Sanctions – A Graduated Response
Our school community is inclusive based on the underling principles of dignity and forgiveness. Our rationale is that behaviour is a choice: students 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. Sometimes a pupils behaviour falls short of the standards expected at BHA. When this happens, we have a graduated level of sanctions appropriate to the incident, or inappropriate behaviour.
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) alongside the circumstances of the case. The sanction issued will be appropriate to the seriousness of the incident taking those factors into account.
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 (note in planner, moving seat, loss of ‘free time’, detention with class/form teacher, affirmative intervention, BIP, Subject Leader phone call).
In summary:
Level 1 – Class teacher/Form Tutor Referral
Class teachers own the behaviour in their class, in the first instance a pupil should be addressed using Level 1 suggested strategies outlined in the School Behaviour Policy.
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 – Concerns by phone, planner, letter or meeting
- Head of Department
- Head of Learning
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/Year using a range of appropriate strategies/sanctions (detention, RESET, suspension, permanent exclusion).
Examples: Refusal to cooperate with Senior Leader, Subject Leader or Head of Year, aggressive behaviour, smoking, vaping, drugs, alcohol, homophobic/racist remarks, fighting, defiance, extreme haircut, health and safety risk, e-safety risk.
Internal Exclusion Centre (IEC)
The authorisation to place students in the IEC lies with the Senior Pastoral Leader. Once placed in the IEC, students remain in the Centre until a decision is made on the sanction for the incident.