Policies

Disability Statement

Homework Policy and Arrangements

Anti-bullying

SENCO Policy

Special educational needs are identified at the start of Year 7. A director of learning, a support-for-learning curriculum leader, SENCO trained teachers, learning mentors and teaching assistants will provide support and advise teachers of the needs of students with learning difficulties. Extensive learning support resources including software packages are available.

Religious Education

RE is taught as part of our curriculum. Parents may withdraw their child from these studies on written application. The Academy is not affiliated with any religion.   

Anti-bullying

The aim of the anti-bullying policy is to ensure that students learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Only when all issues of bullying are addressed will students be able to fully benefit from the opportunities available at academys.  Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. The three main types of bullying are:  

• physical (hitting, kicking, theft) 

• verbal (name calling, racist remarks) 

• indirect (spreading rumours, excluding someone from social groups)

 
Students who are being bullied may show changes in behaviour, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults. There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, lacking concentration or truanting from the academy. Students must be encouraged to report bullying in academies. Academy's teaching and ancillary staff must be alert to the signs of bullying and act promptly and firmly against it in accordance with academy policy.

Statutory duty of Academies

Headteachers have a legal duty under the Academy Standards and Framework Act 1998 to draw up procedures to prevent bullying among students and to bring these procedures to the attention of staff, parents and students.  

Implementation Academies

The following steps may be taken when dealing with incidents:

• If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the member of staff who has been approached 

• A clear account of the incident will be recorded and given to the Conflict Resolution Manager

• The Conflict Resolution Manager will interview all concerned and will record the incident 

• Personalised Learning Tutors will be kept informed and if it persists the Personalised Learning Tutor will advise the appropriate subject teachers 

• Parents will be kept informed 

• Punitive measures will be used as appropriate and in consultation will all parties concerned

Students

Students who have been bullied will be supported by:

• Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with a Personalised Learning Tutor or member of staff of their choice 

• Reassuring the pupil 

• Offering continuous support 

• Restoring self-esteem and confidence

    Students who have bullied will be helped by:

• Discussing what happened 

• Discovering why the pupil became involved 

• Establishing the wrong doing and need to change 

• Informing parents or guardians to help change the attitude of the pupil

The following disciplinary steps can be taken:

• Official warnings to cease offending 

• Detention 

• Seclusion - external

• Permanent exclusion

 
Within the curriculum the academy will raise the awareness of the nature of bullying through inclusion in PSHE, Personalised Learning Tutorial time, assemblies and subject areas, as appropriate, in an attempt to eradicate such behaviour.

ABAT – The Student Voice

Members of the student voice volunteer to join ABAT, The Anti-Bullying Action Team.  The team work closely with students who are experiencing problems within the Academy.  Promoting anti-bullying through assemblies and publicity materials, the group have initiated an anonymous bully reporting system and operate drop-in sessions every break time in the Academy.  

Monitoring, evaluation and review

The academy will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the academy.  

Safety online

Whilst the internet and associated technologies are an excellent tool and resource to enrich learning there are still dangers related to their use, especially in relation to young students. Some examples of this are:  

• Bullying via chat or email

• Obsessive internet use

• Exposure to inappropriate materials

• Inappropriate or illegal behaviour

• Physical danger of sexual abuse

 
As a academy it is our duty of care alongside that of parents and other members of the community to protect our children from these dangers and this can be achieved by many different mechanisms working together.

To view our e-safety policy click here.

Behaviour for learning

Our behaviour policy is the result of widespread consultation, including major inputs from students, staff, parents and other key stakeholders.
 

High standards of behaviour are central to the Academy's primary objective in aiming for excellence in all aspects of Academy life.
The aim of the behaviour policy is to determine the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, the hierarchy of rewards and sanctions and how they will be fairly and consistently applied.   High standards of behaviour are central to the academy’s primary objective in aiming for excellence in all aspects of the Academy life.

The Behaviour for Learning Policy is designed to support the Academy's Mission, Aims and Values.  

• Driven by excellence and success - We will strive for excellence in all aspects of our work and celebrate our successes. We will continually challenge ourselves to improve on our previous best. We will keep a clear focus on learning achievements and standards as measured by examination and test outcomes.

• One federal family- One team - we will work in partnership to improve the Academy and the whole federal family.

• Everyone matters - we will value individuals and welcome diversity. We will be creative in our approaches to ensuring every young person succeeds at Barnfield West Academy.

• Being inclusive - we will promote access and help everyone understand what we are trying to achieve.

• Developing people - we will support the development of a well motivated and professional workforce through tailored professional development, concern for staff well being and the development of a one staff culture.

• Actively working with partners - We will seek partnerships with others to; improve provision for students in our Academy, to develop a global and enterprise dimension to our work and to improve the Academy and the entire system.

 
The Behaviour for Learning Policy is the result of widespread consultation, including major input from students, staff, parents and other key stakeholders.

Overall the policy will:

i. Foster the ideals of hard work and individual standards of excellence
ii. Promote self discipline, respect for self and others, and a sense of responsibility
iii. Foster a student's independence of thought and actions
iv. Ensure the health and safety of all members of the Academy community
v. Encourage the role of students as ambassadors for the Academy
vi. Enhance a student's trust, dignity and loyalty to the Academy

To view our behaviour for learning policy click here.