MA Sanctions

Sanctions

Sanctions policy – work

This is not a stepwise policy, but as in all cases which involve the handing out of sanctions each case will be judged on its own. 

  • If work is of a poor quality, a teacher will, in the first instance, ask a pupil to repeat the work taking advice from comments and feedback given to the pupil.

 

  • Supported Study – This is mainly for poor work, late and incomplete preps and academic underperformance. Those who are placed into Supported Study should ensure that pupils, tutors and HsM’s are informed. The Supported Study will take place in the Abbotts’ Hall at 0750 – 0820, supervised by Night Duty Staff and HsM’s, and attendance should be recorded in the Supported Study Book in the Common Room. Academic work must be set by staff. Regular attendees at Supported Study will be monitored by the Assistant Head (academic), HsM and Tutor to help the pupil, or he / she will be put on a Satis card.

 

  • If a pupil is consistently underperforming in classes, he / she may be asked to complete a satis card, with specific instructions given by the Housemaster / Tutor to monitor certain aspects of the pupils’ work. A pupil may recognise that he / she is underperforming, and will therefore ask to go on a voluntary satis card.

 

  • If a pupil is underperforming intentionally, or is producing poor work that shows no intent on progress, then a pupil will be placed in the Monday Detention, as explained in Staff Sanctions below.

 

Sanctions policy – behaviour

These are stepwise, and therefore need to be logged by the HsM of any particular pupil at each stage. However, Housemasters may use their discretion and enforce any specific sanction up to and including Sanctions 3. The rules on alcohol and smoking link in with the following sanctions. 

Sanctions 1:  Staff Sanctions

  • Bad behaviour should firstly be dealt with on an individual basis, not in front of others, working on the values which the pupils and the member of staff know to be correct. The Housemaster / Tutor will be informed that there has been a problem and that it is being dealt with. Teachers may ask the pupil to write a letter of apology, or a letter to his / her Housemaster explaining what he / she has done wrong and how it will be rectified.

 

  • If there is persistent bad behaviour, a pupil may be detained at the teacher’s convenience at lunchtime, after games and before activities, before or after supper. This should demonstrate to pupils that each member of staff respects each pupil and wants to find the best way of addressing bad behaviour without having to resort to more strict means. The pupils’ Housemaster or tutor should always be kept informed.

 

Sanctions 2:  Housemaster’s Sanctions

(If the Housemaster feels it more suitable, Sanctions 3 can be administered at any time)

  • If, after bad behaviour has been dealt with, yet it is no longer a classroom management issues, the pupils should be placed by the Housemaster in a Behaviour and Academic detention after consultation with the teacher, tutor and Housemaster. The detention will take place in a classroom (Room 19) on Monday from 1600 - 1700. Suitable work should be set to reflect the misdemeanour. This will be supervised by staff in rotation. Detention slips will be used to ensure that pupils, tutors and housemasters are informed.

 

  • Restrictions. Restrictions for up to 14 days and are administered by Housemasters. This involves signing in every hour outside lesson time and confining to the house area after 2100 at night. Restrictions could also include either of the Deputy Headmaster’s Sanctions listed below.

 

Sanctions 3: Deputy Headmaster’s Sanctions

  • Deputy Headmaster’s Sign in – administered by the Deputy Headmaster.  If any pupil misses a formal sanction (e.g. a detention) then they will automatically be placed in a Deputy Headmaster’s Sign in, and will be expected to repeat the punishment that they missed.  This move demonstrates the seriousness of bad behaviour moving from House administered to whole school administered punishment. Deputy Headmaster’s Sign In will be at the Deputy Headmaster’s study at 7am on Friday morning, and will last until 7:45am. Pupils will need to be present in correct school uniform, smart hair and clean shoes. The Deputy Headmaster will ensure that pupils undertake environmental groundwork and other activities which benefit the campus and Milton Abbey.

 

  • Saturday Night Detention – this is the final step before Headmaster’s Sanctions. HsM’s, in conjunction with the Deputy Headmaster, may only place people in Saturday Night Detention. HsM’s will inform parents of a Saturday Night Detention. This will be supervised by the Deputy Headmaster, the Duty HsM or another senior member of staff.

 

Sanction 4: Headmaster’s Sanctions: Internal Suspension

  • Internal Suspension. The pupil participates in lessons only, and is withdrawn from all other activities for the duration of the suspension. The pupils is confined to the main building and will sign in with the Deputy Headmaster when not in lessons, staying in his study and being given extra work which will be beneficial to his / her academic progress.

 

Sanction 5: Headmaster’s Sanctions: Suspension

  • Suspension. At the Headmaster’s discretion. Usually for 48 hours and only used when a pupil has gone beyond the bounds of what is acceptable within our community.

 

Sanction 6: Headmaster’s Sanctions: Suspension and Final Warning

  • Expulsion/Voluntary withdrawal and Final Warning. At the Headmaster’s discretion and is the last resort.

 

 

Approach to Bullying:

The School hopes that pupils and staff will enjoy school life. The highest standards or morality, integrity and honesty are expected from all who work and study here. However, the School recognises that bullying can occur and it is overtly expressed that all forms of bullying are unacceptable.

 

A code on bullying has been formulated:

  • Every pupil has the right to enjoy their learning and leisure time free from intimidation
  • The School community will not tolerate in kind actions or remarks, even when they are intended not to hurt
  • It is recognised that to stand by when someone else is being bullied is to support bullying
  • If a pupil is being bullied or knows someone who is being bullied, he should report this to a member of staff or a responsible senior pupil.
  • Bullying will always be taken seriously and includes:

 

  • Emotional: being deliberately unfriendly, excluding people from groups,
  • tormenting (e.g. hiding books or possessions, making threatening gestures,
  • damaging property or theft of property)
  • Physical: pushing, kicking, hitting, punching, spitting or using any form of
  • Physical violence.
  • Racist/ cultural: racial taunts, gestures or graffiti, comments made solely on basis of an individual’s culture
  • Religious/ cultural: anti-religious or sectarian taunts, gestures or graffiti
  • Sexual: unwanted physical contact, sexually abusive comments or rumours
  • Homophobic: focussing on the issue of sexuality, including name calling
  • Verbal: name calling, teasing, mocking, spreading rumours, making offensive comments.
  • Focussed on special needs or disability
  • Cyber: misuse of all areas of the internet, such as email and chat rooms,
  • Mobile phones, text messaging, camera or video technology deliberately used to cause offence, torment or spread rumours.

Bullying hurts and can do lasting harm. Pupils who bully need to learn different ways of behaving and must realise that is an act which is so anti the Milton Abbey community that in some cases they may well be asked to leave the school as a result.

 

Training

Staff are regularly updated and trained in looking out for signs of bullying and kept updated about the School’s procedures and policies through the Inset training programme.

A copy of the full policy on bullying is available from the Deputy Headmaster.

At Milton Abbey we all have the right to be valued. We are here to make best use of our time, fulfil our potential and care for all with whom we come into contact.

 If at any time you should wish to talk to someone please talk to: 

  1. a Peer Mentor,  
  2. Your Tutor,  
  3. Senior responsible pupil (Pilot),  
  4. HsM, (Housemaster/ mistress) 
  5. the Independent Listener (Angie Higgs: tel: 01258 880073), 
  6. The Child protection Officer (Deputy Headmaster ) or the Deputy Child protection officer (Mrs Rowan Kerby) 

 

Drugs, Smoking and Alcohol Policy:

A copy of the full policies on drugs, smoking and alcohol are available on request from the Deputy Headmaster.  However for quick reference, a shortened version is reproduced below.

 

Drugs Policy 

The School does not tolerate the misuse of drugs by member of the School not the supply of such substances. These include controlled drugs and prescription drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, glue and other substances held or supplied for the purposes of abuse.  This policy does not apply to prescribed medicines that are used in accordance with medical guidance.

 

Education

The School provides a planned programme of drug education arranged through the established curriculum, the Enrichment (PSHCE) programme and through external speakers.  The School actively co-operates with other agencies such as Police, Social Services and Health professionals.

Pupils are encouraged to discuss their anxieties about drugs or substances in confidence with a member of staff or the School counsellor.

 

Allegations of involvement with drugs

In the event of allegations about a pupil being involved with drugs, procedures are laid down for the conduct of full and fair investigations and parents will be informed as soon as possible.

 

Disclosure

The School operates a disclosure policy.  Disclosure is when a pupil tells a member of staff about drug-taking so that the school can act to help the individual concerned to stop taking drugs.  Disclosure can be made either about oneself or another individual; if the latter it should be motivated purely by concern and a desire to help.  If disclosure is made independently the case will be managed in a non-disciplinary way.

To be genuinely ‘independent’ a disclosure must be initiated by the pupil at a time other than during an investigation.  Once staff have begun an interview and the disciplinary process started, disclosure can no longer provide immunity from sanction.

 

Testing for Drugs

If there is reason to suspect that a pupil has been involved with drugs or substances, they may be asked to undergo a drugs test for analysis.  Reasonable steps will be taken to notify parents/ guardians of the requirement for a test and the reasons for that requirement.  The testing policy is designed to be constructive to support those pupils most at risk of drug taking, to dispel ill-founded suspicion of drug taking and to act as a general and efficient deterrent.

 

Sanctions

Each case is assessed on a case-by-case basis, but in general the guidelines are:

  1. A pupil who tests positive for or admits to drug misuse in the process of disciplinary interview will be sanctioned at the discretion of the headmaster.  This will involve a period of suspension at least, and may require the pupil to leave the school.
  2. A pupil who tests positive twice for drugs misuse must expect to be required to leave the school.
  3. A pupil who is discovered to have supplied drugs or brought them into school will be required to leave the school.  The Police will be notified.
  4. No distinction is made between drug misuse outside and inside school time or campus.

 

Alcohol Policy

The following rules apply:

Any pupil who is caught:

  1. In possession of, or consuming, alcohol
  2. In the company of others who are drinking
  3. Brewing
  4. Visiting a pub illegally

Will be reported without delay to his / her HsM immediately.  HsM will also inform the Assistant Head (pastoral) and the Deputy Headmaster.

Pupils suspected of having consumed alcohol may be asked to provide a sample of breath by blowing into a breath-testing device.  Inferences may be drawn by the School from the pupil’s refusal to co-operate with this procedure.

 

Disciplinary sanctions

Pupils discovered drinking, in possession of drink, purchasing drink for other pupils or with drinkers (by association) can be expected to be punished.  There are a range of sanctions that apply to pupils who act in breach of the School’s policy on alcohol. The possible sanctions include restrictions, detention, suspension (internal/ external) and expulsion.

 

Smoking Policy

The following rules apply:

Any pupil who is caught:

  1. Smoking or in possession of smoking materials
  2. In the company of others who are smoking

Will be reported without delay to his / her HsM immediately.

 

Disciplinary sanctions

Pupils discovered smoking, in known smoking areas, in the company of smokers, in possession of or purchasing tobacco based items (cigarettes, rolling tobacco, filters and other smoking related paraphernalia) can expect to be punished.  There are a range of sanctions that apply to pupils who act in breach of the School’s policy on smoking. The possible sanctions include restrictions, detention, suspension (internal/ external) and expulsion.

 

Education 

The threats posed to young people by alcohol abuse and smoking form an essential part of the established curriculum, through the Enrichment programme and through specially invited external speakers.  Help and advice are available through the School’s Medical Centre.  The School actively co-operates through other agencies such as the local Police and Social Services to deliver its commitment to alcohol and smoking education and to deal with incidents of use and misuse.