Life at Leigh UTC

Rewards

"A little praise goes a long way." This old adage is particularly applicable to schools. Research has shown that students value teachers' praise. The relationship between teacher and student is crucial in the learning process. If students feel that teachers are interested in them and keen to help them to learn they will respond accordingly. Staff at Leigh UTC encourage students to learn by having high expectations of behaviour and attainment.

Our behaviour system supports our culture at the school where we want all our students to have a sense that they belong to the school and College community and believe in themselves to do great things which will help them become the best that they can be. Our behaviour framework brings the positive and negative elements of behaviour together. We want our students to demonstrate positive behaviours in the classroom and around the school community, using our ‘Habits of Attention’ in the classroom and ‘ Professional Habits’ around the buildings.

All staff will award students with positive points through Bromcom when positive behaviours are demonstrated. In the classroom, positive points will be given when students show the right attitudes, skills and knowledge to support their learning. Equally we want our students to feel proud of our school, so any behaviour which supports the school community such as representing the school in fixtures and doing charitable work or being supportive of staff and other students will also result in positive points being awarded. Whilst gaining many positive points does indicate students are demonstrating positive behaviours to support their progress, we recognise students still like extrinsic rewards which are more tangible. Therefore, students receiving significant numbers of positive points are given the opportunity to trade these for prizes at reception. Celebration assemblies each half term highlight students who have consistently demonstrated positive behaviours. Parents can check if their child is receiving positive points daily by looking online. Once a year we also recognise outstanding students’ achievement and attainment at an annual Awards Evening to which parents are also invited.

Behaviour

At Leigh UTC we want all our students to enjoy school and benefit from their learning. Developing a sense of responsibility and self-discipline are essential if our students are to grow to be responsible citizens. The school values the fact that our parents share the school’s ethos and support the policies that underpin our traditional approach to behaviour management. At Leigh UTC both staff and parents expect students to respect the rules that form our behaviour policy. We strongly believe in a positive learning culture where everyone has the right to feel safe, enjoy their learning, achieve to the best of their ability and be treated with respect. Everyone has a responsibility for their own behaviour, to safeguard the rights of other people and to treat others with dignity and consideration. The school’s philosophy of ‘Success through Learning’ is underpinned by the school’s policies including the behaviour policy which incorporates the code of conduct and the policy on exclusions.

We value:

honesty
tolerance
perseverance
fairness

loyalty
patience
trust
kindness

respect for others, for authority and for property
diligence
politeness

To ensure that high standards of behaviour are engendered in our students and maintained consistently throughout the school, the school expects all students, with parental support, to abide by the behaviour policy, including the sixth form code of conduct. The academy has a positive approach to managing behaviour through its positive behaviour system, where students are expected to take responsibility for their actions and behaviour. Should there be a need to issue a detention then you will be notified via text message, informing of you the date and length of the detention. We give students every opportunity to display correct behaviours and to correct themselves. Students are given 3 warnings in a class before they are removed and detentions will generally begin with a short 20 minute detention before it escalates to a 40 or 60 minute sanction. A full copy of the Behaviour Policy incorporating the code of conduct is available on the school website and hard copies are available from the school on request.

Mobile Phones

Whilst we appreciate that students need mobiles with them if they travel to and from school on public transport or on their own we do not allow them to be visible on site. Once students are at the academy, all mobiles should be turned off and either zipped into a blazer or a bag for the duration of the school day. Our mobile phone policy is ‘On site out of sight’, and this should be adhered to by all students.

Social Media

Whilst we appreciate that social media plays a huge role in young people’ s lives it is also the source of many social issues, both in school and out. Please note that the academy cannot be held responsible if students have access to social media under age and this leads to social issues amongst peers. An image showing the national age restrictions for the various platforms is below:

School Meal Provision

A self-service restaurant is provided at both break and lunchtimes which follows government guidelines for providing healthy eating opportunities. Hot meals such as jacket potatoes and a variety of pasta dishes, as well as sandwiches and rolls are available. There is always a vegetarian choice. The school operates a biometric cashless catering system. Provision is made for students who bring a packed lunch to school. The school encourages parents to provide healthy foods in their child’s packed lunch.

Safeguarding

The school is committed to ensuring our students are safe.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is the responsibility of all members of the school community and everyone has a role to play in this.
Effective safeguarding of children and young people is achieved by putting children at the centre of the system and by every individual working together and with other agencies, where necessary, to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children.
We support our students in identifying symptoms and triggers of abuse and neglect, to share that information and to work together with other agencies to provide children and young people with the help they need.

We will:

Be alert to the needs of children and families and to take any welfare or safeguarding concern seriously, sharing appropriate information in a timely way;
ensure robust procedures for recognition and referral where there are safeguarding or child protection concerns;
deal swiftly and in a professional manner with all safeguarding concerns, minimising the impact on innocent persons;
provide staff and volunteers with guidance on safeguarding and child protection, including training to identify abuse and neglect and procedures on how to share information which they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm;
provide a safe, healthy learning environment that allows children and young people to develop their full potential;
safeguard students’ welfare, particularly those children and young people who are most disadvantaged;
provide children and young people with opportunities to discuss issues and report problems affecting their safety and welfare;
ensure safe recruitment practices are adhered to;
monitor and support children and young people who are identified as children in need or those subject to child protection plans and contribute to the implementation of their plan;
promote partnership working with parents;
promote collaborative working with other practitioners and professionals, adhering to local arrangements for effective safeguarding. A full copy of Leigh UTC’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policy and linked policies are available on the school website.

Should a child feel unsafe at any time during the academy day they should seek a member of staff or email our safeguarding account at: STOP@theleighutc.org.uk

This email address is monitored constantly throughout the academy day.

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