KGS prioritises promoting positive relationships and behaviour across the school

“Working towards excellence, every lesson, every day” – clear message from new Head Teacher

Promoting positive relationships and behaviour across Kirkwall Grammar School has been identified as a key priority area by staff and the Pupil Council.

The school’s new Head Teacher, Claire Meakin, undertook an extensive consultation exercise with students and staff during the first term to identify the school’s key strengths but also, importantly, priority areas for focus in the coming months and years.

An area staff identified as a key priority was securing positive behaviour and relationships across the school to ensure every pupil experienced 50 minutes of learning, every lesson. This was supported by the views from the Pupil Council who were keen to see low level disruption tackled quickly and appropriately.

Since the October holidays, staff have been looking to ensure that expectations are consistently understood and applied across the school and the school has also increased opportunities to celebrate pupils’ successes.

KGS would welcome feedback from parents with a questionnaire available on the home page of their website.

Miss Meakin said: “Thank you to all members of KGS’s community who have made my introduction to Orkney such a positive one. What has been absolutely clear during my first three months, is that if we work together, excellence is within our grasp. Pupils and staff have asked that our primary focus be on promoting positive relationships and behaviour across our school. We’ve started work on celebrating their successes more, along with ensuring pupils can experience 50 minutes of learning every lesson. We are in the process of gathering the views from our parents and carers so please get in touch and help us to work towards excellence, every lesson, every day.”

KGS teacher, Kim Fletcher, said: “Whole school priorities are a collective responsibility and I know that all of the staff - myself included - welcomed the opportunity to take part in the stakeholder engagement last term, alongside our pupils. Promoting positive behaviour starts with focusing on 'the little things' that detract from 50 minutes of learning every lesson and builds up into something much greater: the opportunity for all pupils to reach their potential and get the most out of their time in school. Since the refreshed focus on behaviour and relationships, we've not only regained those extra few moments each lesson by not needing reminders about classroom expectations, but I've also seen pupils happier and more confident in all aspects of their learning. It's great to feel such a buzz around the school.”

The promotion of positive relationships and behaviour seems to be having a beneficial effect on pupils too.

One said: “I personally think that the new school rules are understanding, and I agree with them. The class rules are very useful and help with students’ behaviour.”

Another added: “I personally think that the new school rules are an effective way of keeping the school from behaving inappropriately. I am happy because it keeps people who think it’s ok to shout out in lessons quiet.”