School-wide Positive Behaviour Supports (SWPBS)

At the beginning of this year, we began implementing a school-wide positive behaviour supports (SWPBS) framework at Ballarat High School. The goal of the SWPBS framework is to develop positive, safe and supportive learning environments to improve the social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for our students. When the SWPBS framework is implemented well, students and staff benefit from:

increased respectful and positive behaviours and relationships
increased time focused on instruction
improved social-emotional wellbeing
increased adoption of evidence-based instructional practices
a predictable learning environment
improved perceptions of safety and increased attendance

So, what does SWPBS look like at Ballarat High School?

There is a lot of positive work happening in the SWPBS space.

Our staff have been engaging in SWPBS professional development during our professional learning days which have centred around promoting positivity and proactive strategies to reduce negative behaviours in the classroom and schoolgrounds.

Staff, students and members of our parent community collaborated in creating our expected behaviours matrix which can be found on our school website and displayed in every classroom and indoor space within the school. Our expected behaviours are linked to our school values of pride, respect and responsibility and serve as a visual reminder of the positive behaviours we expect all members of our community to demonstrate both in and outside of the classroom.

Our expected behaviours are explicitly taught in five-minute mini lessons as part of our Learning and Wellbeing program. Our expected behaviours are taught in-line with our Instructional Model (IMBHS) where students are introduced to a positive behaviour and are then asked to model that behaviour. Our staff then build students’ understanding of our expectations, help students to understand and work towards achieving them and summarise the importance of regularly demonstrating these positive behaviours.

Where is SWPBS heading?

We have a dedicated SWPBS team of ten staff whose purpose is to promote a culture of positive behaviour at Ballarat High School.

Currently, the team are working with staff and student feedback to develop an initiative that recognises, celebrates and rewards positive behaviour at Ballarat High School. A consistent theme from our staff and students has been that positive behaviours need more visible; recognition such as being celebrated through our newsletter, social media and TV screens in corridors so that our school community can see the amazing positives that are happening around them more widely.

We are in the early stages of implementing SWPBS, but we have completed a lot of work in a short space of time thanks to the team.

James Warke, Learning Specialist – School-wide Positive Behaviour Supports

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