I am writing to update you about some important changes that we are making to our achievement and behaviour policy from September.
You will no doubt be aware that we received a good grade in our recent OFSTED Inspection, and the inspectors commented on the positive relationships between students and staff. However, they noted that sometimes students did not comply with teachers’ requests the first time, questioning the teacher’s request or decision. The report also showed that this could be improved with a more consistent approach.
Some changes to the policy were already in the forefront of our minds, as before the Inspection, we launched a consultation process as to how we tweak our policy to ensure it suited our needs as a school. This consultation process took the following form:
- Staff working party.
- Whole school student survey.
- Whole staff student survey.
- Consultation with the student council.
Both the student and staff consultation agreed that the most regular form of disruption to lessons was students questioning teachers’ decisions and that the current system had too many warnings. It was also suggested that students should have behaviour expectations more explicitly taught to them, and that they are given tools to regulate their behaviour.
In light of this, below is a brief synopsis of the changes that we will be making to our achievement and behaviour policy from September 2023.
- The AMSI Big Ten – first point changes from Politely Follow Instructions to First Time, Everytime.
- There will be specific guidance for students and staff on how to behave in different scenarios – in the classroom, in transition around the school site, in unstructured time, in assemblies and during a fire drill etc.
- Welfare walks will take place during every lesson – these will be undertaken by key staff, who will visit every classroom to check all is well, and to open the toilet for any student that needs it.
- There will be a medical on call system for students that need assistance.
- As a general rule, students must not be out of lessons unless accompanied by a staff member.
- The Sanctions Ladder;
- D1 – Now only given for not completing homework – students will be expected to attend Homework Club before or after school.
- D2 – Given largely for operational issues – late to school, incomplete REP (Reading Book, Equipment, Planner), poor uniform, not attending Homework Club, incorrect use of chromebook, unsafe behaviour etc. Students will be given a 30 minute same day detention. Failure to complete this will result in a D3 Reflection Sanction.
- D3 Reflection – a single extreme incident, or failure to regulate behaviour after a regulation break. Students will be taken to the Reflection Centre, where they will remain for the rest of the day, staying until 4pm. Failure to complete this will result in a fixed term exclusion.
It should be noted that the school does not have a legal responsibility to either notify nor seek permission from parents to keep a child after school for a sanction – we do so as a courtesy that shows respect.
When students return to school in September, they will receive training on the AMSI Way; we will teach them what good behaviour looks like, and how to regulate themselves when things are not going so well. This will ensure that all changes are fully understood and both students and staff will be able to focus on teaching and learning which is supported by great behaviour.
Uniform
We will be enforcing high uniform standards from the start of the academic year. The full uniform list can be found here, but there are certain points I would like to draw your attention to:
- Students are allowed to wear plain black trainers to school. These should not have any white/coloured markings on them.
- Students are allowed to wear a single nose stud as a facial piercing – no other forms of facial piercings are permitted in school.
- Acrylic nails are not to be worn to school.
- Trousers should be worn around the waist, and a belt is encouraged.
- Blazers and ties are compulsory – they must be worn.
Please ensure your children are not contravening any of these rules when we return in September. If they are, they are liable to be sent home to change, be loaned items to wear or be placed into D3 Reflection.
One other exciting change is that next year in addition to the excellent range of trips and experiences that the students have access to, we will be having termly behaviour rewards trips, culminating in a trip to Thorpe Park for those that reach the Headteacher CS points awards.
The full policy will shortly be published on the school website – we will send it out to you in due course.
If you have any comments or queries, please do not hesitate in contacting me at d.mcloughlin@amsi.school