Behaviour
We believe that children learn best in a disciplined and secure learning environment. Children have the right to learn and teachers have the right to teach without disruption. We have very high standards of pupil conduct and disruptive behaviour is not tolerated at St Michael's. Pupils are encouraged to do their best and hard work is rewarded in departments and at a whole school level via special certificates recognising high effort grades on reports. Praise and encouragement go hand in hand with fair and firm discipline.

Additional Resources
These are avilable to support pupils who, for whatever reasons, are not making the most of their abilities and opportunities. The school can call upon a wide range of skilled agencies to work with these pupils including the Educational Welfare Office (EWO), the School Nurse and the School Psychology Service.

Types of Behaviour
So that pupils can be safe and enjoy their education certain types of behaviour are not acceptable. Smoking and chewing gum are not permitted in school. Pupils may bring mobile phones to school but they must be switched off (not kept on silent) during the school day. Phones will be confiscated if seen by staff. The use or supplying of illegal substances in school, or on the way to or from school will not be tolerated. Pupils found in possession of drugs will be given a long fixed term exclusion; pupils supplying drugs either free or for money will be permanently excluded; there are no mitigating circumstances.

Complaints
Our aim is to make St Michael's a happy, safe and caring place for our pupils so that they can benefit from the best possible education. All our staff, both teaching and non-teaching are dedicated to this aim. If parents do have a concern or a complaint we would ask you to speak to your child's tutor or come to the weekly surgery on Tuesday afternoons from 3.30pm-5pm. If the matter cannot be resolved through these channels you should discuss your concern/complaint with the headteacher.

St Michael's was commended by OFSTED for the level of care and support we give to our pupils. We believe that children achieve most when they feel safe and secure in the learning environment and when they are both supported and challenged.

Welcoming pupils - We have strong links with our feeder schools and work very hard at ensuring that the transition from primary school to secondary school is a smooth and pleasant one for all our new pupils. Many pupils will have visited St Michael's long before their first day at secondary school. In recent years Years 5 and 6 have visited us to participate in activities in Drama, Dance, Music and Music Technology, Art, Information Technology and Science. We know that the children enjoy their visits because they write to tell us about it!

Reciprocal visits also take place by our staff and pupils to primary schools. Our Pupil Manager of Year 7 and their team visits pupils due to transfer to St Michael's and a Sample Day is held for all those who have been admitted in early July. An Induction Programme is run in Year 7 titled 'Keep Cool at Secondary School 6-2-7' in which pupils key concerns are addressed.

The Tutorial System - On entry to the school pupils are placed in tutorial groups with an individual tutor; these groups are seen by their tutor each morning. Pupils normally remain in their tutorial groups for the whole of the five years at the school. Our most talented singers and instrumentalists from Years 8-11 form Glennie tutorial group and take part in many performances in school.

The tutor maintains an overview of the progress of each child across the curriculum and delivers the SPACE programme. He or she is in a unique position to ensure that each child is happy, working to their potential and contributing to the life of the tutorial and the wider life of the school. The tutor is normally the 'named person' in school. Through the daily interactions in the tutorial group and the SPACE programme tutors promote the core values of the school and aim to ensure that pupils live within a Christian framework based on respect for others and personal integrity.

Each tutorial has a 'patron' who is a person, living or dead, who embodies the Christian ethos and a way of life. Many of these patrons who are living maintain contact with their groups by letter or by personal visits.

Tutors are managed by Pupil Managers who have performance as a key focus for their work. The team of year heads is managed by the Assistant Head.

School Council
Pupils are encouraged from Year 7 onwards to contribute to the running of the school via School Council. Each tutorial group elects one person to serve on the School Council for a year. The School Council has two major roles; firstly, it exists to allow the flow of ideas and information between staff and pupils on key issues e.g. uniform, the code of conduct, food and bullying policy. Secondly, it organises the collection and distribution of money and resources to charities. In the last eight years St Michael's have raised over £40,000 for causes such as Derian House, St Catherines Hospice, Tear Fund, Barardos and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Pupil voice is taken very seriously and pupils are given leadership responsibility as sports captains, lead musicians, prefects, head girl and head boy, deputies and librarians. pupils are regularly invited to contribute their views to many aspects of school life, including teaching and learning.