BEHAVIOUR

I am so grateful to the vast majority of parents who support us with our behaviour policies. I also stress that if, at any time, you have a concern, particularly if it is related by your child, please contact us immediately so that we can discuss it on an adult level before the problem becomes worse or, indeed, discover whether there is a problem at all. Where we have most difficulty is in a very small number of cases where parents believe 100% what is reported to them without having listened to the evidence we have accumulated. This does neither the student nor family any favours as if a student believes they simply have to complain to a parent to gain their support it will only be a matter of time before the discipline of the parent is also undermined.

Quite simply, our whole discipline is geared to every student being able to be happy, successful and safe. It is also geared to allowing staff to teach to the excellent level we have in St Peter’s with no student preventing this happening. Abuse, either to students or staff will not be tolerated and I hope, and indeed I know, that this is exactly what so many of you want from our school. I must also emphasise (and it saddens me to have to state it, but after one or two incidents recently it needs reaffirming) that I will treat every student in a fair way regardless of gender, race or relationships they may have with members of the school staff or governors. No youngster is above the discipline of the school. Our discipline follows our Mission statement in treating all people with dignity and respect. As St Paul says, pupils who misbehave are not our enemies but ‘brothers and sisters in need of correction’.