Sanctions – A Graduated Response

Our Academy community is inclusive based on the underling principles of dignity and forgiveness. Our rationale is that behaviour is a choice: pupils learn that positive and negative behaviour leads to positive and negative consequences respectively. Equally important is that the policy is rooted in respect – where staff speak and act courteously to pupils and so educate pupils to show similar respect towards staff and each other.

A sanction may be issued by a member of staff where a pupil does not act safely, respectfully, or responsibly or does not accept responsibility for their actions. When determining the sanction to be issued, the member of staff will consider the pupil’s circumstances, including their age and any SEND or protected characteristics (Please see our separate Child Protection & Safeguarding policy for further details) alongside the circumstances of the incident. The sanction issued will be appropriate to the seriousness of the incident taking those factors into account. Sanctions will generally be part of a graduated response to incidents of inappropriate behaviour, although there may be occasions where the serious nature of an incident requires a greater sanction to be issued.

Examples of graduated response could be as follows (although this is not an exhaustive list):

Level 1: Low level, challenging behaviour dealt with by classroom/form teacher and any member of staff where the behaviour is outside the classroom using a range of appropriate strategies/sanctions (moving seat, loss of ‘free time’, detention with class/form teacher, BIP, Subject Leader/Head of Learning / phone call).

Examples: Chatty/noisy in the classroom, disrupting others, distracting others, silly behaviour, running/shouting in corridors, poor uniform and appearance, dropping litter, not following the one-way system.

Level 2: Moderate level challenging behaviour dealt with by classroom/form teacher and any member of staff where the behaviour is outside the classroom using a range of appropriate strategies/sanctions (detention with Subject Leader/Head of Learning , BIP, Subject Leader/Head of Learning phone call, Subject Leader/Pastoral detention).

Examples: Persistent disruption to learning, health and safety risk, persistent lateness, repeated lack of work, repeated refusal to follow classroom instructions, persistent arguing back.

Level 3: High level challenging behaviour dealt with by Senior Leader/Subject Leader/Head of Learning using a range of appropriate strategies/sanctions (detention, ISC centre, suspension, permanent exclusion).

Examples: Refusal to cooperate with Senior Leader, Subject Leader or Head of Learning, aggressive behaviour, smoking, vaping, drugs, alcohol, homophobic/racist remarks, fighting, truancy, defiance, extreme haircut, health and safety risk, e-safety risk.

The Internal Suspension Centre (ISC)

This provision, within the Academy, offers opportunities for pupils with more challenging behaviours to be supported to modify behaviours that are preventing them from reaching their potential. This is a bespoke provision, which also ensures that pupils do not fall behind academically.

The Aspire Centre

The Aspire Centre is our main resource where our team of Teaching Assistants work from, alongside teaching staff/SENCO. The Learning Support area is dedicated to meeting the needs of all children. The staff within the Learning Support area support pupils’ learning opportunities, through using this bespoke environment, we aim to develop the holistic needs of all the pupils who access the Centre. The Learning Support area follows the same curriculum delivery as timetabled lessons

The Bungalow

The Bungalow is used as an alternative to off site suspension. This is staffed by our behaviour team, giving pupils time to reflect and make better behaviour choices, whilst reflecting on issues to date.

Click here to download our Behaviour & Safety Policy