Behavioural Code

Vision Statement

To be a leading international institution recognized for empowering learners to become global leaders, innovators, and change-makers.

Mission Statement

To provide a holistic and empowering education that equips students with knowledge, skills, and values needed for global relevance and lifelong success.

Core Values

Excellence – We pursue the highest standards in teaching, foster creative cum innovative learning and character development.
Integrity – We uphold honesty, responsibility, and strong moral principles in all we do and instill same in our students.
Empowerment – We equip learners with confidence, broad opportunities and the ability to take initiative in shaping their future as global Citizens and Leaders.

Aims of this Policy

This policy seeks to lay out clearly and unambiguously the expectations of the school in terms of learner conduct and behaviour. While the policy focuses on positive expectations, the sanctions available for different levels of misdemeanor are also clearly stated, along with the Behaviourial Management procedures to be followed.

In order to promote good behaviour, all teaching and pastoral staff should set high expectations for learners and work consistently to ensure that learners adhere to school behavioural policy. It is the duty of all teaching and pastoral staff to be familiar with this policy and to consistently implement it in all interactions with learners, both within the school premises and on school excursions.

The implementation of this policy requires learners throughout the school to take leading roles in promoting and maintaining good behavior, therefore developing leadership skills across the school.

Spranz International School and Careers College Expectations of Students

In setting and establishing clear expectations, the school seeks to create a positive and cooperative working environment consistent with the School’s Vision. Good behaviour does not consist merely of obeying rules but goes beyond this; exemplary behavior requires learners:

To conduct themselves in a manner which facilitates their own learning and the learning of others.
To be proactive in their planning and preparation for lessons and other activities.
To take an active role in extra-curricular activities and school events.

In keeping with these aims, underlying the school rules is a set of positive expectations which represent what every learner should aspire to do. There are eleven positive targets which each learner at Spranz International School and Careers College should strive to achieve: –

To arrive on time for morning assembly/session, for activities and for prep, and be punctual for every lesson.
To come to school fully equipped for the day ahead and be ready with the necessary materials to begin each lesson promptly.
To be obedient and duly respectful to teachers and school mates.
To be attentive in class, quiet when the teacher or a fellow student is addressing the class and to behave in a manner that allows others to learn.
To give full effort to academic work and ensure that all tasks set are properly completed.
To be polite and courteous to teachers, pastoral staff, fellow learners and all other members of the school community, and sensitive to cultural and religious differences and the feelings of others.
To respect the classroom, hostels, dining hall, decorum rules and school environment and help keep them clean and tidy.
To abide by the rules and procedures of examinations and tests.
To wear the correct school uniform and shoes properly and neatly and abide by the school’s guideline.
To use correct Queen’s English as the language of communication, except during lessons in Modern Languages example, German,French or any other language on the curriculum or during special activities.
To follow the school’s Ethos
This list is not exhaustive but gives each learner a clear idea of what is expected from them. A student who consistently aspires to these targets will demonstrate the positive behaviour expected and is unlikely to find themselves in breach of school rules. A system is in place to award House Points and Badges to students exhibiting positive behaviour.

The Behaviour Management System

A student who behaves in a manner contrary to the expectations stated above has misbehaved and needs to be corrected. However, we can expect that most Behaviour Management issues will be minor ones and can be dealt with by teachers ‘on the spot’, using their own personal approach. Teachers are encouraged to deal with minor problems (Level 1 Infractions) themselves and should feel able to use their discretion, providing the action taken falls within the general guidelines stated and is consistent with this policy.

The handling of Behaviour Management issues is based on the severity of the offence. Infractions are assigned to a level, with recommended sanctions given at each level. Lower-level sanctions will be decided by the Heads of Department, Vice Principal/Deputy Head teacher or the Principal/Head teacher, depending on the nature of the offence, the year group of the student, and the context in which the offence took place.

The sanction chosen for a particular offence will depend on the circumstances of the offence and the previous Behaviour Management record of the learner.

The list of infractions at each level is non-exhaustive. Where an infraction is not specified, the behavioural committee or The Head of School/School Administrator will decide on the level of the infraction.

The Behavioral Committee will meet to hear all cases involving Level 4 or 5 Infractions and may also meet to consider some Level 3 Infractions, at the discretion of the Head of School/School Administrator. The behavioural Committee will normally be chaired by the executive principal and will include all the Heads of Faculty or any other member(s) of staff at the Head of School/School Administrator’s discretion.

The Referral Form

This is a form which should be completed as a record of Infractions of Level 2 or above and placed in the student’s file. The form can only be used by one of the management teams listed below. In cases where a letter is placed on file, the use of the Referral Form is unnecessary.

The Referral Form may be used by any of the following:

Principal/Head teacher

Vice Principal/Deputy Head teacher

Heads of Department

House Parent /Form Teacher

Referral to the Head of School/School Administrator

Students whose behaviour is a concern may be referred to the Head of School/School Administrator. This can be done by any member of staff, though the House parent/Form Teacher should be informed. However, it is important to stress that counselling cases should in no way be seen as part of the Behavior Management process.

Explanation of Decisions

Regardless of the nature of an offence and level of the infraction, when a student is cautioned for a misdemeanour, it is important that he or she is made to clearly understand:

The nature of the concern being addressed.
The rule being broken, including an explanation of why the rule exists.
What the student can do to overcome the problem and avoid future transgressions. It is also imperative to collect reports from the following:
The aggrieved learner
The learner who is reported
Two or three witnesses

Levels of Infraction and Available Sanctions

Level 1 Infractions

Minor problems are treated as Level 1 Infractions and could include: –

Talking inappropriately in class.
Behaviour that interferes with the learning of other students
Wandering around class without permission
Failure to complete class work or homework on time.
Eating in class (except during breaktime and lunch), or bringing drinks other than water to class
Coming late to class
Improper dressing
Coming late to mealtimes or any other scheduled activity
Using unpleasant language or name-calling
Speaking in a disrespectful manner
Pushing other students
Dropping litter
Moving around school outside timetabled hours without a movement slip
Failure to make your bed or tidy your apartment
Any other minor acts of misbehaviour.

The methods teachers/hostel parents might use to deal with such minor problems could include: –

Giving a verbal warning
A 400-word essay
Making the student stand separately from the rest of the class (within the classroom)
Removing a privilege (for Resident Learners)-Tuck, Call time, Swimming
Picking up litter or tidying the classroom/hostel
Making a public apology
Giving an extra task, though it is important that normal academic work is not seen as a sanction and therefore viewed in a negative way.
Washing of dishes in the kitchen
Clearing and cleaning of the dining area
Isolation within the class
Use a Violation Form

When a student misbehaves repeatedly and does not respond to warnings given, the teacher will talk to the student and counsel him or her. If the misbehaviour persists, the infraction will be treated as Level 2.

The sorts of incidents listed above will happen on most days and teachers will use their professional expertise to deal with them.

Level 2 Infractions

These are slightly more serious offences and should be made known to the Head of Department, at whose discretion the offence will be recorded by placing a Referral Form in the file of the student. Level 2 Infractions include: –

Repeated Level 1 Infractions
Graffiti
Copying the work of another student
Disruptive behaviour
Mishandling of school property
Deliberately mishandling the property or books of a fellow student
Rudeness towards fellow students
Minor rudeness or a poor attitude shown towards a member of staff
Use of obscene language
Absenteeism from a lesson or an organized school activity
Failing to adhere to lights out in the hostel
Use of Violation Form

Available sanctions for Level 2 Infractions

Removal of a privilege e.g. Tuck, Call time, Swimming, Excursion, etc
Detention/isolation
Saturday detention for one hour for resident learners
Payment for any damages caused
Menial labor/tasks- community service
Confiscation of unauthorized items
Written apology
Caution letter to parents/call to parents
Washing of dishes in the kitchen
Clearing and cleaning of the dining area

Level 3 Infractions

These are more serious infractions, which will be formally recorded and referred to the School Behaviour Management Committee, which will decide on an appropriate course of action.

Level 3 Infractions include: –

Repeated Level 2 Infractions
Fighting without physical contact
Possession or smuggling of contraband
Verbal assault
Minor cases of bullying
Willful disobedience towards a member of staff
Failure to attend Saturday detention
Willful damage to school property
Award of fiveor more violation slips in a week

Available sanctions for Level 3 Infractions

Referral to the School Behavious Management Committee (at the discretion of the Head of School/School Administrator)
Internal suspension from school for 1-3 days Community service for 1-3 days
Saturday detention for 2-3 hours
Apology letter to be read out publicly
Relief from post as prefect
Removal of privileges
Senior students moved to Junior Hostel for 1-3 days
Caution letter to parents
Washing of junior toilets by senior students
Digging on the school field
Digging on the school farm

Level 4 Infractions

These are serious infractions which will be referred to the Behaviour Management Committee. Parents must be contacted in all cases of Level 4 or 5 Infractions; normally such contact will be made after a Behaviour Management hearing has taken place, unless there are pressing reasons why earlier contact is necessary.

Level 4 Infractions include: –

Repeated Level 3 Infractions
Gambling
Bullying or cyberbullying
Possession of pornographic material
Indecent behaviour
Physical assault or fighting with physical contact
Rudeness or abuse directed towards a member of staff
Vandalism
Stealing
Grossly irresponsible behaviour
Racism
Possession of a mobile phone

Available sanctions for Level 4 Infractions

Referral to School Behaviour Management Committee (in all cases)
Internal suspension from school for 1-5 days
Community service of 1-5 days
External suspension for up to two weeks
Moving to Junior Hostel (senior students only)

Level 5 Infractions

Repeated Level 4 Infractions
Smoking
Examination malpractice
Physical assault of a staff member
Sexual harassment
Homosexuality
Possession of a dangerous weapon
Grossly irresponsible behaviour which endangers the lives of others

Available sanctions for Level 5 Infractions

Referral to the School Behaviour Management Committee (in all cases)
External suspension for more than two weeks
Expulsion
A score of zero for an examination in which malpractice occurred

All recommendations by the Behavior Management Committee for cases involving Level 4 or Level 5 Infractions must be approved by the Head of School/School Administrator before Behavior Management action is taken. The Head of School/Administrator may, at his/her discretion, decide to impose a more or less severe sanction than the one recommended by the Behavior Management Committee.

All letters of caution to parents will be written and signed by the Head of School/School Administrator or Principal/Head teacher.

The rules, lists of infractions and sanctions stated are intended to be used as guidelines. The school management, under the guidance of the Head of School/School Administrator and Principal/Head teacher, reserves the right to exercise discretion in the implementation of the Behaviour Management policy.

Spranz International School and Career College

About Us

At SISCCO, we believe that the essence of education goes beyond academic knowledge and certificates. Education should nurture the holistic development of each learner, bringing out their best capabilities and producing well-rounded, confident individuals.