Supervision Policy – Students

Brighton Grammar School has a duty of care to look after the safety and well-being of students attending the School.  Supervision is one of the key elements in excersing this duty of care and preventing injuries to students during the course of School related activities.  Teachers are required to exercise their supervisory duties in such a way that students are, as far as can be reasonably expected, protected from injury.  

Definitions

“Duty of care” is an element of the tort of negligence. In broad terms, the law of negligence provides that if a person suffers injury as the result of the negligence of another, they should be compensated for the loss and damage which arises from the negligent act or omission. Teachers (including the Headmaster and Heads of School) are held to a high standard of care in relation to students. The duty requires teachers to take all reasonable steps to reduce risk, including:

  • provision of suitable and safe premises;
  • provision of an adequate system of supervision;
  • implementation of strategies to prevent bullying; and
  • ensuring that medical assistance is provided to a sick or injured student.

The duty is non-delegable, meaning that it cannot be assigned to another party.  

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to assist the School in providing a safe environment for students at all times throughout the school day.  This policy does not include supervision levels for Camps and Excursions which are enacted in accordance with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) guidelines or for international/interstate excustions are detailed in the School’s International/Interstate Excursion Policy.

 

Policy

The School will arrange for student supervision according to school needs. The Heads of School will ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities to supervise students during school times as well as before and after school. Specific responsibilities will be allocated to staff members to undertake student supervision, as determined by the needs of the School, to protect students from reasonably foreseeable risks of injury including hazards that:

  • are known; and
  • could have been foreseen and prevented. 

 

Supervision Responsibilities Before and After School

 Supervision will be provided as follows:

  • Before school from 8:15am, Monday to Friday; and
  • After School until 3:50pm, Monday to Friday.
  • Supervision will be provided for Senior School boys in the Senior School librabry until 6pm, Monday to Thursday and until 4pm on Fridays.
  • Before and Afterschool Care programs are available for Junior School and Middle School students who arrive / leave the School outside of the supervised times.

The School will ensure that:

  • parents/guardians are regularly informed about supervision available before and after school;
  • sufficient teachers are available to supervise the departure of students at the end of the school day; and
  • teachers supervising departures are not called away for other duties without alternate supervision being arranged.

 

Supervision Responsibilities at Lunchtime and Recess

 Students will be supervised during recess and lunch. The level of supervision will be based on the following factors:

  • the age and maturity of students;
  • the size of the group;
  • the suitability and safety of the premises; and
  • the visibility of students on the premises.

 

Supervision Responsibilities Outside of School Grounds

With the consent of their parents, students in Year 12 are permitted to leave the school grounds at lunchtime and go to Church Street.  A staff member will be rostered to patrol Church Street to supervise the students.  

Supervision of Students Crossing Roads

During the course of school activities, students may be required to cross the road in order to attend a class at another campus within Birghton Grammar School or at Firbank Grammar. Whenever practicable, Junior and Middle School students will be supervised by a staff member when crossing the road and are required to cross at designated crossings (where applicable) under all circumstances. Where a student in the Junior or Middle School is late to class, arrangements will be made to ensure that the student is supervised whilst crossing the road to attend his class. On a regular basis, the School will provide Junior and Middle School students with Road and Pediestrian Safety training.