Behaviour Policies In Academies

[iloveglee]

I have asked a question on here before about aspects of my grand-daughter's school, but now things have reached a whole new level. They have introduced a new 'behaviour' policy, called 6 strikes. Children can get 'strikes' for a whole range of minor infringements, example from yesterday, pushing blazer sleeves above wrist because they are interfering with writing, giving an answer in class without putting hand up, making a random comment to a child at the next desk for being 'off task' (shades of north korea). many more i am not aware of, but actually neither are the children or parents. there has been no 'little red book' given out of what constitutes a bookable offence, and teachers appear to be applying this very randomly. So far so bad, but worse is, when 6 strikes have been given in a week, the child is removed from classes and put into isolation for a whole day. How can it be right to take children out of classes, especially during their GCSE years. How can they be expected to obey rules that they are not aware are even rules. What I am actually asking for though in this post, is for anyone out there who has any links to education research which demonstrates that this kind of policy actually works. My daughter has an appointment later in the week, and she would like to go up there with some properly documented information to hand. Also, is there anywhere one can go to for what happens in an academy. Local authority used to be the place but they have no authority over academies. Someone must have though, but who is it.

[derekpara]

Well, although I've been retired from Secondary teaching for twenty years ( a local aurhority school ) I can offer a couple of answers based on my experience.

First of all I can assure you that no child suffers academically from being put in isolations for a few hours. Work is always provided by the subject teachers and overseen by a duty teacher.

Secondly, I operated a similar, unofficial, 'strike' system and found it to be very effective. Most disruption in class is low level stuff;grabbing another student's pen, calling out inappropriately, etc, etc. I refused to let such annoying incidents to interrupt the flow of the lesson and affect those who were anxious to get on with their work so, with prior warning, I wrote the offending pupil's name on the board at each interruption, taking care not to stop delivering the lesson. If the offender collected three strikes they received a thirty minute detention and a note was made in their contact book for the parents' information.

Together with a reward system of praise for good work and behaviour, I found this worked for me and a good working atmosphere prevailed.

[derekpara]

I would just add that the rule your daughter should obey is to behave in an acceptable way during the school day.

Five warning strikes before sanctions are applied should be enough of a deterrent and I'm sure, as a parent who wants your child to be taught in a good learning environment, you would support the school in its efforts to encourage good student behaviour so that all can achieve good results.

A 'little red book' of ' bookable offences' is a riduculous expectation, but if you have a complaint about inconsistent application of discipline you should initially take it up with your daughter's Head of Year.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree with Derek re the little book of rules - children are very clever and will find an irritating little thing that doesn't fit with any of those written down.

One thing you've said that would irritate the heck out of me is actually wearing a blazer in class, let alone writing wearing one.

Yes I know they are lighter fabric than they used to be but I don't see they are necessary in class.

Hope the meeting is productive.

[iloveglee]

I kind of agree with some of this, although not all. I fully understand that low level disruptive behaviour is not acceptable if it affects the smooth running of a class, and has to be stopped, however this is being taken to extremes in what they determine to be disruptive or unacceptable behaviour. Which is why i mentioned the list of 'bookable offences'. They don't know, there is no reason for many of these minor infringements. What should be expected from children is what should be expected in the workplace, which after all is where they are all, hopefully going to end up. Frankly if employers started behaving towards their employees the way this school is behaving towards the children, they would have a strike - but the withdrawal of labour kind - on their hands in no time. What is required is mutual respect, and kids will not give respect if they don't get it. This is not North Korea. My grand-daughter is as well, if not better behaved than many kids, but when she is penalised for comforting a child, who has never ever done anything wrong in 4 years there, and gets a strike because her skirt came above her knee - well I am aghast. To be honest, body shaming girls, so that boys and men can't look at a bit of leg beggars belief in this day and age. And yes, this is the reason given for the girls/leg/skirt situation. But what i am asking for is links to current, up to date, robust research as to what actually does work when dealing with a school full of kids. What is going on here is containment not education.

[iloveglee]

For the avoidance of confusion, i should say that the strikes that my grand-daughter received were for 4 different 'offences'. One was the blazer sleeves, a different one for not putting her hand up in class before speaking, one for speaking to another child 'off task, and one for forgetting her homework. she herself agreed with the homework one because she knows she should have remembered it. we would have been cross with her ourselves if she had had 3 strikes for the same offence. if she is warned not to do something, and does it anyway, we have little sympathy, although again some of the 'don'ts' are petty in the extreme.

[Mamyalynne]

I hope you find the links you are after or the School can better point you in the direction of them.

[Mamyalynne]

^ Dreadful grammar on my part, sorry.

[wolf63]

Many -


I bet you are not a dreadful gramma.

[albaqwerty]

haven't read it, sorry, but it's all I could find on Academies

http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/6639/1/DCSF-RW004.pdf

[Mamyalynne]

I'm not Susan.x

[iloveglee]

thanks for the link, its a long document which i have scanned but not read, it relates to the benefit of parental involvement, and enhanced pastoral care, which definitely does not appear to happen at this school. I have learned that at the end of last term, a letter came around which stated the new 6 strikes system, but without determining what was considered to be unacceptable behaviour. some things are very obvious of course, drugs, alcohol, bullying, fighting, destructiveness etc., but otherwise nothing. however, parents were asked to sign the letter and return to say they agreed. the alternative to this, if they did not agree, was to make arrangements to remove their child to another school. so i am pretty sure most parents will have signed whether they agreed or not. in the first assembly, the new regime was spelled out, and the children were told that 99% of parents agree, but am pretty sure that this figure includes parents who do not agree but cannot for various reasons contemplate the aggravation and disruptiveness of removing their child from this school. their child being in the second of their two year GCSE course for one thing. agreeing on this basis is hardly agreement though. This is not the first issue though about this school, they have serious and complex problems with drugs and alcohol, bullying and a multitude of other issues, and appear to be totally incapable of dealing with it. this, though, is not going to make these difficult issues go away, that much i do know. I recognise that parents do not have rights over their children, but they do have responsibilities. good parents are concerned about their child's education of course, but what is more important is the child's mental and physical welfare. i do know that there are many children in this school suffering from both mental and physical health problems, directly related to the regime they are having to deal with on a day to day basis. Someone has suggested that concerned parents write to OFSTED but don't know whether this is likely to make any difference.

[fiction-factory]

If you are going to make a complaint I would omit all the North Korea comments. I think the school should be given a chance to make this work. Parents who don't like it are free to find another school or to attend governors' meetings or PTA meetings- or apply to be governors. Or write to the head.
If children behave in a reasonable way they will not miss lessons. I went to a strict but caring school and was never isolated once.

[iloveglee]

Ah yes - strict but caring. Sadly this school is not caring. They are totally results driven, to the exclusion of all else. Parents are not encouraged to be involved at all. There is no PTA, nor are the parents that I know, aware of Governors meetings to which parents are able to attend. This is not made clear to them at all. Pastoral care is poor to non existent. It is totally unreasonable to ask parents who find this method of discipline unacceptable simply to remove their child to another school. Especially in year 11. It is threats and coercion nothing else. The governors have been approached in the past. They always support the school no matter what the issues are. Deputy Heads are approached, parental concerns are almost always dismissed - response - remove your child. This is simply not good enough. It is bullying, on the part of the school. The Head can never be approached, she does not engage at all, ever with parents either verbally or by letter. Parents have become scared to make any kind of complaint because, you've guessed it - if you don't like it, remove your child. 'if children behave in a reasonable way they will not miss lessons'. That's part of the issue - they no longer know what reasonable is. I have asked if anyone knows of any links to good robust research which says that this method of disciplining children is effective. Clearly no one does know. Does this mean that there is no such research? I despair. And currently there are many parents of children at this school are despairing also.

[bednobs]

it sounds a hyperbolic to state that children are suffering both mentally and physically after one day of a new regime Remember you are only getting one side of the story. If there are problems with drugs and discipline already they are not going to impove after less that a week, and the more lax regime clearly hasnt worked in previous terms.
on the contrary to what you have said, many workplaces control what you wear and how you wear it, do not allow chatting in meetings and even control when you can have a dink or toilet break.
Having said all that she is your granddaughter and you are perfectly entitled to be woriied about her education and wellbeing. i'm afraid i dont have any wisdom as to the hierarchy in academies, and i guess what i have said above will prbably be unwelome, but at least it;ll bring the post to latest posts and someone who actually knows the answer might see it.

[derekpara]

'Despair' seems a little strong to me. I don't know if there is any documented research in this matter, but the question is, is the method effective in achieving better behaviour ? Any parent of a pupil in my secondary school could make an appointment for a school tour in lesson time. One can learn a lot from this, particularly at lesson change-over times. Is corridor movement orderly ? Are teachers insisting on a quiet, orderly entry to the classroom ?

Also, The school must have parents' evenings where you can discuss many issues with form teachers, Year Heads and other senior staff.

Could I ask what type of appointment does your daughter have that requires evidence of academic research of this system ?

D

[kvalidir]

All I can say is, I'm so glad I was fortunate enough to never go to school- how can you concentrate on learning anything under such stifling stupidity? The blazer cuffs thing is complete madness and all they appear to be teaching these children is to obey ridiculous rules 'just because I said so'- that'll make them nice malleable easy to control future citizens scared of their own shadow won't it, which is presumably the desired effect?

[derekpara]

My apologies, iloveglee. I mis-read your original post and assumed that you were the parent.

I assume the forthcoming meting is to discuss the newlt implimente
'6 strikes' system. It should be interesting.

Let us know what happens.

D

[iloveglee]

i am not sure whether kvalidir is being sarcastic, but what is going on here is oppression of any spark of individuality any child may have. they are being programmed, but i know for certain when they come out of school, with any number of gcse's they will be automatons, they will have no gumption, no ability to think, reason, problem solve or create. they will not be able to do anything except obey instructions. Believe me i know because i have had to mentor such kids when i was working. the ones that showed any kind of spark were the ones from what people would call an inner city sink school.
they may not have had qualifications, but my goodness they had determination and willingness to learn. They were treated with respect, and given an opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions and goodness did it work. I should have made myself clear as well about the mental/physical health. this has been going on since they had a new head, at least 4 years, but has been getting progressively more oppressive. question - has this improved behaviour - no. is the problem with bullying, drugs, alcohol etc. worse than it was - yes. it is not working. In the case of my grand-daughter she has been sufferering from digestive problems for 2 years, investigated to within an inch of her life - diagnosis stress related. she suffers with panic attacks both before and in school. diagnosis - stress related. she is not the only one. i suspect some of the children are self medicating in school - with, i absolutely know for a fact, alcohol and ketamine. has the school got a grip on this - no. will this new regime make a difference - no. should her parents remove her to another school - during the 2nd year of her gcse's - no its simply not possible. so just like the children there is nothing they can do.

[albaqwerty]

Have you or the parents contacted Ofsted?

If you have any proof, go to the local papers.

Only other suggestion I have is that the decent students and their families organise some sort of protest outside the school which will surely attract local media attention which means something will have to be done? x

[sherrardk]

Most academies are schools which have 'failed' and re-opened under a new head. This failure is usually attributed to poor behaviour. The new academy usually implements a new uniform and strict behaviour program policies in a bid to improve performance. I agree that some of the things your grand daughter has been reprimanded for are stupid but some teachers will always be stricter than others. It is unlikely that parents like pressure will change the school's stance so I can only suggest that as a family you come up with ways your grand daughter can tolerate the rest of this year.