Rationale

Good behaviour is a vital part of an effective school, in which effective learning can take place.  If we are serious about "Putting Learning First", we must strive to encourage positive behaviour through positive behaviour management strategies.

Effective behaviour management:

is central to the learning and teaching process
is an important element in ensuring pupils attain the levels of performance of which they are capable
acknowledges good behaviour and discourages poor behaviour
is necessary for pupils' safety and well-being
plays an important part in the personal and social development of pupils
contributes to general school effectiveness
Underpinning our behaviour management system are the following principles:

behaviour management is the collective responsibility of all members of staff
staff must try to minimise the time spent on disciplinary matters and maximise the time spent on teaching and learning
the highest possible standard of behaviour should be expected at all times
staff themselves should model the behaviour expected of pupils
Rights and Responsibilities

Mintlaw Academy's statement of Rights and Responsibilities indicates clearly the expectations placed on all pupils.  The fulfilment of the pupil responsibilities represents the overall expectations the school makes with regard to pupil behaviour.

Classroom Ethos

Within the classroom, it is important that staff put learning first.  This means that staff must strive to establish and maintain a positive and supportive environment in which all pupils can benefit fully from the teaching and learning experiences.  Staff must make every effort to avoid an ethos of crime and punishment, but instead should try to create an atmosphere of cooperation between staff and pupils.

When teaching and discussing behaviour with pupils, staff should always focus on the choices pupils have.  Pupils make choices all the time about their behaviour.  Staff should make clear the consequences, positive or negative, of these choices.

Positive Behaviour Management

Inevitably staff will have to respond to poor behaviour both inside and outwith classrooms.  An essential feature of effective behaviour management, however, is using strategies to minimise the likelihood of poor behaviour occurring.  To that end, a range of strategies should be employed.

Classroom Management Sanctions System

Any system of sanctions in a school must stress the certainty rather than severity of punishment.  Hard-hitting sanctions are not readily available to schools.

Sanctions should be used when other behaviour management strategies have been tried and been unsuccessful.  The purposes of any Sanctions Systems are:

 To allow learning to take place
 To encourage and reinforce good behaviour
 To act as a deterrent
 To provide staff and pupils with a framework in which to operate
Our sanctions system has at every level the following positive aims:

Sanctions

Level 1:  Formal Verbal Warning
Level 2:  Letter to Parents and punishment requiring parental signature
Level 3:  Department Time-Out
Level 4:  Referral to Whole-School Time-Out and Year Head