Parent & Visitor Conduct Guidelines
Our partnership with families is at the heart of what we do at MacIntyre Academies Quest Academy. We know the value of strong partnership between home and school for a learner’s education. A good working relationship between all the adults involved in a child’s life helps to equip them with the necessary skills for the next stage of education and adulthood.
The purpose of this guidance is to set out expected conduct for all parents/carers and visitors to our academy. Alongside our staff Code of Conduct, this will enable all adults to work together to ensure a safe and positive school environment for all. It describes the expectation for adults to remain calm and consistent - setting an example in how we manage ourselves and how we manage differences of opinion that might occur.
Respect and concern for others and their rights
We expect all parents/carers and visitors to show respect and concern for others by:
- supporting the respectful ethos of our Trust and academy by setting a good example in their own speech and behaviour towards all members of the community
- working together with all staff for the benefit of the learners. This includes approaching the academy to resolve any issues of concern and to discuss and clarify specific events in order to bring about a positive solution
- following our policies, such as the Quest Academy Complaints Policy and allowing time for people to respond to you
- always being respectful in public forums (online or otherwise) of the right to anonymity/confidentiality of our learners
- reinforcing the academy positive behaviour support policy
- respecting the learning environment appropriately (both on and off site)
- parking with consideration and respect for others when delivering and collecting learners from school
In order to support a peaceful and safe school environment the Trust does not tolerate:
- disruptive behaviour which interferes with the operation of a classroom, an office area or any other part of the academy grounds
- the use of loud and/or offensive language or displaying temper
- threatening harm or the use of aggression towards another adult, child or young person. (This includes approaching another child or young person in order to discuss an issue or chastise them on or off academy premises)
- physical punishment against a child or young person on academy premises. (Some actions may be unlawful with legal consequences)
- damaging or destroying academy property
- issuing or partaking in abusive, threatening, malicious or inflammatory emails, phone or social network messages
- smoking and consumption of alcohol or other drugs whilst on our site or accessing the academy site whilst intoxicated
Any of the above behaviours on academy premises, or directed at a member of our community online, will be reported to the appropriate authorities, and the academy Local Advisory Board (LAB) may prohibit an offending adult from entering the academy grounds to safeguard our community.
Social Media
MacIntyre Academies does not tolerate the use of social media to fuel campaigns and complaints against academies, their staff, other parents/learners. This is not in the best interests of the learners or the wider community. Academy staff are not allowed to reach out to parents/carers or children on social media about school issues.
Any concerns about the academy should be made through the appropriate channels as outlined in the Quest Academy Complaints Policy (link to policies) speaking to the Class Teacher, the Principal (or a member of the Academy Senior Leadership Team) or the LAB Chair so they can be dealt with fairly, appropriately, and effectively and escalated through the complaints procedure if required.
In the event that any learner or parent/family member being educated at Quest Academy is found to be posting libellous or defamatory comments online will be reported using the appropriate 'report abuse' section of the network site. All social network sites have clear rules about the content which can be posted on the site, and they provide robust mechanisms to report contact or activity which breaches this. The academy will also expect that any such comments are removed immediately.
In serious cases the Trust will also consider its legal options to deal with any such misuse of social networking and other sites.
Cyber bullying and the use of social media platforms by any member of the academy community to publicly humiliate another adult or child by an inappropriate social network entry will not be tolerated. We will take and deal with this as a serious incident of bullying and reserve the right to refer the matter to the police.
We extend our compassionate approach to parents/ carers and understand that on occasion parental pressures and perspectives may place strain on relationship with the academy. To minimise the negative impact of a breakdown in relationship we encourage parents to make use of our existing support structures and raise any concerns in line with the Academy Complaints Policy.
We trust that all parents/carers and visitors will fully support these guidelines.