At Aylward, we know that great behaviour is something we teach; it doesn’t happen automatically. As Tom Bennett, an expert in school behaviour, says: “The duty of adults is to explicitly teach children how to behave… It is a curriculum: the conduct curriculum.” Students need to be guided and supported every day to develop the values of Excellence, Integrity, Kindness, and Self-Control that help them thrive.

At Aylward we are a team where the staff share responsibility for shaping the student culture through the Aylward Way, which is built around our core values: Excellence, Integrity, Kindness, and Self-Control. These values guide us to always work on being the best we can be and reflect, and focus on what makes the difference. We do the right thing even when no one is looking. We show care through our standards, actions and words, thinking carefully about how our actions affect those around us.

We have high expectations — 100%, 100% of the time — because, as Tom Bennett reminds us, “If a teacher chooses not to teach norms in the classroom, norms will still exist — only they won’t necessarily be ideal ones.” That’s why we design clear routines and simple systems to help students understand what is expected and feel a strong sense of belonging through the Aylward Way.

We use public praise to highlight and encourage the positive behaviours we want to see, while corrections are given privately and kindly. Correction is important because it helps students learn from their mistakes and develop strong character, guided by our values of Excellence, Integrity, Kindness, and Self-Control. 

At Aylward, we are all one team, with staff leading the way to create an environment that fosters a love of learning and every student is supported to become a confident learner and a positive member of our community — preparing every student to lead a long, happy, and successful life that leaves a positive legacy.

Please click the link below for our full Behaviour for Learning policy and further information on our other related policies.