Attendance

Your co-operation in ensuring regular attendance and punctuation is essential. Attendance at school is crucial to your child’s education and development. Should your child be absent from school for any reason it is your duty to contact the Academy stating the reason for absence before 9.30 am on the first day of absence. If we do not receive a call to inform us that your child is absent, the school administrator will telephone you to ensure your child is safe and has not wandered off on their route to school.

 

Key points to remember

Whilst it is right that the Academy recognises that some children and families may have occasional problems, the aim of us all is to expect regular attendance.

Lateness is actively discouraged - it is disruptive for your child and the other children in class.

Only explanations for absence will be illness, medical appointments or exceptional family circumstances.

The Academy operates a first day contact policy. The Academy will make every effort to contact parents on the first day of absence. This also provides reassurance for parents that children have arrived safely at school.

A note explaining absence is essential on return to school.

Each half term the school administrator prints each child’s attendance as a percentage and this is monitored by the Headteacher and Department for Education.

There is a staged process where attendance falls below 94%.

The Department for Education has ruled that parents should not expect, or be led to expect, that as of right, school will agree to family holidays during term time. Each application will  need to be considered on its merits. In exceptional circumstances, up to 5 days may be authorised, Please see website for Procedure regarding Holidays in Term Time. The Directors/Trustees [Governors] reserve the right to withdraw the place for any child who does not return to the Academy within 10 consecutive days of the agreed absence from the Academy. This place may be offered to another child.

  

 

Rewards & Sanctions

We believe that a partnership with parents/carers is essential in promoting high standards of work and behaviour amongst children and we will keep parents regularly informed about their child’s progress. 

We also believe that high standards of work and behaviour should be encouraged through a system of rewards for our children. We look for every opportunity to celebrate success and achievement, rewarding good behaviour, high attendance, effort, progress, academic achievement and many other areas of attainment. Children receive “Happy Certificates” and “Gold Certificates” (which they bring home) and are entered in the roll of honour book throughout the week. This is celebrated as a whole school, during community Friday school worship. We have “house teams”, which encourage the children to develop a team identity through a collaborative approach. 

Behaviour in school is exemplary.”(Ofsted 2012) There are excellent role models and clear expectations which encourages children to behave well. The school has a system of consequences for children who choose to behave in an unacceptable way. We use the language of choice to encourage the children to understand that they are responsible for their own actions and the impact this has on other children in the school.

Where there are concerns about any child’s effort or behaviour we contact parents/carers as soon as possible, to work together to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

 

“Children thrive on challenge and excitement in their learning.” (Ofsted 2012)

 

Code of Conduct

The aim of the Academy is to create a system which is fair and consistent and which establishes a safe, orderly, positive environment in which both children and staff may flourish - so that children and teachers can learn together. We encourage children to take responsibility for their own actions which take account of mutual respect, good manners, consideration for others and acceptable speech so that children achieve self discipline based on common sense. “Behaviour is courteous and thoughtful, showing a real awareness of the needs and rights of others.” (Ofsted 2012)

 

These are the rights we have in our Academy:

 

Pupil’s right to learn

Teacher’s right to teach

Everybody’s right to safety (physical and psychological)

Everybody’s right to dignity and respect

 

In order to uphold these rights the children have negotiated the following rules:

 

Follow directions at all times

Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself

Be polite, helpful and friendly to everyone

Walk sensibly and quietly around school

Keep our school tidy, clean and in good condition

Work hard and always do your best

 

In every classroom, the children negotiate their own rules, which all children are expected to follow.

The rewards children can expect when they display high standards of behaviour and the consequences which may arise if the rules are broken, are shared with all children and are outlined on the page opposite.

 

Positive recognition

We aim to praise good behaviour and reward children accordingly.

 

Praise

Roll of Honour book

“Happy” book in which achievement is recorded

Certificates (“Happy” and Gold)

End of term treats

Displays of work

Extra playtime

 

The continual positive reinforcement all day, every day, gives the child the extra esteem and motivates him/her to choose good rather than bad behaviour.

The consequences of choosing not to follow the Academy/class rules are clearly shared with the children and all staff follow the same system to ensure continuity and reinforce the same message.

 

Consequences

If a child chooses to break the rules, the child must accept the consequences of their action. This is a life skill and is crucially important to healthy development.

 

First/second verbal warning

Stay behind at end of lesson to discuss with teacher

Loss of playtime

Withdrawal of privileges

Discuss behaviour with deputy head teacher/head teacher

Behaviour referral

Exclusions (fixed term or permanent)

At any point a letter may be sent home, to keep parents fully informed..

If a child persistently misbehaves or there is a serious case of misconduct then parents are informed. We hope that through our home/school partnership we are able to support your child together.

  

Pupil voice - School council

Each class elects two children to be councillors. The School council meets fortnightly to discuss suggestions and give views on issues raised by the children. There is an elected Eco-Council to consider ways to improve our environment. The Academy encourages the children to be responsible citizens and encourages them to debate, seek advice and make decisions which affect their school, based on common sense and a desire to improve the school for everyone. They are an awesome voice and represent the Academy on many occasions. 

 

Academy houses

The Academy runs a house system. All children are allocated to one of four houses:

 

         Aidan                 Yellow

         Bede                    Blue

         Caedmon            Green

         Cuthbert             Red

 

House points can be awarded for good work and behaviour. We identify teams during sports day. The number of points awarded to each house is totalled up and a cup is awarded.

 

Pastoral care

At Benedict Biscop CE Academy we are all members of a close family. By virtue of the Academy’s ethos and organisation close relationships develop between teachers and the children in their care and this may be enhanced by the quality of home/school partnership. Everyone has a responsibility to nurture and develop the “whole child”. Everyone has a right to be valued and feel respected. If you become aware that circumstances change and your child feels vulnerable please contact your child’s class teacher or head teacher as this will affect their learning and emotional well being.

 

Safeguarding (child protection)

Parents should be aware that the Academy will take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. In cases where the Academy has reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse, staff have no alternative but to follow the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board procedures and inform Children’s Services of their concern. We aim to work closely with parents and external services to ensure our children have the best life chances.

 

Designated Person:     Headteacher: Paula Thompson

Designated Governor:  Chair: Julie Mulvaney

 

Safeguarding staff

Everyone in school values the partnership between home/school as where relationships are positive the child benefits by developing securely and confidently.

However, parents should be aware that if, on the very rare occasion, this relationship breaks down and parents become abusive or aggressive the school will take every step to protect its staff.    Parents who cannot follow our safety policy, would no longer be welcome on our premises, until the situation has been resolved.

 

Bullying

We take firm measures to ensure that all our staff, children and visitors to the Academy can be sure that the school is safe and secure. “Discrimination in any form is not tolerated.” (Ofsted 2012) The Directors/Trustees [Governors] have developed a wide range of procedures for reporting and dealing with bullying in all its forms. The School Council have defined bullying and have developed further steps to enable children to support each other. They have achieved Gold Charter Mark in recognition of their work. We expect the support of all parents in keeping the school safe and secure. The Academy works closely with the local community police.  Cyberbullying, racist and homophobic bullying are tackled through curriculum activities with support for parents.  In this way, we aim to ensure our youngsters learn to protect themselves and adopt safe practices.