy towards school staff,
each other, and members of the local and wider community;
d) parents should encourage their daughters to behave appropriately and respectfully
and should support the school’s authority to discipline students who do not meet
expectations.
2. Policy aims
Staff, students and governors of Loreto Grammar School agree that acceptable behaviour
is that which promotes courtesy, co-operation and consideration in all relationships.
Unacceptable behaviour is that which abuses, threatens, intimidates or injures any
member of the school or local community, or which disrupts the learning of others.
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The aims of our behaviour management policy and associated procedures are to:
a) promote and reward positive behaviour, self discipline and respect;
b) ensure effective learning is able to take place;
c) manage challenging behaviour in an assertive and non-confrontational way;
d) prevent bullying;
e) encourage consistency of response to both positive and unacceptable behaviour.
This policy acknowledges our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010, in respect of
safeguarding and in respect of pupils with special educational needs.
3. Roles and responsibilities
a) Students throughout the school are expected to take responsibility for their own
behaviour and to meet the reasonable expectations of the school.
b) Parents are expected to take responsibility for the behaviour of their daughters and
to assist the school in maintaining high standards through the home/school agreement
and
other measures.
c) All teaching and support staff are responsible for ensuring the policy and associated
procedures are followed consistently, for promoting and managing good behaviour and
for
creating an appropriate learning environment.
d) The Headteacher is responsible for the implementation of this policy and associated
procedures, for ensuring consistent application across the school and for supporting staff
in their handling of disciplinary situations.
e) The Governors will support the school staff in maintaining high standards of behaviour.
In consultation with staff, they will regularly review and agree a policy which promotes
good behaviour. They will ensure that the policy and expectations are communicated
effectively to parents and students.
4. Relationship to other policies
The implementation of this policy and associated procedures will be undertaken in clear
relationship with other school policies and procedures, particularly SEN, anti-bullying and
e-safety.
This policy and associated procedures are written with regard to the current legislative
context.
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5. Managing behaviour
a) Promoting positive behaviour
In lessons and around the school, we aim to model and promote positive behaviour with
each other and with students at every opportunity. Students are encouraged to take
responsibility for themselves and others, their learning, and for the environment by
 taking responsibility for their actions;
 demonstrating understanding, tolerance, courtesy and respect towards others;
 encouraging the responsible use of communication technologies including social
networking;
 respecting other people’s possessions;
 endeavouring to make the school a clean, safe and pleasant place in which to work
and learn.
We recognise
 commitment;
 academic progress and attainment;
 contributions to wider aspects of school life;
 success and achievements by individuals and teams within and outside school.
We reward positive behaviour through the use of
 verbal praise and positive feedback
 notes in Student Planner
 letters and praise postcards to parents/carers
 Fantastic Fridays
 celebration lunches
 certificates
 merits
 subject prizes and awards
b) Consequences of unacceptable behaviour
We believe that student discipline is primarily a question of relationships rather than rules;
the school ethos is that individuals and relationships matter. Staff recognise that an
appropriate response with one student in one circumstance may be inappropriate with
another student, or in a different situation; they apply professional judgement before
implementing sanctions, and take full responsibility for doing so.
If the behaviour under review gives cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or likely to
suffer, significant harm, school staff should refer to the Deputy Headteacher.
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We implement a range of sanctions for unacceptable behaviour including:
 verbal reprimand, which may be followed by a note in Student Planner
 confiscation
 letters to, or meetings with, parents
 placing on report or monitoring card
 teacher-set or Headteacher detention
 internal and external exclusion
Parents will be contacted promptly by the school to notify them of detentions, requests
for meetings or to report misbehaviour. Wherever possible, such contact will be within 24
hours of the incident.
Reported incidents of student misbehaviour will be investigated as appropriate, and
where reasonable, evidence and witness statements recorded. Where the school
considers it appropriate, the police and other relevant bodies will be informed of
incidents.
c) Record keeping
Records are kept of both positive and unacceptable behaviour, together with associated
rewards or sanctions; the associated procedures outline relevant processes. Appropriate
levels of confidentiality within the records are observed.
d) Searching and confiscation
Any member of the teaching staff can search students with their consent for any item
which is banned by the school. It is advisable to have another member of staff present
when any search is carried out.
The Headteacher and staff authorised by her have the power to search students or their
possessions without their consent where there is a suspicion that the student has
weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs or stolen items.
There is no requirement to inform parents or seek their consent before a search is
undertaken.
Items confiscated because they are banned by the school rules should be collected by
arrangement by parents from the school office. Confiscated weapons, knives and
controlled drugs will be handed over to the police.
Stolen items discovered during a search should be returned to the owner unless there is
an active police investigation or the nature of the stolen item warrants police
involvement, in which case the item should be handed to the police.
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e) Use of reasonable force
The use of force is considered reasonable if it is proportionate to the consequences it is
intended to prevent. All members of school staff have a legal power to use reasonable
force without parental consent; this power also applies to people temporarily placed in
charge of students by the Headteacher, such as parents accompanying school visits.
Reasonable force can be used to prevent students from hurting themselves or others,
from damaging property, from causing disorder or to control or restrain students.
Circumstances in which force might be appropriate include, but are not limited to:
 removing a disruptive student from the classroom where they have refused to
follow an instruction to leave;
 preventing a student from behaving in a way that disrupts a school event, activity or
visit;
 preventing a student leaving a classroom where allowing them to leave would risk
their safety or lead to disruptive behaviour by others;
 preventing a student attacking another person;
 stopping a fight.
f) Power to discipline beyond the school gate
The Behaviour Management policy and procedures extends to all non-criminal
unacceptable student behaviour and bullying which occurs anywhere off the school site
and which is witnessed by a member of staff or reported to the school.
The policy applies when the student poses a threat to others or adversely affects the
reputation of the school and is:
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taking part in any school-organised activity;
travelling to or from school;
wearing school uniform; or identifiable as a student at the school.
In some way identifiable as a pupil at the school
or (whether or not the above conditions apply) are misbehaving in a way that:
 Could have repercussions for the orderly running of the school
 Poses a threat to another pupil or member of the public
 Could adversely affect the reputation of the school
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g) Detention
Although there is no legal requirement to seek parental consent for student detention, it
is good practice to do so. Ideally parents should be given 24 hours notice for detentions
outside the normal school day.
When setting detentions, teachers should be aware of suitable travel arrangements for
parent and/or student. However, ‘inconvenience’ is not an acceptable excuse to avoid a
detention.
h) Involvement of outside agencies
The school will maintain a database of the main points of referral outside the school,
including educational psychologists, behaviour support services, child protection
agencies, the police, social services and education welfare officers.
When appropriate, the school will seek the support of outside agencies in implementing
procedures to ensure the needs of every student are met. Records of referrals to outside
agencies will be maintained, and parents and all relevant staff will be kept informed.
6. Allegations of abuse by staff
Allegations of abusive behaviour by staff will be dealt with quickly, fairly and consistently.
Every effort will be made to protect the student, support the member of staff and secure
confidentiality.
Suspension will not be an automatic response to an allegation; where a member of staff is
suspended, this will be a neutral act to enable a fair and thorough investigation to take
place.
Students who are found on investigation to have made malicious accusations will be
excluded for an appropriate length of time.
7. Staff training
The school provides relevant information and training on behaviour management to all
staff.
Through INSET days, the induction programme and other CPD, the school provides
opportunities for staff to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to:
 the implementation of rewards and sanctions in accordance with this policy
 recording of incidents
 classroom management
 educational visits
 legislation affecting behaviour management
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8. Review
The Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team will undertake systematic monitoring and
review of the Behaviour Management policy and procedures.
The Governors will regularly review the implementation and effectiveness of this policy.
Responsibility for the detailed consideration of the policy will be delegated to the
Admissions and Pupil Welfare Committee.
9. Relevant Legislation
 Education Act (1996, 2002 and 2011)
 School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (with reference to home-school
agreements)
 Education and Inspections Act 2006 (states that have statutory authority to
discipline pupils whose behaviour is unacceptable, who break the school rules or
who fail to follow a reasonable instruction)
 Equality Act 2010
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