Behaviour and Attitudes

At Hera House, we operate a simple behaviour and conduct code, made up of 5 principles. We call it the STARS Code:

S T A R S

Stay safe

Take responsibility

Ask for/Accept help

Respect yourself and others

Support the school community

STARS Code of Conduct

Our STARS principles are our ways to keep our school safe and a friendly environment for everyone. These are some of the ways that you can follow the STARS principles and work together as part of our team.

Keeping away from dangerous situations or behaviour. Keeping yourself at ground level and not climbing on things, apart from proper play equipment. Making good choices to behave safely and not spread germs or behave in a way that might injure you or someone else.

Be able to understand when you might need to repair or rebuild a relationship. Be honest about things when asked. Work out a way to put things right, e.g. tidying up if you made a mess or helping to repair damage you have caused. Be able to talk to staff about how you are feeling.

Asking staff politely if you need help with your work. Accepting help politely if it is offered. Asking for help with your mental health or understanding your own feelings. Reporting to staff if you think someone else needs help.

Use appropriate language towards others and be kind. Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Try to understand other people’s points of view. Respect and accept each other’s differences. Celebrate your own and others’ successes.

Help others around the school. Help to keep the school clean and tidy. Use equipment sensibly and safely. Be respectful of school property. Be a good role model or take an active part in school life.

We believe that children and young people need good relationships and to be able to feel safe in their environment before they will be ready to learn. For many of our young people, we recognise that educational settings have not held positive experiences for them and so we work from a relational point of view first and foremost, building trusting relationships where consequences and boundaries are clear but respect is key and relationships are repaired and restored as soon as possible. We want our young people to feel that it is ok to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them and try to do a little better each day.

The school has high expectations for pupils’ behaviour. Pupils understand the
school’s behaviour code. This consists of five simple rules that pupils typically follow
well. Pupils enjoy receiving rewards for behaving in accordance with the code. They
appreciate that the school’s sanctions are fair and applied consistently.

Ofsted 2025

Having a restorative approach does not mean a lack of boundaries or consequences but those consequences should be proportionate and appropriate and the young person should be supported to understand why their behaviour was unacceptable, the potential or actual impact it had on others and how they can learn new strategies for coping with difficult emotions. We manage each incident separately and try to consider potential causes of the behaviour, working with the students to better understand their behaviour. We promote ‘working with’, not ‘doing to’.

We have a Conduct Team in school, who work with staff to provide training and support and also work with individual students who may need additional help to regulate. The team promotes positive behaviour through modelling, rewards and consequences, and clear expectations.

Over time, the majority of our students show improved behaviour and attitudes to learning and say they feel safe in our school. Where this is not the case, we will work closely with families and everyone involved to try to support the young person as much as possible.

Uniform Policy

Sweatshirt and/or T-shirt, with the school logo on it.

Trousers, knee length skirts, jeans or jogging bottoms. Shorts are acceptable in warm weather but should be an appropriate length and fit. 

Sensible flat shoes or trainers. A second pair of indoor shoes or appropriate slippers is also recommended in case the grass or field is wet or muddy. 

Plain blue or white T-shirt and plain blue shorts.

School logo sweatshirts and T-shirts are available from the school’s approved supplier at a very reasonable cost and a top with the school logo on must be worn in school at all times. 

The school has a strict no hoodies policy, due to potential safety issue and because they are often used as a way of ignoring social interaction or as a barrier to effective communication. Students wearing a hooded sweatshirt or jacket will be asked to remove it.

Trousers, knee length skirts, jeans or jogging bottoms are acceptable for wear but these must be appropriate for the student’s likely/timetabled activities. 

Importantly, students’ clothing should be comfortable but practical. Students may bring soft-soled shoes or slippers to wear inside school. 

The school understands that some students bring their mobile phones and mp3 players to use in the transport. However, for legal safeguarding reasons, these must be switched off and handed in at the main office before morning registration, where they will be kept securely until the end of the day. The school accepts no responsibility for any damage or loss of such items and students must hand them in when asked. 

**Parents/carers, please note: Students who refuse to follow the school’s uniform policy will be offered the opportunity to change into spare uniform on arrival in school. If they do not, you may be asked to bring their uniform into school for them or collect them from school. Students will not be allowed off school premises on trips or activities if they are not wearing the correct uniform.

NB: The school accepts no responsibility for any jewellery items brought into school as these should not be worn for health and safety reasons. Students may wear a watch if they wish but it is their own responsibility and must be removed for PE and other practical activities.