King Solomon High School - Behaviour Policy 2007

King Solomon High School (KSHS) is an Orthodox Jewish school that sees good behaviour as part of the ethos of the school. At King Solomon we believe that good behaviour should be rewarded and celebrated and that poor behaviour should result in sanctions in order to teach students the correct pattern of behaviour. Sanctions are only valuable however if they result in improved behaviours. We also believe that all members of the KSHS community have the right to work in a respectful, calm atmosphere without fear of bullying or disruption.

KSHS believes that to earn respect people need to show respect and this emphasis on positive role modelling is central to the building of sound relationships between students and staff at our school.

The rules of KSHS are based firmly on the motto of the school which is taken from an ancient Rabbinic quotation. Although the author of the quotation is not noted it is assumed to be the teacher known as Hillel. It was Hillel who also stated that the Torah command to:

‘Love Your neighbour as yourself’ (Leviticus 19)

is the most essential element of Jewish practice and that in essence it should be understood as, ‘don’t do to someone else what you would not want them to do to you’. This maxim should be at the centre of everything if we want to teach students the principles of mutual respect and teamwork.  

The school motto has been chosen as it clearly reflects the principles upon which KSHS stands:

‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am only for myself, then what am I?

If not now then when?’

Ethics of the Fathers 1:14

KSHS is a modern, forward looking, supportive learning environment based on traditional Jewish values where all students should feel that they can maximise their potential, help others around them and take advantage of every opportunity offered. Community is very much at the heart of the school with the school at the heart of the community both locally, nationally and internationally.

The KSHS Behaviour Policy is based on the principles that:

At KSHS we believe that students should be rewarded for their hard work and that positive behaviour management is far more effective than simply the awarding of sanctions. We believe that prevention is more effective than punishment and that praise is more effective than criticism. The Talmud instructs us to, ‘chastise with the left hand and draw close with the right’. It is the duty of teachers to correct student behaviour and to punish where necessary but we should remember that in conjunction with the punishment it is the duty of adults in the school to encourage and praise.

It is interesting to note that OFSTED clearly believes that most misbehaviour in schools is classroom chatter and answering back which we hope to avoid at King Solomon High School.

}The most common forms of

misbehaviour are incessant chatter,

calling out, inattention and other

forms of nuisance that irritate staff

and interrupt learning.~

OFSTED The Annual Report of HM’s Chief Inspector

of Schools 2003/2004, (February 2005)

There will be occasions when it is necessary to sanction a student because they have acted in an inappropriate or selfish way, in particular students who disrupt learning are dealt with firmly and consistently by all members of staff and will receive appropriate sanctions as described in this policy. We believe that students who break the Code of Conduct must understand the consequence of their actions and be given an opportunity to improve their behaviour after their punishment has been served.

Finally, we believe that good behaviour stems from positive role models and all members of the school community are encouraged to act as positive role models to others both inside and outside the school community.

Mr S Lewis

Head Teacher

July 2007 

KSHS Code of Conduct

In The classroom

At KSHS teachers and students recognise that teachers are in charge in classrooms.

·        Students at KSHS sit where they are told according to the teachers seating plan

·        Teachers will begin and end lessons in a formal fashion beginning with clear Learning Objectives and ending with appropriate summary

The Classroom Plan

Follow instructions first time given

Arrive on time properly equipped

Maintain appropriate noise levels

This plan forms the basis of classroom procedures at KSHS. These 3 simple rules are designed to remind students of their responsibility in class as they basically summarise the full Code of Conduct.

Rewards

House Points are awarded to students for the following reasons:

·        Excellent Work

·        Outstanding effort or improvement of work

·        Being helpful to others including staff and students

Parents of students who receive 3 or more House Points in 1 week or who make outstanding effort will receive a Letter of Congratulations from their Head of Year via their Form Tutors

All teachers may send an Email of Congratulations to parents via the Head of Year as result of excellent work in class

Students who receive 25 House Points in 1 half term will receive a Bronze Certificate in assembly 

Students who receive 50 House Points in 1 term will receive a Silver Certificate in Assembly

Students who receive 75 House Points in 1 term will receive a Silver Certificate in Assembly

Students who perform exceptionally well over a term will be rewarded with a special trip by their Head of Year

All students who receive Certificates will be named in the School Newsletter by the Head Teacher

Students will be awarded prizes in the Year or whole school Prize Day as appropriate

Sanctions

Students who do not follow the Classroom Plan and who therefore break the Code of Conduct will receive one warning from their teacher before being awarded an Order Point

Order Points

Given for:

·        Poor effort in class

·        Disruption to a lesson

·        Being rude to a teacher

Uniform or Chewing Gum Signatures

v These marks are noted in student House Point Cards

v Teachers sign for any infringement of uniform or chewing gum

v 5 signatures in a category in a half term will lead to an after school detention

Detentions

Lunch Time

Teachers may give students a departmental detention for up to 25 minutes at lunch time, ensuring the student has enough time to then go and eat lunch

Lunch time detentions will be recorded on the Behaviour System by the head of Department and will be noted in student’s homework planners

Lunch time detentions may be awarded for:

·        Lack of effort in class

·        No homework

·        Further disruption to a lesson after an Order Point has been given

After School Detention

After school Detention is awarded for:

·        The collection of 3 order points in a week

·        A serious breach of the Code of Conduct

·        Failing to complete a Lunchtime Detention

Structure:

Ø Takes place after school and lasts for 45 minutes from 3.45PM-4.30PM

Ø Students in Detention will be supervised in a classroom and will be required to work in silence. The work will involve a reinforcement of the School Code of Conduct such as copying the rules or writing a descriptive essay

Ø Teachers supervising detention will keep a record of the students who have attended and will record this on the School Behaviour System and in the student’s House Point Card

Form Tutors & Heads of Year will ensure that students complete detention as required following up any missed detention sessions

Students may not miss detention unless for a medical or emergency reason, to be agreed by Head of Year and must bring a letter from home

All detentions will be recorded on the School Behaviour System

Students who miss detention will receive a Head Teacher’s detention instead

Head Teacher’s Detention

These take place between 1.15 and 2.30PM on Friday afternoon

Students receive this detention for:

·        Missing a regular detention without permission

·        A one off incident deemed to be serious enough to warrant detention with the Head Teacher

These detentions will be recorded on the school’s Behaviour System

Removal from Lessons

If a student is so disruptive in a lesson that the normal warning, Order Point and Lunch Time Detention award has not restored order they should be removed from class to cool off. Students will be removed by the Head of Department into another lesson or be supervised by members of the department. Students often simply require a cooling off period and can be reintegrated into class after 10 minutes or so

In the situation where the student is too disruptive to remain in the department, the main office should be called and a member of SLT or a Middle Manager will remove the student. The student will be placed in a separate room in the 6^th form block or senior corridor to work on their own with an internal exclusion the following day.

Teachers who remove students should try to meet with the students prior to the next lesson in order to affect reasonable reintegration

Internal Exclusion

The Internal Exclusion Room is situated in the main administration corridor

o   The room is staffed by members of SLT  and HOY with HOY covering lunchtime

o   An internal exclusion lasts for 1 school day and during this time students will work in silence

o   Students will be allowed a morning break and short lunch break but will not be allowed to socialise with their peers during these breaks

o   Whilst in internal exclusion students will work on tasks set by subject teachers.  KS3 and KS4 material will be available as extra work

o   The final part of the day, from 3.30PM – 4.00PM will be spent writing a letter of apology explaining the reason for their actions and thinking of how to improve

o   Students on internal exclusion will be dismissed at 4.00PM

Students are given an internal exclusion for:

v Accumulating 4 after school detentions in one half term

v Serious rudeness to staff

v Repeated abuse of the school’s behaviour system such as refusing to hand over a card

v Use of abusive language

v Involved in a fight

v Serious incidence that disrupt a lesson e.g. stink bombs

Fixed Term Exclusions

Fixed Term exclusions are a serious measure and are used only when all else has failed

At KSHS we believe that exclusion should be seen as serious by students and parents and as such all excluded students and their parents are required to meet with the Head Teacher on their return from exclusion

The Head Teacher will only exclude a student if there is no other avenue of punishment available

One day exclusion

Including:

Ø Provoked physical assault or bullying

Ø Use of abusive language to a teacher

Ø Use of racial language

Ø Repeated serious rudeness to staff

Ø Persistent lack of co-operation with staff

Two day exclusion or more

Including:

Ø Unprovoked physical assault

Ø Persistent bullying

Ø Threatening behaviour towards a member of staff

Ø Disruption to whole school life such as setting off the fire alarm

Ø Vandalism

Ø Theft

Permanent exclusion

Including:

Ø Repeated theft

Ø Persistent bullying

Ø Drug related offences

Ø Dangerous or violent behaviour

Ø Bringing dangerous weapon to school

Ø Sexual assault

Ø Insufficient progress being made under pastoral support programme

* The Head Teacher will only permanently exclude a student where absolutely necessary