School Behaviour Charter

Our children’s chances of success and happiness in life, here and hereafter, depend considerably upon their ability to make responsible choices. To assist in fostering maturity in our pupils, a whole-school approach to discipline has been developed by the partners in our school community – the Board of Management, teachers and parents as well as the pupils themselves.

The policy is based on the principles of consideration ands respect for self, each other, the school and its environment. A central concept is the basic fact that no child has to misbehave. When anyone does misbehave, then he or she is making a positive choice to do so. Children can always choose to ‘behave’. Pupils have to know that good behaviour brings desirable consequences.

The plan has three chief elements:

  1. RULES: Pupils are presented with: a set of classroom rules as well as a set of guidelines for behaviour outside the classroom
  2. REWARDS: In order to encourage pupils to choose to follow these rules and guidelines, a system of rewards is in place
  3. BEHAVIOUR CHECKS: Pupils who choose to break a rule will have automatically chosen one of a list of consequences/sanctions

All partners in the school community including Board of Management, teachers, parents and pupils make a commitment to the school charter.

The Commitments of the Board of Management are to:
  • protect and promote the ethos of the school
  • ensure effective educational management and provision in the school
  • provide a management and support structure which will facilitate the principal and staff in the fulfilment of the school’s aims and objectives
  • ensure that
    • the needs of pupils are identified and responded to
    • school plans are developed, implemented and regularly evaluated
    • he curriculum, assessment and general education provisions within the school are of a high quality and meet the requirements prescribed by the Department of Education and Science
    • management and staff development needs are identified and provided for, within available resources
    • procedures are in place through which parents can receive full information on all aspects of their children’s educational progress
    • the school complies with all the rules and regulations prescribed by the Department of Education and Science
  • be responsible for all staff at the school
  • enforce the school’s behaviour charter
The Commitments of the Teachers are to:
  • ensure pupils' safety and well-being
  • create a positive environment conducive to teaching and learning
  • be fair, courteous and approachable
  • be punctual, well-prepared and organised
  • maintain positive home/school links
  • enforce the school’s behaviour charter
The Commitments of the Parents are to:
  • ensure that their children come to school on time, refreshed, correctly dressed, equipped/prepared for the day and ready to start work
  • inform the school in writing of absences, illnesses, etc.
  • supervise homework and sign homework notebooks nightly
  • enforce the school’s healthy lunch policy
  • support the school authorities and staff who work in the best interests of the children in their care
  • support the school’s behaviour charter