Greatfield Park Primary is a one form primary school in Cheltenham. It serves a fairly average demographic in terms of deprivation, and has slightly higher than average SEND, below average Pupil Premium and close to average English as an Additional Language. 

 

Prior to September 2021, staff concede that behaviour was ‘okay, but not great’. Whilst relationships were generally positive, children were not always respectful and expectations were inconsistent. The Behaviour Policy had been inherited from previous leadership. ‘Positive’ and ‘Consequence’ behaviour charts were up in each classroom, often with a much larger list of poor behaviour and a long list of corresponding consequences, C1, C2, C3 etc. than the list of positive behaviour. Children often discussed their consequences, e.g. ‘I’ve got a C1’, but they weren’t heard discussing their positives. Some staff lacked the confidence to give difficult messages to parents and sometimes parents were unaware of the behaviour that their child was demonstrating in school.

 

The status quo was simply not working. Staff were sometimes implementing consequences, but the children weren’t learning anything from them, and approaches were inconsistent. Behaviour was deteriorating post-Covid, which was a turbulent time for the school in general, with leadership difficulties and low staff morale to the extent that staff went on strike, and change was needed.

 

A member of the leadership team had read ‘When The Adults Change, Everything Changes’ and re-wrote the school’s behaviour policy based on it. Whilst some of the leadership team were inspired, staff buy-in was patchy, as time for training wasn’t sufficient and the foundations for success were not adequately laid. With a newly established leadership team things were in rapid flux and much of the focus had been on improving the curriculum. So, despite some steps in the right direction behaviour didn’t improve. In October 2023, Ofsted identified that “The school has established comprehensive behaviour policies. However, these policies are not implemented effectively enough”. That was a call to action for Greatfield Park. They knew that it was time to implement the policy consistently.

 

Staff meetings were planned to ensure that all staff understood the policy and procedures. These were not always easy however, and there was not always ‘belief’ that things would be successful. Older children, who had been at school during the previous regime, as well as during Covid, needed additional support to understand the new rules and expectations. The leadership team worked on developing visual consistencies, developed ‘The Greatfield Park Way’ and defined together what this would look like. The leadership team also emblazoned the ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’ rules all around the school and turned the policy document into a ‘child friendly’ poster so that the messaging could be understood by pupils. Gilbert the Greatfield Gibbon was born at this point- he helps the children to be ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’. 

 

Attitudes started to shift! Children wanted to be on the newly created ‘Recognition Boards’. Hot Chocolate Friday was also launched, for exemplary behaviour. This soon became highly motivational for many children! Parents were invited in to hear about changes, newly refined routines were defined and became relentless. Staff visited each other as peers. Children are taught the expectations and staff wear lanyards with key aspects of the policy on- these are referred to throughout the day, in every assembly and within every conversation around behaviour. They also have key scripts for consistency on them and a simple script for restorative conversations. 

 

All staff attended WTAC training in April 2024. This was a key point in the journey. It was inspiring for everyone and the school felt incredibly proud to identify with such a lot of what was being said as they had worked so hard before attending the session. By Autumn 2024, they could see a real impact being made. This was rounded off with a wonderful Positive Noticing Day in November 2024 and a newly appointed Play Leader adding something special to lunchtime play. 

 

In January 2025, Ofsted returned and ‘behaviour and attitudes’ were judged as ‘good’. Whilst the improvements were done for the pupils and not for the benefit of Ofsted, it was very validating for Greatfield Park to have their hard work recognised. There are some lovely quotes from the report: 

 

• “Pupils are a credit to the school. They are friendly and polite. Pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to their learning. Pupils proudly demonstrate the ‘Greatfield Park Way’ such as ‘smart sitting’ and ‘marvellous manners.’ “

 

• “Staff develop positive relationships with pupils. Pupils respect staff and trust them to take care of them. Pupils say there is always an adult to talk to in school if they have any worries.”

 

• “Leaders and staff support pupils’ behaviour and attitudes well. As a result, pupils listen carefully and eagerly tackle learning activities. Pupils enjoy rewards for their achievements, such as ‘hot chocolate Fridays.’ Pupils who find it hard to manage their emotions are provided with targeted support. This enables them to talk about their feelings and regulate their emotions more appropriately.”

 

Behaviour continues to be a work in progress at Greatfield Park. Needs of children change, new children and staff join the school and Greatfield Park continues to strive forwards. They are in a great place with where behaviour is across the school now and will continue to be relentless and consistent, so that children can make the most of what the school offers. We are thrilled that Greatfield Park are now a WTAC Partner School and a delighted to carry on supporting them on their journey.