Student Discipline Policy and Procedures

Introduction

The governing body of a registered individual school must demonstrate that the behaviour management and discipline of students observes the principles of procedural fairness and the prohibition of discrimination.

Purpose

Every student has the right to a learning environment free from bullying and intimidation and to feel safe and happy at school. They also have the right to be treated fairly and with dignity. Discipline is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of all our students, teachers and staff and to provide a

conducive learning environment. This Student Discipline Policy and its Procedures are part of the framework through which school manages student discipline.

Scope

This Policy and its Procedures apply to all staff, volunteers and contractors at the school.

Roles and Responsibilities

Teachers’ Responsibilities

To support teachers in attaining and maintaining Proficient Teacher accreditation, the John Berne School encourages teachers to take responsibility for managing challenging behaviour by establishing and negotiating clear expectations with students and addressing discipline issues promptly, fairly and respectfully.

To support experienced teachers in attaining and maintaining Highly Accomplished Teacher accreditation, the John Berne School encourages experienced teachers to take responsibility for developing and sharing with their colleagues a flexible repertoire of behaviour management strategies using expert knowledge and workplace experience.

To support highly experienced teachers in attaining and maintaining Lead Teacher accreditation, the John Berne School encourages highly experienced teachers to take responsibility for leading and implementing behaviour management initiatives to assist their colleagues to broaden their range of strategies.

Policy Statement

Student Discipline

Every student has the right to a learning environment free from bullying and intimidation and to feel safe and happy at school. They also have the right to be treated fairly and with dignity.

Discipline is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of all our students, teachers and staff and to provide a conducive learning environment.

This Policy sets the framework through which The John Berne School manages student discipline.

Strategies to Promote Good Discipline

The John Berne School seeks to develop a culture of positive discipline by setting clear expectations of students and encouraging positive behaviour. Strategies for developing this culture include:

clearly setting behaviour expectations
establishing specific teaching and learning programs
communicating expectations with the wider John Berne School community
acknowledging positive behaviours in a range of ways from informal verbal acknowledgement through to structured merit awards
maintaining records with respect to student behaviour.

Prohibition of Corporal Punishment

It is our policy that:

we prohibit corporal punishment
we do not explicitly or implicitly sanction the administering of corporal punishment by non school persons, including parents/guardians, to enforce discipline at the John Berne School.
The use of any corporal punishment by a staff member is strictly prohibited. Any staff member who breaches this rule will be subject to disciplinary proceedings which may include dismissal.

Procedural Fairness

Students have a right to procedural fairness in dealings that involve their interests. This includes disciplinary decisions.

The principles of procedural fairness include the right of students to:

know what the rules are and what behaviour is expected of them
have decisions determined by a reasonable and unbiased person
be informed of, and have an opportunity to respond to, any allegations against them be heard before a decision is made
have a decision reviewed (but not to delay an immediate punishment).

The John Berne School is committed to ensuring procedural fairness when disciplining a student.

John Berne School Rules and Expected Standards of Behaviour

Students are expected to abide by the rules of the John Berne School, and the directions of teachers and staff.

Examples of written rules that students are expected to follow are dealt with in:

Student Code of Conduct

Bullying Prevention and Intervention

Student Use of Illicit Drugs

Pastoral Care and Behaviour Management

Consequences

There are a range of consequences that students will face if they breach John Berne School rules or are disobedient. These include:

warnings or reprimands (verbal or written)
time outs
clean up duties
cancellation of privileges
withdrawal from John Berne School activities
detentions
suspension
expulsion

A decision to suspend or expel a student may only be made by the Stage Coordinators or the Principal.

Individual Behaviour Management Plan

Where the level of misbehaviour breaches the John Berne School’s Code of Conduct, individual behaviour management plans may be made.

Plans will be negotiated between John Berne School staff, students and parents/guardians, and will consider the student’s:

age
developmental needs
behavioural context.

The desired behaviour of the student will be clearly described. The plan will outline changes required to the learning environment to support the student to modify their behaviour.

The John Berne School will refer the student to other support available and review, assess, change and modify the plan as needed.

Procedures

Procedures for Suspension and Expulsion

The John Berne School has developed specific procedures that must be followed when considering the suspension or expulsion of a student. Refer to our School Suspension and Expulsion Procedures.

Procedure for Suspensions and Expulsions

Implementation

This Policy is implemented through:

staff training and professional development opportunities in behaviour management communicating this Policy to the John Berne School community
monitoring the effectiveness of the Policy
reviewing and evaluating the Policy annually.

Definitions

Term	Definition
Suspension	Suspension is a temporary removal of a student from all their normal classes.
Expulsion	Expulsion is permanently removing a student from the school.

Source of Obligation

The NSW Registration Manual (B9.1) requires the John Berne School’s discipline policy to be based on principles of procedural fairness. The policy must either expressly prohibit corporal punishment or clearly and exhaustively list the school’s discipline methods, plainly excluding corporal punishment. A school cannot explicitly or implicitly sanction corporal punishment by non-school persons (such as parents) to enforce discipline.

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