Greenshaw Learning Trust & Brakenhale School Parent / Carer Code of Conduct

Contents

1. Purpose and scope
2. Our expectations of parents and carers
3. Behaviour that will not be tolerated
4. Breaching the code of conduct

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1. Purpose and scope 

At Brakenhale School we believe it’s important to:

• Work in partnership with parents and carers to support their child’s learning
• Create a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for students, staff and parents
• Model appropriate behaviour for our students at all times

This code of conduct aims to help the school work together with parents and carers by setting guidelines on appropriate behaviour.

We set clear expectations and guidelines on behaviour for all members of our community. This includes staff (through the staff code of conduct) and students (through our behaviour policy).
We use the term ‘parents and carers’ to refer to:

• Anyone with parental responsibility for a student.
• Anyone caring for a child (such as grandparents or child-minders).

 

2. Our expectations of parents and carers

We expect parents, carers and other visitors to: 

• Respect the ethos, vision and values of our schools.
• Work together with staff in the best interests of our students.
• Treat all members of the school community with respect – setting a good example with speech and behaviour. 
• Seek a peaceful solution to all issues. 
• 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. 

 

3. Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Insults used as an attempt to demean, embarrass or undermine.
• Threats.
• Raising of voice to an extent or degree that is intimidating.
• Physical intimidation, e.g., invading personal space by standing very close or the use of aggressive hand gestures.
• Use of foul or abusive language.
• Any kind of physical abuse or hostile physical contact.
• Vexatious or malicious allegations (particularly though not exclusively using social media).
• Spitting.
• Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, disablist, negative faith based or faith based hate or otherwise unlawfully discriminatory comments. 
• Breaching the school’s security procedures.
• Covertly recording conversations and/or sharing recordings without consent.
• Persistent and unreasonable email contact to a degree that can be construed as harassment.
• Persistent refusal to follow procedures or accept sanctions such as those imposed as a result of prior unacceptable behaviour.

 

4. Breaching the code of conduct 

If the school suspects, or becomes aware, that a parent or carer has breached the code of conduct, the school will gather information from those involved and speak to the parent about the incident. 

Depending on the nature of the incident, the school may then:

• Send a warning letter to the parent or carer;
• Invite the parent or carer in to school to meet with a senior member of staff or the headteacher;
• Contact the appropriate authorities (in cases of criminal behaviour);
• Seek legal advice regarding further action (in cases of conduct that may be libellous or slanderous);
• Ban the parent or carer from the school site.

The school 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.
 

- Based on the Greenshaw Learning Trust Model