preparing for the world - Dulwich College Shanghai

preparing for the worldBehaviour ProceduresCurrent trends in effective behavioural management strategies acknowledge the need to have a tiered approach tostudent sanctions. This ensures that there is an opportunity for students to redeem themselves before sanctions areescalated. Moreover, it ensures that sanctions are appropriate for the particular misdemeanor.It is our belief that behaviour management is the joint responsibility of the student, the parents/guardians and the schoolwith all members playing a key role. Once a student is identified as causing concern he/she may be put onto the firststage. There are 5 stages to this process, each with the explicit intention of helping the student manage his/her behavioureffectively.It is important to work through the stages, reviewing progress as necessary. Demonstration that all the possibilities withinthe school have been exhausted before taking the step of excluding the child from the school is therefore guaranteed.Generally there should be at least two reviews over a reasonable time scale before the student is moved to the next stage,and parents/guardians should be involved at every stage to provide support and understanding.Stage 1Please note that most issues will fall into this category. It is expected that the class teacher will resolve these issuesthemselves.• A referral form and/or detention slip is sent to the Form Tutor. (During this stage the subject teacher is expectedto deal with the misdemeanour unless the incident is a serious one.) If the Form Tutor receives 3 referral forms/detention slips in a term, the respective Head of Year will discuss behaviour patterns with the student andparents/guardians and, if necessary, the student will then be placed on Daily Report for a period of no morethan two weeksNote: Detentions supersede all other activities.Stage 2If the student does not respond to the arrangements above then the Head of Year will meet with the student, parents andform tutor and explain that the student is being moved to Stage 2.• The student is placed on an after-school detention• The student is referred to the Counsellor and behaviour is monitoredNote: After school detentions will occur on Friday each week and will be supervised by a member of the Senior SchoolLeadership Team.Stage 3If behaviour shows no improvement despite regular reviews and involvement from the counsellor and parents, thestudent will move to Stage 3.• The Head of Year will arrange a case study meeting with teachers, the form tutor, parents and the counsellor tostrategise solutions• If deemed necessary, parental permission will be sought to set up a referral with an Educational Psychologist• The student will be placed on a Saturday detention, supervised by one of the Deputy Heads of Senior School• Teachers of the student are kept fully informedStage 4This will involve the Deputy Head of Senior School Pastoral and any other agencies deemed necessary. This could leadto:• An in-school suspension with a modified timetable where students are withdrawn from certain lessons inwhich behavioural expectations are unlikely to be met• An external suspension• An Individual Behaviour Contract agreed by both the student and parents/guardians being set up. This maycombined with a revised daily reportAll parties concerned must understand the seriousness of this stage and a letter will be sent home and placed on thestudent’s file. The Head of Senior School will be involved with this stage of the process and may be called upon to meetwith the parents.Stage 5This stage of the process will involve the Head of Senior School and the Headmaster will be informed of situation.• External suspension and a final warning by the Head of the Senior School• Parents will be required to attend a meeting with the Deputy Head of Senior School Pastoral and the Head ofSenior School• Parents will be asked to withdraw the student from school if there is not an immediate improvement inbehaviourPoints to noteSpecific and extreme courses of action outlined in other College policies such as the Attendance, Anti-bullying, Antiviolenceor Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco policies may supersede this staged approach to behaviour management due tothe seriousness of the offence and the College’s “Zero Tolerance” policy on these matters.We are aware that this structure demands a certain degree of commitment from the student and that student misbehaviouris often a bi-product of being disorganised, de-motivated and/or lacking self-discipline. However, the structure is flexibleenough to move students down a stage, remove them altogether from the process or follow the advice of an expert e.g. amedical practitioner, and hold the stage in abeyance. We also believe that at some point during this staged approach thestudent must take on responsibility for improving their own behaviour if they are to remain in the school.Drugs and AlcoholAs part of its PSHCE programme and the Science curriculum, the Senior School ensures that its students have: asubstantial knowledge of substances which are currently both legal and illegal; an understanding of the reasoning behindthe banning of such substances; an understanding of the risks associated with the use and abuse of such substances; theskill to distinguish between fact and fiction; the ability to analyse data and comment critically on associated issues.The objectives of the drug education programme are:• To develop students’ understanding of the difference between controlled and illegal drugs• To educate students on the effects of drugs and solvents on the mind and body• To provide opportunities for students to practise the personal and social skills and acquire the strategies neededto deal with situations involving drugs• To promote the individual student’s self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth• To explain the legal situation with regard to the use and misuse of drugs• To provide students and parents with information about help agencies• To inform students that the possession, trafficking or taking of drugs is illegal and that any student involved inany of the above on College premises or at a College function will be dealt with in a particularly seriousmannerthe outcome likely to result in suspension or permanent exclusion from the College• To inform students that the College has the right to determine whether or not the police and/or Embassy shouldbe informedThe College will consider any incident involving the consumption of illegal substances individually and recognises thata variety of responses will be necessary to deal with such incidents.The College will consider very carefully the implications of any action it may take. In any decisions it makes, it will seekto comply with the law and to balance the interests of the student with the interests of other members of the College.The College wishes to support parents as well as it can and will inform them if their child is involved in any incidentinvolving illegal substances.Obtaining controlled drugs by any method other than by a doctor’s prescription is illegal; drug trafficking and takingcontrolled drugs obtained illegally are criminal offences. The College seeks to comply with the law and would encouragestudents and parents to also do so.33 34