Type: Policy
Classification: Operational
Policy Number: SCS2023011
Released: 8 May 2023
Review Date: 8 May 2025
Rescinds/Replaces: TL201607-1.0
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to SCS schools in managing student behaviour of concern. It should be read in conjunction with the Student Management: Suspension, Transfer and Exclusion Procedures (the Procedures).
This policy applies to all SCS staff responsible for student management.
The following principles guide how this policy will operate in practice:
3.1 The safety and wellbeing of SCS students, parents/carers and staff is paramount.
3.2 SCS schools are safe and caring environments in which staff are expected to build and maintain positive relationships with students and parents/carers to effectively manage student behaviour through collaboration and open dialogue.
3.3 Students are required to comply with the rules and expectations about their conduct set by their school.
3.4 Students are treated equitably and in a procedurally fair and just manner. Students are given the opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge the impact of their behaviour on others.
3.5 Suspension, transfer and exclusion are regarded as serious consequences that may be applied to support the safety and wellbeing of all members of the school community, as well as their educational, physical and emotional needs.
3.6 Any decision to suspend, transfer or exclude a student and/or to implement other local school behavioural consequences, is made in accordance with the Policy and Procedures and must be appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances, taking into consideration relevant information available from students, staff, parents/carers, external agencies and where appropriate,Police.
3.7 The student, relevant staff, parents/carers and the Parish Priest are to be consulted in the processes leading to transfer or exclusion, wherever this is appropriate and possible.
3.8 Matters relating to student conduct should be documented in accordance with the Procedures.
4.1 Where serious concerns are identified about a student’s behaviour or conduct putting themselves or others at risk, the school must assess the risks and conduct an inquiry in accordance with the process set out in the Procedures.
4.2 The Principal should alert the SCS Child Safety Team (child.protection@syd.catholic.edu.au) and/or the Student Wellbeing Team (studentwellbeing-contact@syd.catholic.edu.au) to seek support and assistance in assessing risk, determining whether NSW Police need to be notified, and the inquiry process.
5.1 What is suspension?
5.1.1 Suspension is the removal of a student from school activities or the school site for a period of time.
5.1.2 A suspension may be issued as an Internal Suspension or an External Suspension, at the discretion of the school Principal.
- An Internal Suspension is where the student is removed from attending regular lessons and school activities, but is present on the school site. Appropriate supervision and work are provided during this period in a space away from other students. It is used in circumstances where the Principal’s determination is that the student can be safely on site, and/or where the home environment would not be an appropriate place for the suspension.
- An External Suspension occurs off the school site for a temporary period of time. It is designed to allow time for the school, parents/carers and the student involved to work towards a resolution of the behaviour and circumstances that have led to the student’s suspension, and to focus on the development of an appropriate response and process for a return to school. During this time the student is not able to attend the school site or participate in school events or activities.
5.1.3 A suspension allows time for the school to plan and implement appropriate supports to mitigate the risks to health, safety, learning and wellbeing, posed by the student’s behaviour, and to plan for the student’s successful re-engagement with learning and into the school community.
5.2 Suspension considerations
5.2.1 Following an assessment of the behaviour and the risk associated with the behaviour, it may be necessary to suspend a student to allow time for further discussion or inquiry. In determining whether to suspend a student, a Principal must comply with the process outlined in the Procedures. Factors to consider in determining where suspension is appropriate may include:
- any physical violence, where a student, member of staff or other person is injured;
- any threatened violence that is risk assessed as being a credible threat to the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and/or others;
- possession of a prohibited weapon;
- use or possession of banned substances; or, where a substance is reasonably suspected of being an illegal substance. (These matters are referred to the school’s Police Youth Liaison Officer (PYLO);
- acute or extreme behaviour, such as bullying or harassment and/or threats made in person or via electronic means;
- where predetermined behavioural goals have not been met and appropriate student management strategies have already been applied through a student support plan;
- the impact on the student and the broader school community;
- whether the provision of supervision at home is appropriate;
- whether all relevant information from students, staff, parents/carers, external agencies, NSW Police and mental health practitioners, if relevant, has been considered;
- behaviours that meet the definition of violence toward self or others under Part 5A of the Education Act NSW; and
- serious breaches of the school rules that present a risk, as outlined in the Procedures.
5.2.2 This includes behaviours that occur offsite when students are in school uniform, or at a school organised event.
5.2.3 If a decision is made for an external suspension, the Principal must consider the school’s duty of care to the student. Parents/ carers are to be notified and asked to make the necessary arrangements for the student to leave the school site. When no contact can be made with the parents/carers, the student will remain on internal suspension until the end of the school day.
5.3 Approval of suspension
5.3.1 A Principal is delegated to suspend a student for a period of up to and including five school days. This includes internal or external suspension.
5.3.2 On some occasions it may not be possible for a student to safely re-enter the school after 5 days suspension, the process to follow if the situation arises is set out in section 6.2.
5.4 Notification
5.4.1 The school must notify the student’s parents/carers of the suspension. The initial notification may be provided verbally, however this must be followed in a timely manner by a written notification, in accordance with the Procedures.
5.5 Suspension documentation
5.5.1 Documentation concerning suspensions are held at the school. Student behavioural records are treated as confidential and are not released without a valid and lawful basis for doing so, for example, a Chapter 16A request or a Subpoena.
6.1 Student behaviour that may pose harm to self and/or others requires a risk assessment and may require a Risk Management Plan and/or a mental health assessment process to be undertaken as an alternative to suspension or prior to a student returning to school after a period of suspension. This may occur when there are other health issues impacting the student.
There are two models of risk assessment that may apply:
- Risk assessment for situations that come under the definition of risk posed by a student’s violent behaviour according to Part 5A of the Education Act
(1990) NSW. This should be undertaken in accordance with the Procedures in collaboration with the SCS Child Safety Team. - Risk assessments for all other situations should be undertaken in accordance with the Procedures in collaboration with the SCS Student Wellbeing Team as required.
Risk assessments are conducted by school leaders and as outlined above may include support from SCS Central Office staff, incorporating a case management approach.
6.2 Where risks associated with the student’s behaviour/conduct cannot be mitigated for the student to safely return to school after the initial period of suspension, and/or further time is required to understand the issues and develop the risk management plan, the student may be directed to remain at home, as follows:
- For a further 10 school days to allow the Principal to develop strategies in consultation with the Manager: Student Wellbeing and Learning and/or
Manager: Diverse Learning and/or Manager: Child Safety. - For periods beyond 15 school days, approval is required from the Director: Education & Research and relevant Director: System Performance who may
consider convening a complex case meeting in consultation with the Director: Governance and Legal.
6.3 Any student who has been directed to remain at home must be provided with access to education at home via the school’s Compass portal and given remote support by teachers. If appropriate the school may also offer for the school counsellor and/or a member of the Student Wellbeing and Learning team to liaise with the student and/or their treating health practitioners to provide wellbeing support.
The Principal must notify the parents/ carers, in writing, of decisions taken, at every step in the risk assessment process and work collaboratively with the students family to set expectations and ensure the process is focused on the best interests and learning outcomes for the student.
7.1 A re-entry meeting must occur with parents/carers, student and school personnel prior to the student returning to school after any period of suspension or a direction to remain at home while a risk assessment is conducted.
7.2 An appropriate return to school plan must be developed and agreed with the student and their parents/carers in accordance with the Procedures. This plan may include agreed learning and behavioural expectations, support intervention programs, and where appropriate, may require a risk assessment and the development and implementation of a Student Support Plan and Risk Management Plan.
7.3 If the risk identified at the time of the suspension cannot be mitigated, the risk assessment will need to be reviewed in consultation with the SCS Student Wellbeing and Learning or Child Safety Team.
When is transfer appropriate to consider?
8.1 In some circumstances it may be, in the best interests of the student and/or the school community to transfer the student to a different SCS school within the Archdiocese. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to where:
- current school strategies and interventions have been exhausted
- continued enrolment at the school is not in the best interests of the student
- the relationship between the student, parents/ carer and school have broken down
- there is another school within the Archdiocese that could better meet the student’s needs.
Transfer considerations
8.2 When considering whether to recommend the transfer of a student, a Principal must comply with the process outlined in the Procedures.
Considerations will include:
- the safety and wellbeing of the student, other students, staff and community members
- the impact on the student
- the supports available at the next school to meet the students needs
- whether discussions have occurred with the student and their parents/carers including reasons for the transfer and the educational based implications
- whether appropriate consultation has occurred within SCS and all relevant information has been considered.
Transfer approval
8.3 The Director: System Performance and/or Director: Education & Research may recommend to the Executive Director the transfer of a student to another SCS systemic school in accordance with the Procedures.
8.4 The Executive Director will determine whether a student is to be transferred.
Reasons for exclusion
9.1 In rare circumstances it may be appropriate to exclude the student from the SCS system of schools.
Exclusion considerations
9.2 When considering whether to recommend the exclusion of a student a Principal must comply with the process outlined in the Procedures.
Considerations will include:
- the safety and wellbeing of the student, other students, staff and community members
- the impact on the student and the broader school community
- the success, or otherwise, of avenues attempted by SCS to try and resolve the situation
- whether discussions have occurred with the student and their parents/carers including reasons for the exclusion
- whether appropriate consultation has occurred within SCS and all relevant information has been considered.
Exclusion approval
9.3 The Director: System Performance and/or Director: Education & Research may recommend to the Executive Director to exclude a student from Sydney Catholic Schools in accordance with the Procedures.
9.4 The Executive Director will determine whether a student is to be excluded.
If you have any questions about this document or would like further information, please contact the Student Wellbeing and Learning team on studentwellbeing-contact@syd.catholic.edu.au phone number (02) 9568 8485.
• Policy Number: SCS2023011
• Document Rescinds / Replaces: TL201607-1.0
• Date Released: 8 May 2023
• Review Date: 8 May 2025
• Policy Type: Operational
• Audience: Public
• Approved by: Executive Director
• Document Owner: Director, Education & Research