School Policies

Our school policies underpin everything we do. We are a high performing specialist college with high expectations of our pupils. Consequently, we expect our students to acknowledge that Rossett has certain minimum standards and that they need to work and behave accordingly.

Please see below statements regarding the following policies: Collective Worship, Religious Education, Safeguarding and Sex & Relationships Education.

Collective Worship

Rossett School believes that collective worship both supports and strengthens what we aim to do in every aspect of school life. Our caring ethos, and the value which we place on the development of the whole child; spiritually, morally, socially, culturally and intellectually is reflected in our assemblies. We value this special time in the school week for the space it gives children to develop a reflective approach to life and the ability to express their reflections in an appropriate manner.

Through our assemblies (year group and whole school) we aim to provide a caring and supportive environment for children to:

• Become increasingly aware of themselves as individuals and groups within the school and wider community
• Grow in understanding of the feelings of the other people in every day situations and beliefs
• Explore the language which people use to express their feelings
• Deepen their sense of wonder about the world around them
• Grow in confidence when making a presentation to the group or whole school
• Respond freely to religious and/or spiritual stimulus
• Acknowledge diversity and affirm each person’s life stance, whether it be religious or not

Parents of a pupil have a right to withdraw their children from collective worship. If a parent asks for their child to be wholly or partly excused from attending collective worship at the school Rossett school will comply unless the request is withdrawn. Any parent who wishes to exercise this right should consult the headteacher through the appropriate Achievement Co-ordinator.

The Education and Inspection Act 2006 makes provision for pupils in post-16 education to exercise the right to withdraw themselves from the daily act of collective worship, but not from assembly.

The full policy is available on request.

Religious Education

Religious Education (RE) is not a National Curriculum subject, but is taught as part of the Basic Curriculum. At Rossett School we follow the NYCC Agreed Syllabus of Religious Education.

Parents have a right to withdraw their children from RE. If a parent asks for their child to be wholly or partly excused from attending any RE we will comply unless the request is withdrawn. Any parent who wishes this should consult the Headteacher through the Achievement Co-ordinator.

The full policy is available on request.

Safeguarding

Rossett School fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding children. Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school.

There are five main elements to our policy:

• Ensuring we practice safer recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children;
• Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe;
• Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse;
• Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan;
• Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

The full safeguarding (child protection) policy is available here.

Sex & Relationships Education

The governing body has agreed the content and organisation of Sex & Relationships Education (SRE). This is largely through a series of off timetable days together with planned lessons through Personal Development time in each year group.

The full programme is available on request.

Please note that from September 2011 parents will not have the right to withdraw their child from SRE once they have reached the age of 15.

Positive Handling Policy Statement

In dealing with incidents we try to ensure care and protection for everyone within our school community. From past experience we know that restraint will be needed on very rare occasions and we endeavour to handle such situations with care and responsibility.

Staff are authorised to use reasonable physical restraint when a student is:

• committing an offence;
• causing personal injury to, or damage to the property of, any person (including the student him/herself); or
• engaging in any behaviour prejudicial to the maintenance of good order and discipline at the school or amongst its students, whether during a teaching session or otherwise.

All incidents will be recorded giving the strategies employed and the outcome. Parents/guardians will be contacted as soon as possible and the incident explained.