Issue: 4 Date: 3rd October 2014 Newsletter Southgate School Dear Parents, Behaviour for Learning Tackling Low Level Disruption Many of you will have read in the papers about Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, being concerned about LLD (Low Level Disruption) in schools. Basically this is behaviour that stops others getting on with their learning and educational progress. LLD was tackled at Southgate several years ago. We started a policy of “Zero Tolerance” for such behaviour in our school. It is something that the Heads of Phase and Heads of Year spend much of their time on. To back up our determination to eradicate LLD we have a clearly defined discipline policy that aims to fulfil our Code of Conduct which is based around students respecting each other and not disturbing others in their work. Our Discipline Procedures For most students this means they stay within our Code of Conduct and are never subject to school sanctions. For those that do get into difficulties we have a clear tariff of punishments. This has the approval and support of the Governing body. I have included in this newsletter our agreed procedure for exclusions. Can you keep this for reference - most students and parents never get involved in this process. The last published figures we have show that our school has a very low exclusion rate, both fixed term and permanent. Last year, for example, we only had one permanent Exclusion - and this was a student who brought unacceptable patterns of unsafe behaviour from another school. Building Good Patterns of Behaviour with Year 7s The way we induct students into our school helps us to establish good patterns of behaviour. Next week Year 7, who have had an excellent start to the year, will be at Gilwell. This trip is about building friendships through shared activities, it is also about building positive relationships with students. This is always the best way to establish good behaviour for learning - through making students know that this is their school and that they, via their behaviours and positive relationships with staff, contribute to the atmosphere and shared culture of our school. Mr. A.D.S. Wilde—Headteacher Southgate School The Exclusion Process at Southgate School, September 2014 Level Zero This is where the vast majority of students will be for their school career. They will be getting on with work and achievement. Home and school will communicate with each other via the planner. Parents will be advised about detentions and any causes for concern. Newsletters for each year group, detailing how this system works will be sent home during the first weeks of the new school year. Level One Internal Exclusion One Day Parents required to see Head of Phase /Year Given when a pupil has moved beyond the normal systems of good order within the school. It is a very serious offence, but the school rather than the parents takes responsibility for the supervision of the student. School will work to address the issues. Parents will be interviewed and asked to take an active part in the management of their child’s behaviour. If the student offends again in the same term they will receive a Level Two punishment If another offence in a following term occurs they may repeat the internal exclusion (unless the offence is too serious) If they avoid any other punishment during the year they will be moved back to Level Zero the following September. Level Two External Exclusions One - Five days Parents(s) required to see Head Stage One One Day Given if student has committed a serious offence and has already received a level one offence as defined above or if the offence is deemed serious enough to warrant such a punishment. Parent(s) must have an interview with the Head, where a child returns to school without the interview arranged the student may be placed in the support unit pending re-integration. If no further offence occurs the student will return to Level One the following September and Level 0 a year from then Parents will be required to fulfil their legal responsibility to supervise their child during the exclusion. Stage Two Three days Given if the student has previously been given a level Two/Stage One punishment during the academic year or if the offence is deemed to warrants such a punishment. Parent(s) must have an interview with the head, where a child returns to school without the interview arranged the student may be placed in the support unit pending re-integration. If no further offence occurs the student will return to Level Two/Stage One the following September, Level One a year from then and Level 0 after a further year. Parents will be required to fulfil their legal responsibility to supervise their child during the exclusion. Southgate School Stage Three Five Days Parents see Governors Given if an offence takes place and the student has already received a Stage Two/Level Two punishment that academic year or the offence is deemed of a very serious nature that warrants such a punishment. Parent(s) must have an interview with the head, where a child returns to school before the interview, or the interview has not been arranged, then students will be given an appropriate timetable in the support unit until such time as the interview takes place. If no further offence takes place the student will in yearly stages, each year, drop step by step towards level 0. Parent(s) will have an interview with the governing body (normally a panel of three members). This will be arranged at the earliest opportunity, but no later than 25 days from the date of exclusion. Parents will be required to fulfil their legal responsibility to supervise their child during the exclusion. Level Three Five Days/Permanent Exclusion Stage One Five Days Parents see Head Given if an offence takes place and the student has already received a Stage two/Level Three punishment that academic year or the offence is of an extremely serious nature as defined in our Code of Conduct and government guidelines. The exclusion will be used by the school to decide the seriousness of the offence. If the offence is deemed not to be so serious it will be converted into a second Level two/Stage Three offence (see above). If however the offence is deemed to be fully proven (on Head’s judgement of the balance of probability) then a permanent exclusion will take place. Parent(s) will be given the opportunity to speak to the Head during the five day period Students will be given the opportunity to put their side of the story during the five day period The Head will either investigate alleged offence fully or appoint an investigating officer to act on his behalf, this person will not have been involved in any of the events leading up to the exclusion. Parents will be required to fulfil their legal requirement to supervise their child during the exclusion. Stage Two Permanent Exclusion Parents see Governors This stage can only be reached if a Level Three/Stage One punishment has been given. It is the Head’s decision. It is subject to confirmation by a panel of three Governors formally constituted to consider the permanent exclusion. Governors will meet within 15 days of permanent exclusion The Local Authority will be informed on the day of the exclusion. They will fulfil their duty to provide education. _________________________________________________________________________________ Other points – Swearing at staff will always be punished by an appropriate exclusion. Threats and intimidation of staff will result in a Stage 2 exclusion at an appropriate level. Drugs offences will be punished in line with the agreed drugs policy. Possession of an offensive weapon will result in a Level Three, Stage One punishment. Southgate School European day of Languages The MFL department celebrated the European day of languages. All the Year 8s and the Year 9 CD side led their language lesson throughout the day. They taught their first language or home language as well as a language that is not taught in school to their class, including the teachers. We have enjoyed a wide range of well prepared lessons of Turkish, Japanese, Greek, Albanian, Polish, Ukranian and even sign language. They were all very impressive and all received a language prize on the day. We have a lot of talent in our school and this day really helped to raise the awareness of how important it is to learn a language. Ms. M’Paria—Head of languages FRIENDS OF SOUTHGATE SCHOOL are pleased to announce forthcoming events: Christmas Fayre Bingo Evening Quiz Night Saturday 22nd November 2014 Thursday 29th January 2015 Saturday 14th March 2015 We always need help and support for these events to continue our fundraising efforts! Notice is also given again that next Tuesday 7th October 2014 is our monthly meeting as well as EGM and any parent is very welcome to attend (7.30pm). If you can help us in any way or want more information on our activities please email [email protected] or ring Pamela on 0794 1655599. Next week is Week 1
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