A PRIMARY school in West Oxford is trialling the use of a class behaviour chart displaying the names of pupils.

Ofsted has rated West Oxford Community Primary School in Ferry Hinksey Road good, with pupils' behaviour also good, but headteacher Clare Bladen has introduced the charts to further improve class discipline.

The charts prompted one parent to brand the policy “naming and shaming”.

Earlier this month Ms Bladen sent parents a letter on the school’s positive behaviour and relationships policy.

She told the Oxford Mail: “We reward children through positive feedback in all aspects of school life through ways including verbal feedback, reward and motivation stickers or small prizes, treats, class rewards, star of the day/week.

“To further underpin our policy we began to trial a class behaviour chart at the beginning of the school year."

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Ms Bladen added: “Teaching staff use the behaviour chart in an age-appropriate manner and there has been hardly any need to use it.

“We plan to adjust the trial as necessary and to share the evaluation later in the term with the governing body.”

Father-of-two Fabian Cobb said pupils’ names were displayed next to categories showing how they were being dealt with if they misbehaved.

Mr Cobb, who lives in Helen Road, has a son and a daughter at the school, and wants Ms Bladen to stop using the charts.

He said: “A list called a class behaviour chart goes up at the front of the class, and the child’s name is displayed next to categories such as ‘time out’ or ‘reflection’.

“This should not have been introduced and needs to stop.

“Some pupils would feel ashamed to have their names on the board.

"Schools have to maintain discipline but this is a naming and shaming policy.”

Mr Cobb fears the charts could lead to a child becoming reluctant to participate in class. He said: “There was no consultation with parents before this was introduced.”

Gerton Lunter, 45, of West Oxford, who has two children at the school, added: “I am not keen. The emphasis is far too much on praising, blaming or punishing pupils and making them feel special or bad.”

Lynn Knapp, head of Windmill Primary in Headington, said some classes used a rainbow and cloud system, with names of pupils switched from a rainbow to a cloud on a chart to reflect behaviour.

Ms Knapp said: “We have had parents questioning whether the names should be there but if pupils understand the system they buy into it."

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