Polegate school selected to lead government behaviour programme

It has been selected as a school with outstanding records on behaviour by the government to lead the Department for Education’s behaviour hubs programme.

The Oakleaf Drive school will work closely with the schools it is supporting to diagnose what could be improved, develop and launch new behaviour approaches and policies and provide ongoing mentoring and support.

An inspector from Ofsted said, “The vision for what pupils can achieve at Polegate is limitless. There is an infectious appetite of high expectations, complemented by the care and consideration shown by the whole school community. This ensures that the experience for every pupil is the very best it can be.”

Headteacher Claire Martin-O’Donoghue said, “We are of course very proud to have been selected and delighted to have the opportunity to widen the impact of our work by being a lead school in the behaviour hubs programme.

“A positive culture of behaviour is all part of life in Polegate and we’re looking forward to working with other schools to support them to develop their own behaviour management approaches to ensure that pupils and staff can flourish.”

Tom Bennett, the Department for Education’s lead behaviour adviser, said, “It’s been a real honour to recruit some of the best schools in the country to offer their support to other schools who want to refocus on behaviour and culture. Every school can, with assistance, be safe, calm places where everyone is treated with dignity, and students and staff can learn and flourish together.”

Jan Meyer, co-chair of governors, said, “We feel so honoured that Polegate Primary School has been selected for this important national project. At Polegate, Ofsted found that ‘by being curious not furious, adults help pupils understand their behaviour and develop self-control’ and we relish cthe opportunity to support other schools by sharing the expectations and routines that make Polegate the ‘calm and supportive’ school that Ofsted observed in their recent visit.

“This has the capacity to make a real and substantial difference to the lives of futures of many thousands of children and families and I cannot wait to see it develop.”