Lower & Middle School Behaviour Policy

The standards of behaviour at the British School of Houston are consistently high with pupils well motivated respectful, happy and able to achieve. This overview sets out some of the procedures used to promote and reinforce positive behaviour.

In the Lower and Middle School we aim to:

Clarify what is meant by good behaviour
Maximise the impact which the school as an organization can make on good behaviour
To provide a basis for discussion and agreement on issues relating to behaviour
To encourage a positive learning environment
To minimize or prevent the occurance of misbehaviour and confrontations
To offer a framework for social education
To help pupils staff and parents a sense of direction and a feeling of common purpose.
To help pupils feel good about themselves and others
To encourage pupils to cooperate with one another and with staff
To underpin the school ethos with an action policy which sells good behaviour

The Smiley Face/ Lone Star Scheme

The Smiley Faces/Lone Star scheme has several stages:

They are awarded in the main for good citizenship They are collected weekly and the recipient has to say why it was given to them and who it was given by Each week the names of the recipients are read out to the whole of the Lower and Middle School, and those children are recognized and applauded by their peers If a child receives three in a term they are awarded a certificate of recognition If a child receives a certificate each term they are recognized and rewarded at the end of the school year .

Class Merit Scheme

This is usually referred to as marble in a jar and each class has their own merit system that is positive and that recognizes children’s work / effort. This system is easy to administer and understand and is excellent for not only individual recognition but also group reward. Once a marble is earned it stays in the jar, once the jar is full the class can decide on a ‘treat’.

Sanctions and Procedures

It is also important that failure to meet the agreed aims and expectations is dealt with consistently. All teachers and support staff are expected to manage the behaviour of the children that they teach and/or encounter in the school. This may include, for example, redirection through a look or changed voice, isolating disruptive pupils within the classroom, withdrawal of favourite activities. A misdemeanour book, for persistent incidents, is kept by the Head of School. All staff would be expected in consultation with the Head of School and the child’s parent to use a range of strategies to support an individual child’s needs.