Culture for Learning

Behaviour Expectations

CFGS is a calm and inclusive school, which aims to transform the lives of our students through a central education. We do this through consistent and high expectations of all of our students.  Students are responsible for their behaviour and are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.

At CFGS, students are expected to display exemplary behaviour, which shows respect for their learning and the learning of others.  They are ambassadors for CFGS and we require our pupils to be polite, courteous and to behave in such a way that is a credit to the school. 

The Student Code of Conduct is underpinned by the ‘Central Essentials’ and all students are encouraged to develop these qualities. 

 

 

  

 

Rewards

At CFGS, we believe that positive behaviour is best promoted and developed by recognising, celebrating and rewarding outstanding behaviour.  All staff are expected to make explicit the desired standards of behaviour, and to constantly reinforce these high expectations. This is supported by a whole-school structure for rewards. The ‘Central Essentials’ and Sixth Form Values reinforce our belief that behaviour is the responsibility of every individual.

 

 

Sanctions

When there are incidents of unsatisfactory behaviour, staff use their professional expertise to intervene effectively so that positive relationships with students as well as high standards of behaviour can be maintained.   Unsatisfactory behaviour describes that which prevents students from flourishing, either academically or socially, and detracts from the success of the school community. It may also describe behaviour that diminishes the dignity of members of this community.

CFGS employs a range of strategies and interventions to improve student behaviour when a student misbehaves, fails to follow a reasonable instruction from a member of staff, breaks a school rule or does not adhere to the Code of Conduct. In addition to the rewards and sanctions structure, CFGS understand that students might need additional support in order to improve their behaviour. The school subsequently employs a large range of supportive strategies.

The school may discipline a student for unsatisfactory behaviour if any of the following conditions apply;

• The student is participating in a school-based or school-organised activity
• The student is travelling to or from school
• The student is wearing school uniform or is identifiable as a member of the school
• The student’s unsatisfactory behaviour has repercussions for the orderly running of the school
• The student’s unsatisfactory behaviour poses a threat to another student, member of staff or a member of the public
• The student’s unsatisfactory behaviour has brought the school into disrepute.

Communication with Home

CFGS recognises the importance of effective Home-School Communication and aims to work in close partnership with parents and carers. As well as our scheduled Parent Events, staff will contact home if there is an important message to share and may arrange a face-to-face meeting.  The SIMS Parent App is used to update parents daily of positive news - Central Gold Points – as well as any instances of unsatisfactory behaviour.  Parents/Carers are asked to support the school so that students receive consistent messages about how to behave both at home and at school.

Please contact the school and leave a message for the relevant member of staff if you wish to discuss or raise a concern.  Form Tutors are the initial point of contact if it is a general concern, or the subject Teacher if it is a subject-based concern.

Detentions

Detentions are to enable a student to ‘put right’ a situation.  For example, if a student has not completed their homework then the detention time will be used to start their overdue homework.  They will also have a discussion with the staff member and work out what needs to be done to prevent the situation from re-occuring.

Detentions are most frequently communicated to parents in the detention page of the planner. Parent/carers are asked to regularly check this to see if their daughter has been set a detention and then to discuss the reasons with their daughter and to support them to make the relevant improvements. Parental consent is not required to set a detention but it is protocol for staff to give advance notice of at least 24 hours if the detention is to be longer than 15 minutes through recording the detention in the planner, a phone call, a school text message or a letter home.

Late detentions are for 15 minutes on the same day that the student arrives late to school.

If a student fails to attend a detention or does not behave in a suitable manner during their initial detention, this will be escalated and the student will receive an extended detention with a member of the middle or senior leadership team. 

Electronic Devices

The school has a clear protocol to safeguard against photos, videos or social media being used to bully or harass others. 

Students are not permitted to use electronic devices, including mobile phones, on the school site and must never take a photo or video of another student or of a member of staff without their permission.  Sixth Formers are only permitted to use electronic devices in the Sixth Form Common Room or Café before school, break, lunchtime or after-school.  

If a student breaks these rules and an electronic device is seen or heard, then the item will be confiscated and the following sanctions will apply:

• On the first occasion that a mobile phone is confiscated, it will be logged and returned at the end of the school day
• Second occasion - confiscated for five school days
• Third occasion - confiscated for ten school days
• Fourth occasion = confiscated for 15 school days and the student is referred to the HOY for a suitable action. The HOY will arrange a time when the electronic device can be returned to the parent/carer.
• If more than four confiscations of an electronic device take place, then sanctions will extend in line with the pattern above. 

Parents/carers will be informed via the SIMS Parent App to make them aware of this confiscation.

If it becomes apparent that an electronic device has been used to cause harm, to disrupt teaching or to break the school rules then the matter will be investigated. As part of the investigation, the student will be asked to show the relevant information and / or accounts on their electronic device. If it has been found that the device has been used to breach school discipline, then the device will be confiscated. The parent/carer will be informed if a phone has been c0onfiscated and it will be returned directly to the parent/carer

If inappropriate material is found on the device, it will be brought to the DSL for review, to decide whether they should delete that material, retain it as evidence (of a criminal offence) or whether the material is of such seriousness that it requires the involvement of the police. Depending on the seriousness of the case, the phone may be confiscated. The parent/carer will be informed if a phone has been confiscated and it will be returned directly to the parent/carer unless it is required by the police for investigation.

If a student refuses to comply, then an appropriate disciplinary penalty will be applied.

If it transpires that a student has used an electronic device on the school site, using it to contact others or to take photos or videos, then the student will receive a sanction that is determined by the circumstances of the case. A student is also liable to receive a sanction if they allow another student to use their electronic device on the school site.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited items and are banned from the school site and school activities:

• Knives and weapons (including penknives and laser pens)
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Stolen items
• Tobacco, cigarette papers, e-cigarettes, lighter and matches
• Fireworks (including snaps)
• Pornographic images
• Replica knives or weapons
• Acid or any harmful chemical agent
• Any item that has been or could be used to commit an offence, cause harm or personal injury to a person, or damage to property
• Any item that is brought in with the intention to sell or pass on which will cause disruption or be detrimental to good order
• Any other item that is deemed to interfere with the education of others, or pose a safety risk to others.

Any prohibited items found in a student’s possession will be confiscated and these items will not be returned to the student. Items that are harmful or detrimental to school discipline will also be confiscated and these items may only be returned to students, if appropriate, after discussion with senior leaders and parents.