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Statement of behaviour principles: model and examples

Some schools are required to have a statement written by governors alongside their behaviour policy. See our template and examples from schools to help you figure out what this statement should look like.

Last reviewed on 29 August 2023
Ref: 41713
Statutory/mandatory for:
Maintained schools
Pupil referral units
Non-maintained special schools
Contents
  1. Model policy from The Key
  2. Requirements
  3. What the statement should cover
  4. Examples from schools
The Department for Education (DfE) withdrew its guidance on Statutory Policies for Schools and Academy Trusts on 7 March 2024.

Details of statutory policies have now been incorporated into the new governance guides for maintained schools and academies. Take a look at our summary of the new governance guides.

We’ve reached out to the DfE to clarify some of the detail on the statutory policy list in the new guides, and we will update our related articles with any updates in due course. Select ‘save for later’ at the top of this page to be notified when this article has been updated.

Model policy from The Key

We have created a model behaviour policy, which includes a statement of behaviour principles in appendix 1.

Approved by Forbes Solicitors, this model policy is designed for you to adapt to suit your school’s context.

Model policy: behaviour (schools)

For more model policies and complete policy support from The Key, go to Policy Expert. 

Requirements

A statement of behaviour principles written by governors is required by all:

  • Maintained schools
  • Pupil referral units (PRUs)
  • Non-maintained special schools

Academies and free schools aren't required to have a statement of behaviour principles, but it's recommended that they do (see the section on behaviour).

 The principles must:

  • Guide the headteacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour and discipline amongst pupils
  • Be consulted upon with the headteacher, school staff, parents and pupils
  • Be published on your website

This is set out in behaviour and discipline in schools: guide for governing bodies under 'the role of governors'.

Write it alongside your behaviour policy

All schools must have a behaviour policy.

If you're required to have a written statement of behaviour principles, it must be in addition to a behaviour policy. However, they can be published as part of the same document.

The DfE explained this to us.

It recommends reviewing the statement annually. 

This is set out in its guidance on statutory policies (see the section on behaviour).

What the statement should cover

Each governing board is free to decide its own principles.

However, when writing the statement, governors should consider their duty to:

  • Safeguard and promote children's welfare
  • Eliminate discrimination

This is set out in paragraph 12 of the behaviour guidance for governors.

Examples from schools

Primary schools

Secondary schools