School Wide Positive Behaviours
School Wide Positive Behaviours (SWPB)
On Monday our staff met with parents and students to discuss our plans for implementing a school wide positive behaviours framework next year.
What is SWPB?
An evidence-based framework that brings together school communities to develop positive, safe, supportive learning cultures.
Why do we need it?
After a COVID interrupted two years, schools across Victoria are finding that behaviours have escalated and the importance of having clearly defined expectations of positive learning behaviour is more important than ever. As Tom Bennett, a leading voice in education, argues ‘Behaviour is a curriculum’ that teachers need to explicitly teach. ‘If students aren’t behaving, they aren’t learning’ and to achieve calm and productive classrooms, we need to ensure we all have a clear set of expectations. Furthermore, Bennet asserts that teachers need to be consistent in not only explicitly teaching positive behaviour but following through in acknowledging when positive behaviours are demonstrated and following through with clear and agreed consequences when they aren’t.
If SWPB is implemented well, what will our school look like?
- Increased respectful and positive behaviour
- Increased time focused on instruction
- Improved social-emotional wellbeing
- Positive and respectful relationships among students and staff
- Increased adoption of evidence-based instructional practices
How are we going to implement a SWPB framework at Wantirna College?
- Establish a predictable learning environment with improved perceptions of safety and increased attendance.
- Establish a common philosophy, purpose and language to discuss behaviour
- Ensure we have leadership and school-wide support: School leaders and teachers publicly endorse and support SWPBS.
- Establish a clearly defined a set of expected behaviours that all students, parents and teachers know, and they are visible around the school
- Establish clear and agreed procedures for teaching and practising expected behaviour
School Wide Positive Behaviour Matrix
Carrie Wallis
Assistant Principal