Our Approach to Behaviour at Cockermouth School
It is our aim that every member of the school community feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well. Cockermouth School is a caring community, whose values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. Our school’s Behaviour Policy is therefore designed to support the way in which all members of the school can live and work together in a supportive way. It aims to promote the overall well-being of students and staff and an environment in which everyone feels happy, safe and secure.
Cockermouth School is fully committed to every child receiving the very best education and to ensuring that all students reach their full potential. In order to achieve this, teachers aim to deliver outstanding lessons and the school rightly has high expectations of its students. We expect all members of the school community to behave well, work hard, achieve high standards appropriate to their learning abilities, show respect for one another and to ensure that Cockermouth School is a positive and safe place to be.
Rewards
At Cockermouth School we have very high expectations of behaviour, and we are keen to acknowledge and reward our students when they meet and even exceed these standards.
We have a system where students receive Achievement Points for doing things especially well. This can be within the classroom or outside. They are awarded for a variety of things including academic achievement, attitude, commitment to studies and extra-curricular commitment and contribution. Parents can track their child’s Achievement Points by using our Class Charts App. Overall, the vast majority of the points awarded (approximately 80%) are in recognition of the positive achievements of our students.
We have introduced awards for Students of the Week and Students of the Month, where we acknowledge students in different year groups for their excellent achievements.
At the end of each term we recognise our students in each year group through a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards based on the number of points that they have received over the term.
Parents are informed that their child has received an award in the following ways:
Bronze Award – text message, Silver Award – email, Gold Award – letter
We have annual celebration events for each year group, where we recognise and celebrate student successes. Awards are given for academic achievement and progress, best demonstrating our school values, impressive contributions through sport and the creative arts, all round excellence and the evening culminates with the awards for our Students of the Year.
Consequences
At Cockermouth School we ask all members of our school community to treat each other with respect and we share with our students clear expectations over the way that they should behave and respond to others.
We are determined to ensure that student behaviour is impeccable, both inside and outside of the classroom, and as a result, students will receive consequences if they fall short of this expectation.
At social times, students will be challenged if their behaviour is deemed to be inappropriate. Initially, they will have some of their social time removed and if this behaviour continues, then the consequence will increase and contact with home will be made.
In lesson time, students will be warned if their behaviour is inappropriate by the class teacher. If their behaviour continues to be a concern, then they will receive a behaviour point and the teacher will speak to them about their behaviour. If this still does not result in an appropriate response, then the student will be placed in an after-school detention. Further poor behaviour will lead to increased consequences.
If students make poor decisions and respond inappropriately, then it is important that consequences are applied consistently.
As parents, we ask that you continue to remind your children about the importance of excellent behaviour. If you are contacted by the school with regard to a consequence for your child's poor behaviour, then your support is both appreciated and invaluable. By working together, we can achieve impeccable behaviour in Cockermouth School, which is of benefit to all members of our school community.
For more information on the school’s Behaviour Policy, please contact:
Mr H Carter, Assistant Headteacher, 01900 898888, carterh@cockermouthschool.org