Attitudes and Behaviour

We promote high standards of behaviour grounded in the traditional values of honesty and mutual respect. In this school, we insist upon good manners and good uniform. We are strict because we believe that young people need boundaries and guidance. The quality of relationships and the high expectations we have are liberating not limiting.

Attitudes

Throughout the process of education, pupils will be encouraged to develop the following attitudes:

• Tolerance and understanding;
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Critical awareness and enquiry;
• Self-respect and respect for others.

School Rules and Code of Behaviour

Discipline

Matters of discipline are organised at Key Stage and Year level and consultation between Key Stage Leaders and Heads of Year ensures a consistency of approach. Serious breaches of discipline are referred to the Head Teacher, who will ensure that parents are informed at the earliest opportunity so that a joint approach and a positive way forward can be planned.

The school has the legal right to require pupils to undertake after school detentions subject to appropriate warning.

School Code of Behaviour

Context

Sprowston Community High School is a friendly and civilised school with a pleasant atmosphere. Staff seek to encourage mature behaviour and reduce tension by having a few clear routines that are consistently applied.

The School is committed to the highest standards of behaviour and discipline. This is achieved by rewarding good behaviour and dealing in a 'least intrusive' but firm and consistent way with any acts of indiscipline.

General Principle

Pupils must behave in a way that is appropriate to their situation and follow the classroom routines and stepped school approach.

Appropriate Behaviour

Pupils must:

1. Respect other people and their property including their school, its staff and buildings;
2. Show concern and consideration for others and be courteous;
3. Be punctual, well prepared and follow directions of staff;
4. Take pride in their appearance, the appearance of their school and its surroundings;
5. Do nothing to harm or put at risk their own health and safety or that of other people;
6. Accept the consequences of their actions including any breach of these rules.

Please note: The Norwich Comprehensive schools have a common policy on drugs. Any pupil supplying drugs is liable to be permanently excluded. Pupils using drugs or in possession of drugs will be excluded from school. OFSTED concluded in informal feedback that this was not an issue at this school.

Classroom Expectations

A classroom is a place of work and as such the rules applied are for the safety and benefit of everyone. Rules are clearly displayed in each classroom and pupils are expected to abide by them. When rules are broken the matter will, in the first instance, be dealt with by the teacher in charge. Further infractions will be dealt with by the pupil being given 'cooling off' time in another part of the school. If normal teaching relationships cannot be re-established, the matter will be referred upwards through the Head of Faculty, Head of Year, Key Stage Leader and, if necessary, to the Headteacher and, finally, the Governing Body of the school.

Absence

If a pupil is to be absent from school, then parents are asked to telephone the School Office. In addition, a note from the parent must be put into the pupil's journal or brought/sent to the tutor upon return to school. Permission for the pupil to be absent from school for reasons other than sickness should be sought from the Headteacher or Head of Year.

Mobile Phone Rules

We feel strongly that within a learning environment mobile phones are a considerable challenge. Sadly despite our previous measures there has continued to be repeated instances of mobile phones disrupting learning in the school.

With this in mind the school has decided adopted improved measures to maintain a peaceful and considered learning environment.

With effect from September 2008 the following apply:

• Mobiles phones are only allowed within the school site if a student has returned the permission slip acknowledging the risk of theft and loss.
• Mobile phones must be switched off at all times whilst on the school site (including school fields etc)
• Mobile phones must be kept in a pocket or school bag at all times (including break and lunch times)

Any mobile phone seen by a member of staff will be immediately confiscated and returned only to a parent of the child. No warnings will be given.

The school feels strongly that these more stringent measures are important to maintain good order within the school. We also feel that this will alleviate many issues associated with phones, such as theft, cyber bullying, and videoing of other students.

We hope that you will join us in enforcing these measures and ask that you encourage your child to use their phone in a reasonable manner.

All personal property is the responsibility of the individual pupil and the school cannot accept liability for loss or damage. This applies equally to mobile phones and other personal possessions.

It is recommended that functional but inexpensive equipment is brought to school.

Bullying

The School is proactive in dealing with bullying. An annual 'Bullying Awareness Day' for Year 8 pupils is organised to raise staff and pupil awareness of bullying and how it can be effectively dealt with. OFSTED concluded that "very few instances of bullying occur. This is because the school has very effective procedures to discourage bullying firmly ".