A CONTROVERSIAL new system of rewards and discipline introduced at Penistone Grammar School is to be reviewed - though staff insist has led to improved behaviour among pupils.
The Values Driven Expectations system allows students to be issued with merits for good behaviour and to have ‘lines’ withdrawn, which can lead to disciplinary action if it happens repeatedly.
Some parents complained that action was being taken where it was undeserved when the system was introduced, though it was defended by principal Jo Higgins, who said the system helped allow pupils who wanted to work uninterrupted in class to do so.
Now the school has produced statistics which show the number of lines taken for issues with school uniform has dropped from 367 over a two week period to only 68.
Those with lines taken for behaviour have reduced from 1320 to 806 over the same period and those sanctioned over their effort have also reduced, from 210 to 177.
Parents have now been told: “As with any new system however, it is essential that we continue to review its effectiveness, identify areas for development and ensure it is still meeting the purpose for which it was originally intended.
“We are in the process of collecting staff and student views and would like to invite parents to share their reflection of the first half-term with us.
“A session for parents will be held on Monday with all information collected helping us to further develop our Values Driven Expectations approach.”
The system has been observed by Ofsted inspectors who said: “In lessons observed by inspectors and through conversations with pupils, the majority of pupils show that they value the merits that staff regularly award to pupils when they behave well.
“You rightly recognise that getting all staff to be consistent with the new behaviour system is a priority for the school.”
Ofsted recognised the system had been introduced in an attempt to change pupil behaviour, rather than to manage it and said: “Pupils show respect and tolerance for each other, your staff and the building.
“Pupils are very rarely off task in lessons and show motivation to learn, particularly where the level of challenge is high.”
Ofsted’s comments were the result of a short inspection conducted at the school during the half term and they have found it maintains its ranking of ‘good’, with staff praised for their work in analysing why some subjects, such as science, were successful and using their findings to replicate the success in other parts of the curriculum.
