Behaviour management for students and parents

All Northern Territory (NT) government schools follow a code of behaviour.

It sets the standards and expectations of behaviour in schools, what is unacceptable behaviour and the consequences that may follow.

Managing behaviour in school

Every school has a behaviour plan based on the code of behaviour and the National Safe Schools Framework.

This is developed in consultation with parents and the school community. It is targeted at:

• providing the opportunity for all students to learn and teachers to teach
• ensuring the safety of staff and students
• assisting students who show unacceptable behaviour to accept responsibility for themselves and their actions.

For a copy of the code of the behaviour, go to the Department of Education website.

Unacceptable behaviour

Any extreme behaviour that impacts the safety of students and teachers or disrupts learning is not acceptable.

Unacceptable behaviour includes all of the following:

• assault
• verbal abuse
• property offences - including theft or damage
• substance use or possession
• weapons offences
• obscene or offensive acts
• consistent unproductive behaviour that interferes with the wellbeing, safety or educational opportunities of any other student.

Consequences of unacceptable behaviour

Schools have a responsibility to students and staff to provide safe and supportive learning environments, which enable all students to engage in meaningful experiences both in and out of the classroom.

Schools have a range of options available to manage unacceptable behaviour.

Alternative strategies of managing behaviour must be employed before more serious sanctions are issued.

For more information about managing student behaviour, go to the Department of Education website.

Unacceptable behaviour of parents

At times parents and carers engage in unacceptable behaviour such as threats or actual violence.

Such behaviour will not be tolerated.

Schools make every effort to listen to the concerns of parents.  However, if the safety of staff is compromised police involvement may occur.

Police in schools

Schools cooperate fully with police to enable them to undertake their duties.

Should police establish that a student is involved in a criminal offence, they will be responsible for conducting any investigation in line with normal police procedure.

Youth engagement police officers

Some schools have youth engagement police officers (YEPO) working with the school to promote a supportive learning environment and a safer school community.

When police need to make enquiries in relation to criminal activity, where possible the school YEPO will conduct initial enquiries.

For more information about police in schools, go to the Department of Education website.