Behaviour Policy

Version: 1

Date: April 2026

Contents

• 1. Preamble: Meekness and Humility
• 2. Aims
• 3. Behavioural Expectations
• 3.1 Punctuality and Attendance
• 3.2 Appearance and Uniform
• 3.3 Conduct and Respect
• 3.4 Academic Work and Homework
• 3.5 Use of Technological Devices
• 3.6 Care for Property and Environment
• 4. Behaviour Management and Reporting System
• 4.1 Dealing with negative behaviour
• 4.2 Rewarding Positive Behaviour
• 5. Communication with Parents
• 6. Review and Monitoring

1. Preamble: Meekness and Humility

At Saint Michael School, discipline flows from love, meekness, and humility.

Our approach to behaviour is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and inspired by the spirituality of Saint George Preca and the Society of Christian Doctrine (M.U.S.E.U.M.)

We believe every student is a child of God, deserving of respect and dignity.

Discipline is not punishment; it is formation. It helps our students grow in wisdom, responsibility, and self-control, preparing them to be active and compassionate members of society.

2. Aims

This policy aims to:

• Nurture a safe, caring, and orderly learning environment.
• Foster personal responsibility, self-discipline, and respect.
• Promote Gospel values of forgiveness, kindness, and reconciliation.
• Support students in developing moral judgement and empathy.
• Ensure fairness and consistency through a transparent system of reporting, rewards, and consequences.

The policy applies to all members of the school community and covers conduct both within and outside the school premises whenever a student represents Saint Michael School.

3. Behavioural Expectations

Behavioural expectations reflect both our ethos and our commitment to academic excellence and community wellbeing. The following guidelines are to be followed to ensure a safe and productive environment.

3.1 Punctuality and Attendance

• School attendance is obligatory as per the school calendar. Students are expected to attend on all school days, including days during which non-academic activities are held. Such activities are compulsory.
• As soon as the student arrives at school, he should enter the school premises immediately and punch in using the SMID card at the appropriate kiosks situated at the school entrance.
• All students are expected to be present for the school assembly, which starts at 7.50 a.m. Lessons start at 8.00 a.m.
• Students are expected to be in class at the beginning of each lesson and no later than three minutes after the bell rings, as per timetable. Attendance will be taken at the start of each lesson. Students entering the classroom after five minutes will be marked late and reported for negative behaviour unless written justification for their late entrance is presented to the teacher.
• Before the commencement of the school day, students are to remain always in the designated supervised areas. Other areas of the school are not to be accessed unless instructed otherwise.

3.2 Appearance and Uniform

Students are to wear the school uniform on all school days. The school uniform consists of:

• White long-sleeved or short-sleeved polo shirt bearing the school logo
• Light brown trousers or shorts
• Dark blue zip-up jacket bearing the school logo
• Dark blue raincoat bearing the school logo
• Light brown/ white socks
• White sneakers

On days when students have P.E. lessons, they are expected to wear the school tracksuit, which consists of:

• Dark blue jogging pants with a yellow stripe
• Coloured T-shirt bearing the school and house logos (the colour refers to the house the student belongs to: Feniċi: blue; Normanni: green; Kavallieri: black; Rumani: red)
• Light blue tracksuit zip-up jacket bearing the school logo
• Sneakers and socks of neutral colours (black, blue, or white)

During school outings, students are required to follow teachers’ instructions regarding attire. When students are required to wear their P.E. kit, they must wear the grey P.E. T-shirt and not the coloured T-shirt.

Hair and facial hair should be kept clean and tidy. Hair dye, hair designs, or eyebrow slits are strictly prohibited.

For safety reasons, jewellery of any kind, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, is not permitted, except for medical necklaces or bracelets. Watches, including smartwatches, may not be worn during tests or examinations.

Any student who does not abide by these regulations will be reported, may be restricted from attending lessons or activities and could be told to remain at home for a determined period of time.

3.3 Conduct and Respect

Our school promotes and fosters positive conduct and respect among all members of the community and towards the school premises. To ensure that such values are upheld, students are expected to:

• Treat all members of staff (SLT, teachers, LSEs, school secretaries, cleaners) with due respect by addressing them appropriately, using “Sir” or “Ms”, followed by the first name or surname as preferred by the person being addressed.
• Communicate with staff through appropriate channels. Students shall use Teams, while parents/guardians shall use email or telephone communication.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with regards to their relationship with members of staff and with peers.
• Treat all students equally, including students with disabilities or special needs. The school has a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying of any kind. Reference should be made to the Anti-Bullying Policy for further information.
• Maintain an environment of friendliness and positivity. Name-calling and fighting are not permitted. Conflicts should be resolved peacefully with the support of members of staff.
• Refrain from swearing or using foul language.
• Use the appropriate staircases and passageways when moving around the school. The main school ramp should only be used to access lower floors, while staircases at both ends of the corridors should be used to access upper floors. The main school ramp may only be used to access upper floors immediately after the assembly and break periods. Running and shouting in corridors and passageways is not allowed.

The following items are strictly prohibited on school premises:

• Alcohol, energy drinks or soft drinks. Parents are reminded that school lunches should be in accordance with the National Food and Nutrition Policy.
• Tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes/vapes
• Cigarette lighters
• Drugs of any kind (except for medicines)
• Knives or sharp objects, or objects that may cause body harm
• Firearms of any kind (including imitations)

Members of the SLT reserve the right to perform bag searchers at their own discretion.

3.4 Academic Work and Homework

The academic aspect of school life is one of the essential pillars of the school community. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every student to carry out the academic work assigned to him in a diligent and timely manner. This includes work assigned and completed during lessons, as well as work assigned to be completed at home.

Every student is expected to:

• Keep track of assigned work by recording it in the school diary and accessing Teams and MySchool regularly especially when the student is absent from class.
• Do his utmost to produce work of the required standard and to the best of his abilities.
• Submit assigned work by the due date.
• Strive to improve when feedback on submitted work is provided.
• Make the best use of time. During replacement lessons, students must engage in academic work, such as homework, reading or working on assigned projects as instructed by the teacher.

Students who achieve adequate results in their academic work shall be rewarded with positive reports and the celebration of their success.

Students who do not demonstrate sufficient effort (such as submitting work of poor quality or missing deadlines) will be reported to the school administration. If necessary, appropriate support will be provided in liaison with parents/guardians, class mentors, guidance teachers, and external professionals should the situation escalate.

3.5 Use of Technological Devices

While recognising the importance and usefulness of technology in the learning process, inappropriate use of technological devices can hinder both the educational process and community life. Therefore:

• The use of mobile devices is strictly prohibited during school hours. Students who need to bring a mobile device to school due to exceptional circumstances, must switch it off and place it in a designated place. Parents/guardians are to ask for the permission of the respective Deputy Headmaster at least one day in advance. Students who bring their mobile phone without the permission of the Deputy Head will have their device confiscated and will be given back only to the student’s guardian/s.
• Laptops provided by the school must be used responsibly. Guidelines for their use are outlined in the Laptop User Policy.

3.6 Care for Property and Environment

Caring for the school environment is a shared responsibility. Each year, the school invests in refurbishment and embellishment to ensure that the environment remains welcoming and conducive to learning. Students are not permitted to enter the classroom without supervision, unless specifically instructed to do so by a member of the SLT.

Students are expected to:

• Use school property responsibly. Tables and chairs should be kept clean and orderly.
• Refrain from consuming food or drinks in laboratories. Consumption of food is not permitted in the classroom unless permission is given by the teacher in exceptional circumstances.
• Dispose of waste in the appropriate bins.
• Keep toilets clean at all times out of respect for the school community.
• Use smartboards, projectors, and monitors only when instructed by educators.
• Use sports equipment responsibly and return it to its designated storage areas.

Any damage to school property must be reported immediately. Students are required to pay for damages caused intentionally or through carelessness.

Students are responsible for their personal belongings. Lockers are provided to store unnecessary items during the school day, and it is strongly recommended that valuable items are not brought to school.

4. Behaviour Management and Reporting System

The aims of this behaviour management system are to ensure consistency, transparency, and fairness. Reports are intended to inform, support, praise, and celebrate students’ behaviour, not merely to punish. Both positive and negative behaviour is therefore logged in the reporting system.

The following guidelines apply:

• Every incident or achievement is to be logged within three school days.
• Reports are entered through the school’s online reporting system using standardised categories and point values.
• Staff members are reminded to refrain from exercising preferential treatment and are encouraged to collaborate to ensure consistency.
• Parents are automatically notified when a positive or negative report is logged.
• Class mentors follow up with students, offering guidance and pastoral support.

4.1 Dealing with negative behaviour

• Negative reports correspond to infringements of the regulations outlined in this policy.
• Upon the first offence, a verbal warning is issued, inviting the student to reflect on his actions and their consequences.
• Repeated incidents are logged in the reporting system. A specific number of behaviour points will be deducted per reported incident. Accumulated reports are reviewed regularly by class mentors and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
• When a student reaches five (5) negative reports, the SLT assesses the students’ behaviour and attitude and one or more of these consequences may be considered:
  • The student is required to remain at school for one hour after school hours. This is repeated for every additional five (5) negative reports.
  • Consideration may be given to temporary suspension from out-of-class activities (live-ins, outings, school representation in sports or national activities).
  • Class mentors engage directly with the student to assess support needs and may refer the case to the respective Deputy Head. Where necessary, external support services may be engaged through the psychosocial team.
• If interventions fail to produce improvement and offences persist, an ad hoc disciplinary board is convened. This board consists of one member of the Board of Directors, the Headmaster, the Deputy Headmaster responsible for the year group, and the class mentor. The board may decide to suspend or exclude the student from the school.
• Members of the SLT may be contacted at any stage if immediate attention is required.
• The SLT must be informed immediately in cases involving:
  • Physical or verbal aggression
  • Bullying, including cyberbullying
  • Safeguarding concerns
  • Theft or vandalism
  • Persistent defiance
  • Possession or use of prohibited items or substances
  • Breaches of data protection
  • Serious disrespect towards authority
• Students may also be required to attend intervention programmes prepared by the school’s professionals. These programmes aim to help students reflect on their actions and work towards agreed goals within a set timeframe.

4.2 Rewarding Positive Behaviour

Positive points may be awarded for:

• Acts of kindness and service
• Respect towards staff and peers
• Leadership and initiative
• Academic effort and improvement
• Consistent positive behaviour
• Any other reason deemed appropriate by members of staff

Positive behaviour and achievements are logged in the reporting system. When appropriate, the SLT is informed so that students’ efforts are duly recognised.

Positive reports accumulate across school terms and are recognised as follows:

• Bronze Behaviour Certificate
• Silver Behaviour Certificate
• Gold Behaviour Certificate
• Platinum Behaviour Certificate

At the end of each term students with the highest amount of positive points will be given recognition.

At the end of the academic year, students with the lowest amount of negative points are invited to participate in a special activity organised by year group.

5. Communication with Parents

Parents are an integral part of the school community and play an essential role in the implementation of this policy.

Parents are expected to read this policy carefully and ensure that they understand all its implications. They are also encouraged to discuss it with their sons to ensure awareness of expectations and regulations.

Parents receive automatic email notifications for each positive and negative report. In cases of serious or repeated infringements, parents may be required to meet with members of the SLT to determine the best course of action.

6. Review and Monitoring

This policy is reviewed annually by the SLT in consultation with staff and student representatives.

Behaviour data, including reports, rewards, and suspensions, is analysed each term to identify trends and inform interventions.

Ongoing professional development supports staff in restorative and pastoral approaches to behaviour.