Page 5 - Belinging Schools Teach First

4. Key Areas of Practice:

•Pastoral Support and Relationships: Strong pastoral teams are central to creating inclusive

cultures, providing essential support and building meaningful relationships with students.
Students consistently praised pastoral teams and identified specific staff members they would

turn to for support.

•Early Help, Safeguarding, and Multi-agency Support: Schools proactively engage with external

agencies to provide early help and safeguarding support, recognizing the importance of a

collaborative approach. Riverdale's three-tiered system of support and Saint Joseph's
partnerships with MAPEX and YFF illustrate this.

•Behaviour, Inclusion, and Exclusion: While approaches vary, there's a strong emphasis on

student ownership of behaviour and restorative conversations. Most schools utilize a "3 strike"

model, emphasizing "chance, choice, and consequence." Saint Joseph's Headteacher, while

acknowledging the necessity of consequences, notes their practice is "very inclusive, but always
with the right to do so." There is a continuum of practice regarding exclusion, with some schools

like Shilton Valley actively working to eliminate permanent exclusions.

•Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum: Curriculum is viewed through the lens of social justice and

student entitlement, providing a broad and balanced offer and ensuring access to opportunities.

Greenway's reading program is highlighted as a key way the curriculum responds to student
contexts and enhances opportunities.

•Student Voice, Parents, and Community: Schools actively seek and act upon student voice and

work to engage parents and the wider community. Riverdale's Student Parliament is a strong

example of student-led feedback and influence. Saint Joseph's emphasizes getting parents to

"buy into our vision from the get go" to foster a shared sense of family.
•Staffing and CPD: Strategic staffing, particularly investing in support staff, and ongoing

professional development are crucial for embedding inclusive practices. Four schools are in the

highest 10% nationally for spending on support staff, reflecting their importance in providing

skilled pastoral support. Recruitment prioritizes candidates committed to the school's vision and

ethos.

•Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Schools utilize data and stakeholder feedback to
monitor and refine their inclusive practices, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing learning

and improvement. Greenway's "intentional evaluation practice" for new interventions

exemplifies this.