This Code of Conduct is an unsigned agreement between the Parents, Carers, Visitors and Gomersal St Mary’s CE Primary School
As a partnership, we are all aware of the importance of good working relationships and we all recognise the importance of these relationships to equip our children with the necessary skills for their education, and ultimately to support them in living out our school vision,
‘By being the best we can be, we all shine brightly to make our world and school a better place.’
Purpose and scope
The purpose of this code of conduct is to provide the expectations around the conduct of all parents, carers and visitors connected to our school. Its aims are to clarify the types of behaviour that will not be tolerated and seeks parental agreement to these expectations. The code of conduct also sets out the actions the school can take, should this code be ignored or where breaches occur. We are committed to resolving difficulties in a constructive manner, through an open and positive dialogue. However, we understand that everyday misunderstandings can cause frustrations and have a negative impact on our relationships. Where issues arise or misconceptions take place, please contact your child’s teacher or the Headteacher, who will be available to meet with you and go through the issue and hopefully resolve it. Where issues remain unresolved, please follow the school’s complaints procedure. This is available on the school website, or a copy can be requested from the school office.
Our expectations of parents and carers:
We expect parents, carers, and other visitors to:
- Respect the ethos, vision, and values of our school
- Work together with staff in the best interests of our pupils and students
- Understand that both teachers and parents need to work together for the benefit of their children
- Maintain reasonable expectations for staff response to general communications
- Avoid using staff as threats to admonish children’s behaviour
- Treat all members of the school community with respect – setting a good example with speech and behaviour
- Seek a peaceful and reasonable solution to all issues
- Seek to clarify a child’s version of events with the school’s view to bring about a peaceful solution to any issue
- Correct their own child’s behaviour (or those in their care), particularly in public, where it could lead to conflict, aggression or unsafe conduct
- Approach the right member of school staff to help resolve any issues of concern, following up if an appropriate response has not been received.
To support a peaceful and safe school environment the school cannot tolerate parents, carers and visitors exhibiting the following:
- Disruptive behaviour which interferes or threatens to interfere with any of the school’s normal operation or activities anywhere on the school premises.
- Any inappropriate behaviour on the school premises.
- Using loud or offensive language or displaying temper, either in person or over the phone.
- Threatening in any way, a member of staff, visitor, fellow parent/carer, or child.
- Damaging or destroying school property.
- Sending abusive or threatening emails or text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communications (including social media) to anyone within the school community.
- Defamatory, offensive, or derogatory comments regarding the school or any of the pupils/parents/staff/governors at the school on Facebook or other social media sites.
- The use of physical, verbal, or written aggression towards another adult or child. This includes physical punishment of your own child on school premises.
- Approaching someone else’s child to discuss or chastise them because of the actions of this child towards their own child. (Such an approach to a child may be seen to be an assault on that child and may have legal consequences).
- Smoking, vaping, taking illegal drugs or the consumption of alcohol on school premises (unless alcohol has been allowed at a specific event)
- If, during meetings, staff members feel that parent/carers or visitors are intimidating, confrontational/ argumentative or rude, then subsequent meetings will only be held with a Senior Leader present.
Breaching the code of conduct
If this school suspects, or becomes aware that a parent has breached the code of conduct, the school will
- Send a warning letter to the parent in relation to their behaviour and the possibility of being banned off school premises
- Invite the parent into school to meet with a senior leader/s or the head teacher
- Consider contacting the appropriate authorities for advice and support to ban the offending adult from entering the school premises
- In cases where the unacceptable behaviour is a serious and potentially criminal matter, the concerns will in the first instance be referred to the Police. This will include any or all cases of threats or violence and actual violence to any child, staff, or governor in the school, this will also include anything that could be seen as a sign of harassment of any member of the school community, such as any form of insulting social media post or any form of social media cyber bullying.
- In cases where the unacceptable behaviour is a serious and potentially criminal matter, the concerns will in the first instance be referred to the Police.
- In cases where evidence suggests that behaviour would be tantamount to libel or slander, or harassment, then the school will contact the local authority legal team.
Should any of the above behaviour occur on school premises, the school may take any of the following actions:
- Ending a meeting if this behaviour is displayed
- Not replying to communications that are offensive, abusive, or derogatory
- Insist that the adult communicates with the school through one member of staff only with a third party witness
- Ban the adult from entering the school grounds
We trust that parents will assist our school with the implementation of this policy, and we thank you for your continuing support of the school. We will always respond to an incident in a proportional way. The final decision for how to respond to breaches of the code of conduct rests with the Headteacher.
