At The Duchess’s School we understand that good behaviour underpins all successful learning and we are committed to further improving the behaviour of our students at every given opportunity.
Behaviour for us is not just about how a student conducts themselves in a classroom but, also, their social interaction with other students and teachers and the appropriateness of their actions in relation to their own learning. It is also about deeper matters of attitude, ambition, motivation and belief, these being personal qualities and attributes that have a fundamental bearing on a young person’s growth, development and, ultimately, success in school.
In our school we have developed a vision for behaviour that all staff are working to achieve.
At the heart of our vision for good behaviour we place:
- Honesty
- Empathy
- Ambition
- Respect
- Tolerance
Staff will work consistently in all lessons to help all students develop all of these qualities so that we can all share in a school that has a positive and successful ethos.
At The Duchess’s School we recognise that true success in learning comes as a result of a three-way partnership between the student, parent and teacher and we strive wherever we can to develop this relationship. The ‘Three Ways Forward’ document identifies very clearly what the expectation of each partner in this relationship is.
As far as our students are concerned, they are very familiar with the language of and statements contained within the ‘Three Ways Forward’ document. These are displayed around school, are part of the student planner and are frequently referred to across school. These are deliberately worded in the positive and give a very simple but clear indication as to what we expect in school.
“To say well done to a good bit of work is to take hold of the powers that made the effort and strengthen them beyond our knowledge”
(Philip Brooks)
At The Duchess’s school we acknowledge the importance of praise and reward and seek to promote and reinforce our expectation of students at any given opportunity.
A variety of methods of reward exist and these include:
• Verbal praise
• Merit
• Commendation
• Postcard, phone call or letter home
• Celebrating Success Award
• Director of Learning nomination
• Public display of high quality work
• Certificates and Year Presentation Evenings or Prize-giving Ceremony.
Although the emphasis at The Duchess’s School is on positive behaviour management it is also important to have a range of sanctions to apply as need arises.
Students will, inevitably, make mistakes and may, from time to time, show behaviours that do not facilitate good learning and violate school ethos and/or rules. A range of progressive sanctions will be appropriately applied is these cases in the hope that they may help to remind students of our expectation. Any sanction applies will always be balanced with appropriate support.
Sanctions commonly used in our school will include:
• Verbal reprimand
• Temporary removal from a lesson or subject
• Phone calls or letters home
• Parental meetings
• Detentions – lunchtime and after school
• Progress card/reporting systems
• Internal exclusion
• External fixed term or permanent exclusion.
From time to time, it does become necessary for us to remove a student from a lesson. This may be because they need more intensive support for their learning or for emotional reasons.
In pursuit of our high standards, we do also, on occasion, remove students from class who are not fulfilling school expectation.
Sometimes we will place students in our ‘Inclusion Room’ – a room (D11) that is fully staffed by our behaviour manager in which a student can work without distraction and, at the same time, can receive support or advice from a fully qualified professional.
We are delighted that our external exclusion figures have been falling – a testimony to the hard work of our students and staff and a reflection of the high standards that exist in our school.
Whenever an external exclusion is administered it is done so according to Northumberland and National Guidelines. A copy of these is available on request.
At the Duchess’s School we work very hard in order to promote respect, empathy and tolerance. Treating each other with dignity is a very important part of the ethos that we wish to create.
Our students, staff and governors have signed an anti-bullying charter and this is displayed prominently across school.
Each of our students has a personal planner which contains the following information:
Help Stop Bullying
What is bullying?
Bullying is behaviour by an individual or a group that is seen by you as an attempt to hurt, frighten, humiliate or threaten you or someone else, particularly if the behaviour is repeated or persistent.
Bullying can be:
Physical - Hitting, pushing, taking someone’s belongings
Verbal - Name calling, insults, racist or sexist remarks, threatening or demanding money.
Indirect - Spreading rumours, sending abusive text messages/e-mails, excluding someone from a group.
How to react
• Trying to ignore bullies. Walk away and do not let them see that you are upset. Don’t give them the satisfaction of getting a reaction from you.
• If you can, calmly stand up for yourself and ask them to stop their behaviour.
• Try to stay with your friends and avoid being on your own.
What to do next
Tell someone you trust. This could be a friend, someone at home or a teacher. Just talking to someone may help you to find a solution to the problem.
What will happen if you tell a teacher?
The teacher will listen to you and offer support. The teacher can talk to the person who is bullying (if you agree) and hopefully stop the bullying.
What to do if you see bullying
• Comfort, support and stay with the victim
• Tell the victim to report the incident
• Tell someone (e.g. a teacher) what you have seen
• If you are in a group where one member is bullying, show that you disapprove, because by doing nothing you support the bully.’
In addition we have a very comprehensive anti-bullying policy that is shared with every member of staff in our school.
Parents should not hesitate to contact school at any point if they have any concerns in relation to this matter – no matter how small they may seem.
This extract appears in our student planners and summarises well school attitude towards attendance.
The proper place for you to be on a school day is at school. If you are not in school then you must have a justifiable reason and your parents should telephone the school office before 8.40am on the first day of absence. You should always bring a note from your parents when you return to school after being off sick.
Our school attendance target for this academic year is set at 93%. We hope that all of our students will work hard to achieve this.
We will be holding weekly inter-form attendance challenges and, also, each term, will organise individual 100% Attendance Challenges. It is very important that students attend regularly – information from the government shows that students whose attendance falls below 92% could end up with SATs / GCSE grades that are lower than the grades they are capable of achieving.
Do you realise that:
90% attendance = one half day absence per week
80% attendance = one day absence per week
Put quite simply, students that are absent from lessons miss important work and are bound to do less well.
If your attendance drops below 80% you and your parents will be invited to school to meet your Director of Learning and, possibly, the Education Welfare Officer.’
Parents are requested not to arrange family holidays during term time. Where this is unavoidable requests for leave of absence should be made in writing well in advance of the date.
(including Alcohol and Tobacco)
This is the extract that presently appears in the prospectus:
Our practice and policy in relation to drugs education and practice in relation to drug related incidents is based on LEA and national guidelines (DfES/0092/2004).
A summary leaflet is given to each student in an assembly so that they are made fully aware of our practice.
We encourage all of our students to take a pride in their appearance and the standard of presentation for school is very high. Full details of the uniform, together with information about accessories, hair-style and make-up are attached. Students recently debated school uniform at a School Council Conference and the thinking that they demonstrated in this regard was truly impressive.
Some of their comments included the following:
Why a uniform?
• It gives a sense of identity - it shows what school you are in. It gives a sense of belonging.
• It is easy - you don’t have to think about what to wear in the morning
• It generates equality - everybody is the same – this will stop prejudice and discrimination. No one gets singled out. No bullying.
• It stops hassle for parents.
• It helps avoid financial issues – no worries about having to have expensive designer clothes in order to fit in.
• It creates a better image for the school in the community.
• It makes sure that everyone is smart. There will be no offensive clothing.
• To separate teachers from students.
• It concentrates the mind on schoolwork.
How does a uniform impact on Learning?
• It gives a sense of professionalism
• It helps self-esteem – everybody feels OK about the way they are dressed – nobody worries about not fitting in and feeling better about yourself helps you to do well in your work.
• Students are prepared for the challenge – ready to learn.
• It encourages good behaviour and discipline.
• Students can concentrate on the important things – i.e. learning not what you are wearing. Avoids distractions.
• It saves time in the morning – helps with punctuality
• It means that you are ready to learn psychologically – dress for purpose – football top at a match, jeans for casual, school uniform for schoolwork.
At The Duchess’s School we are very keen to involve students in the operation and decision making whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Each Year has their own Year Council which is made up of two members of each tutor group. These councils have the opportunity to discuss matters that are pertinent to their own year group. For example, Y11 students plan and organise the Leavers’ Prom and 6th Form Council the annual Holly Ball.
The School Council meets on a half-termly basis and has a responsibility for leading the Student Voice in school. They support the organisation of charitable events, provide a mechanism for consultation about school practices and policies, help to identify and shape school development and take responsibility for developing their own projects.
For example, at present, a small group of students are taking a lead on the development of recreational space within school and another group have started to look at the matter of recycling and litter. It is good to be part of a school in which students have the willingness to work to make a difference!
In addition, we hold one School Council conference each term. In these, all Year Councils join together to discuss and debate important matters of school life. Students have recently talked about school uniform and have made some recommendations for change. They have also had the opportunity to discuss the relative merits of the school rewards systems and have taken part in discussion on “what is a good teacher”. Members will feed back their thinking to forthcoming teacher training sessions.
In addition, student views are sought through questionnaires. A Health Action Team exists and students frequently play a part in showing prospective students around school, taking a role in the appointment of new staff and supporting school events such as Open Evenings.
Students that are transferring to our school from a local middle school will go through the formal admissions procedures administered by officers at County Hall. The officer designated to the Alnwick Schools is Hilary Wheeler who can be contacted on 01670 533664.
We are always happy to accommodate where we can, requests to transfer, from students who attend schools outside of our catchment area. Visits can be arranged and, where it might be helpful, students can attend for a days ‘trial’.
For further information or advice please contact:
Mr George Adamson - for admission to Years 9, 10 and 11
Mrs Linda Armstrong - for admission to Sixth Form.
If you require a copy of the school prospectus please contact one of our Pastoral Administrators Mrs Laura Coxford (Year 9 to 11) or Mrs Carol Horton (Sixth Form).
Our Food & Nutrition policy will encourage, reflect and build upon the values outlined in the National Curriculum and the government nutritional standards. It is based on the advice and guidance from the Food in Schools materials and supported by the Northumberland Healthy School Programme.
Research shows that child obesity is a national concern and getting worse. Schools share the responsibility with parents and the wider community to educate pupils in all aspects of food and nutrition so enabling them to make healthy, informed choices through increasing knowledge, challenging attitudes and practising skills.
For a full policy document, please download the pdf below.
