Dear Parent/Carer
I am writing to inform you of some changes to our existing behaviour policies and procedures for students. From the beginning of this new academic year, we are introducing a revised ‘Protecting Learning’ behaviour system that will apply to all students in all year groups.
In line with the introduction of this new Protecting Learning behaviour system, it has been necessary to make some changes to our detention system. This is not only to encourage outstanding behaviour in school, which in turn creates a positive learning environment for the students at The Radclyffe School, but is also important in delivering a clear message to our students that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated and will be sanctioned accordingly.
A detention (which will now be called a ‘Catch Up’) will be issued, by the classroom teacher, when an accumulation of warnings has failed to see a change in the student’s behaviour and a student has been removed from the lesson. Same day Catch Up will be held each night for each year group bubble, and will last for 30 minutes. If a student is removed from more than one lesson in a day, the Catch Up will last for 60 minutes. Should a student fail to attend one of these Catch Ups, they will have their sanction increased.
There will be no exemption from the after-school Catch Up system. If your child has a medical appointment, parents/carers must inform the school and rearrange the Catch Up. It will not be possible for a student to rearrange it themselves. Guidance from the Department for Education states that schools have no legal obligation to inform parents/carers that their child is being kept back after school for a Catch Up. Nor do schools need the consent of a parent/carer to issue and detain a student for an after-school Catch Up. As a school, we have however made the decision to continue to notify parents that their child has received a Catch Up. This will be made via a phone call on the day.
We understand that after-school Catch Ups can sometimes be an inconvenience to parents/carers. However, they are an integral part of the new behaviour system and as such we urge parents/carers to encourage their children to adhere to the rules and expectations of the school, so that ultimately, they are not issued with a Catch Up.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. Should you require any further information regarding the use of after school Catch Ups as a sanction, please feel free to contact me at the school.
Yours faithfully
Mr J Cregg
Headteacher
