To support our students, staff and families with transitioning back into the school environment, The Halifax Academy has updated expectations around behaviour and conduct. We ask and expect that students, families and staff support the recommendations and guidance contained within this policy to minimise the risk of illness and to maximise social distancing and hygiene procedures. This agreement contains the minimum statutory requirements required to minimise the transmission of Coronavirus: Updated Behaviour Policy in Response to Covid 19
The above Policy is enforced in conjunction with our usual Behaviour & Exclusions Policy: Behaviour & Exclusions Policy
Punctuality is always of the utmost importance, however it is particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic. Timings of the day and use of student entrances to the school site have been carefully planned in relation to social distancing rules to ensure the safety of our students and staff. If a student arrives late, they will not be allowed to enter the school and will be sent home.
Behaviour
We want all of our students to reach their full potential. To achieve this, we must maintain a harmonious environment where individuals show respect, decency and understanding towards everyone, regardless of their background. We want our students to value their education, to understand behaviour is a choice and to take responsibility for the consequences of their choices, which could damage to their life chances.
We expect nothing less than exemplary behaviour at all times at The Halifax Academy and we expect our students to demonstrate an outstanding attitude to learning inside and outside of the classroom. Our reward system is centred around our five ‘Rs’. These five Rs are: Reasoning, Resilience, Responsibility, Reflection and Respect. These five Rs are the characteristics of successful learners and are at the bedrock of a good character. Each time a student is seen to be demonstrating these characteristics they will be awarded with an achievement point.
We want a successful partnership between home and school that is always focused on the best interests of the student and we want parents to be proud that their children attend the academy. Our excellent pastoral team, who share in creating a calm, safe and effective learning environment, offer high levels of support for students’ emotional and behavioural needs, which includes working with parents where necessary.
Attendance
We take great pride in the excellent attendance rates at The Halifax Academy because we know that good attendance is a significant factor in pupils achieving well. For example, every week in the Primary Phase we celebrate good attendance and punctuality with our Attendance Trophy. In addition to this, individual children are recognised each term for 100% attendance and also for improved attendance or punctuality.
Full and regular school attendance is very important. Our monitoring shows, not surprisingly, that generally those pupils with high rates of absence do not make as much progress as those with low levels. Therefore it is extremely important that parents avoid taking children out of school during term time unless he/she is ill.
Parents are expected to notify the academy of a student absence. In the case of an illness, parents should phone the academy on the first day of absence and then each day thereafter. After the third day of absence medical evidence will need to be provided. The Primary Office can be contacted on 01422 430480 and the Secondary office can be contacted on 01422 301080. If a pupil has had a stomach bug they should not come back into school for 24 hours from the last bout of sickness/diarrhoea. These bugs can spread very quickly to other children and staff. For attendance queries or to report an absence by email, contact: attendance@thehalifaxacademy.org
Punctuality
For our pupils to gain the greatest benefit from their education it is vital that they not only attend school regularly, but are also punctual. Pupils are required to arrive on time, in correct uniform and with the correct equipment, ready to work hard, for every lesson.
Any pupil’s absence or late arrival disrupts teaching routines and may affect the learning of others in the same class; every pupil should have access to the full time education to which they are entitled. Good time keeping is a vital life skill which will help our children as they progress through their school life and out into the wider world.
