PBL, or 'Positive Behaviour for Learning', is a NSW Department of Education behaviour and engagement framework, that brings together our whole-school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture.

The framework assists our school to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for our students by creating an environment that increases the likelihood that they will succeed. When PBL is implemented well, our teachers and students have more time to focus on teaching & learning, relationships and classroom instruction.

Here at RAC, Richmond High School, our three core values that underpin our PBL framework are being SAFE, being RESPECTFUL and being a LEARNER, and whilst all are of equal importance, we recognise that they are probably set out in order of priority.

An important part of our PBL framework is RECOGNISING students who consistently meet our learning and behaviour expectations. We collect data daily on students who are meeting our expectations, with teachers recording POSITIVE ENTRIES in our Sentral system for both learning and behaviour. Obviously, we also collect data on students who are NOT meeting our expectations and those students are followed up according to our school’s welfare and discipline policy.

Fortunately, 80-85% of our students consistently meet our expectations and they find themselves in monthly assembly draws for canteen and gift vouchers. This offers the students some EXTRINSIC motivation to “do the right thing” with the ultimate goal being that our students will be motivated by INTRINSIC motivation – a willingness to do the right thing just because it’s “the right thing to do”.

We also reward those students who are consistently achieving a ‘5’ for effort on their school reports each semester with Principal’s Awards and special morning teas with the school’s senior executive for students who receive ALL 5’s for effort.

Over the years we have developed various themes for our PBL framework. These themes have been supported by audio visual stimulus, promotional materials and competitions to embed the theme into our school culture. Currently we have a R.O.A.D to Success theme, where we are consistently encouraging our students to get on the ROAD TO SUCCESS by meeting our learning and behaviour expectations. We understand that each student’s journey on the road to success will look a little different (or a lot different) to one another, as everybody’s story is different – different abilities, different interests, different environments, different experiences and different challenges. Its what makes life interesting, but we believe that if you are being a safe respectful learner, and most importantly doing your very best, and putting your heart and soul into all you do, you are on the road to success.

Part of that journey is learning or improving in the 4 parts of our ROAD acronym, which is – being RESPONSIBLE & ORGANISED – APPLYING yourself and being DETERMINED. We deliver our PBL message, and teach our students about our expectations, using a range of means including assembly presentations, PBL mini lessons, video presentations, visual images and ongoing dialogue between our teachers and students in their classrooms.