Parental, Guardian, Carer and Visitor Behaviour and Code of Conduct Policy 2026/27

1.Purpose of Policy

The purpose of this code of conduct is to provide the expectations around the conduct of all parents/guardians, carers and visitors to The Sixth Form Bolton

1.1 This policy is intended to:

Clarify the types of behaviour that will not be tolerated and seeks parental/guardians, carers and visitors’ agreement to these expectations.

2 Scope

2.1 The policy is applicable to all students, staff, governing body members, contractors, parents/guardians, carers, applicants and other visitors or users of The Sixth Form Bolton facilities.

3.Definitions

3.1 College – The Sixth Form, Bolton

3.2 ‘parents’ - To refer to anyone with parental responsibility for a student or any person/s caring for a student (such as grandparents, social workers or named NOK)

3.3 Social Media - the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Examples include Facebook, Snap Chat, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts.

3.4 College Premises – Both the inside and the outside perimeter of our building

3.5 Chaperone – an adult supporting a next of kin whilst on College premises

4.Policy

The Sixth Form Bolton is committed to be an outstanding Sixth Form and pursue excellence in everything we do. To help us do this, we set clear expectations and guidelines on professional behaviour for all members of our College. This includes staff (through the staff Code of Conduct), Governors (Governors Code of Conduct) and students (through our Behaviour Policy).

This code of conduct aims to help us work together with parents, guardians, carers and visitors by setting guidelines on the appropriate professional behaviour we expect whilst working with us.

4.1 College working day

Staff are available for contact throughout the normal College working day between the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm; term time only. Outside of these times a response to any emails or phone calls will be delayed until they return to College.

4.2 Meetings with staff at The Sixth Form Bolton

Where a meeting is required between the parent/guardian, carer or visitor with a member of staff at The Sixth Form Bolton these are by prior arrangement only. Any external person arriving for a meeting, without prior arrangement, will be asked to arrange an appointment, by telephone or email, at a mutually convenient time for both. We do not have the capacity or resource to offer a drop-in meeting service regardless of urgency.

4.3 Chaperones and support in meetings

We recognise that in some cases a parent/carer or guardian may wish to be supported in a meeting with our college staff. In such circumstances one chaperone or supporting adult will be permitted to accompany a named next of kin. The role of the chaperone is not to actively participate in the content/activities of the meeting, they are there for the benefit of the parent/carer or guardian only.

4.4 Social Media

The College recognises the benefits of The Sixth Form Bolton, students and parental use of social media however parents who use social media should be aware of the potentially harmful impact of its misuse on our College community. The College will not tolerate parents who attempt to demean or defame either College staff or students online. College will not hesitate to use appropriate legal routes if any parent makes defamatory remarks online directed at the College, its staff or our students.

4.5 Behaviour that will not be tolerated either in person, email or via telephone while on College premises and immediate surroundings:

• Disruptive behaviour which interferes or threatens to interfere with any of The Sixth Form Bolton`s normal operation or activities anywhere on the College premises.

• Any inappropriate behaviour on the Colleges premises.

• Using loud/offensive language (including sexist, racist or homophobic comments) or displaying confrontational actions.

• Threatening in any way, a member of staff, visitor, fellow parent/carer or student.

• Damaging or destroying College property.

• Sending abusive or threatening emails or text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communications (including social media) to anyone within the College community.

• Defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding the College or any of the students/parents/guardians/staff/governors of The Sixth Form Bolton on social media platforms.

• The use of physical, verbal or written aggression towards another adult or student

• Use of physical punishment against your son/daughter

• Approaching someone else’s son/daughter in order to discuss or chastise them because of their actions towards their own son/daughter. (Such an approach to a student may be seen to be an assault on a `child` in our educational setting and may have legal consequences)

• Smoking, taking illegal/banned drugs/substances or the consumption of alcohol whilst on College premises.

• Attending a College event or meeting under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If the College suspects, or becomes aware, that an individual has breached the code of conduct, The Sixth Form Bolton will gather information from those involved and speak to the parent/guardian, carer or visitor about the incident.

Depending on the nature of the incident, the College may then:

• Immediately terminate any interaction with the parent/guardian or carer once a warning has been given of this intended action

• Refer any email/message sent to the senior management team for a review of content

• Send a warning letter to the parent/guardian, carer or visitor

• Invite the individual to College to meet with the assistant principal/deputy principal

• Contact the appropriate authorities (in case of criminal/safeguarding behaviour/concerns)

• Seek advice from the College legal team regarding further action (in case of conduct that may be libellous or slanderous)

• Ban the parent/guardian, carer or visitor from the College site

The College will always respond to an incident in a proportional way. The final decision for how to respond to breaches of the code of conduct rests with the principal.

4.6 As required on our visitor sign-in system, visitors will be expected to and agree to:

• Uphold our core values at all times

• Adhere to the parental/guardians, carers or visitors code of conduct policy

• Challenge and report all instances of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the college community

• Lead by example in demonstrating understanding of, and respect for differences in diversity groups

• Be courteous, respectful and treat without discrimination all members of the college community

• Contribute to the development of a learning environment free from discrimination, victimisation and harassment

5. Review

The content and operation of this policy will be reviewed every year by the Assistant Principal and the Senior Management Team.