Staff Code ofConduct
PolicyThe Japanese SchoolApproved by:

SMC

Last reviewed on:

January 2024

Next review due by:

December 2024

1 Staff Code of Conduct Policy v1.0

Date: January 2024

Version Number
1.0

Modified By
K. Okamoto

Modifications MadeUpdate

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Date Modified
Jan 2024

Contents
1. Aims, scope and principles ........................................................................................................................... 3
2. Legislation and guidance .............................................................................................................................. 3
3. General obligations ....................................................................................................................................... 3
4. Safeguarding ................................................................................................................................................. 4
5. Staff-pupil relationships ................................................................................................................................. 5
6. Communication and social media ................................................................................................................. 5
7. Acceptable use of technology ....................................................................................................................... 6
8. Confidentiality................................................................................................................................................ 6
9. Honesty and integrity .................................................................................................................................... 6
10. Dress code .................................................................................................................................................. 6
11. Conduct outside of work.............................................................................................................................. 6
12. Monitoring arrangements ............................................................................................................................ 7
13. Links with other policies .............................................................................................................................. 7

1. Aims, scope and principles
This policy aims to set and maintain standards of conduct that we expect all staff to follow.
By creating this policy, we aim to ensure our school is an environment where everyone is safe, happy and treatedwith respect.
Many of the principles in this code of conduct are based on the Teachers’ Standards by MEXT.
School staff have an influential position in the school and will act as role models for pupils by consistently
demonstrating high standards of behaviour.
We expect that all teachers will act in accordance with the personal and professional behaviours set out in theTeachers’ Standards by MEXT.
We expect all support staff, governors and volunteers to also act with personal and professional integrity,respecting the safety and wellbeing of others.
Education at our school is based on respect for people and mutual trust, with the aim of perfecting the characterof each pupil, nurturing people who will form a peaceful and democratic nation and society and achieving equal
educational opportunities. The school's educational goal is ``nurturing pupils who can learn on their own andthrive in the international community with a rich spirit.'' In order to achieve these goals, our school will implement
an appropriate curriculum. As the school is recognised by both the Japanese and British governments, all staff
will work together to promote the high quality of the school's management.
Failure to follow the code of conduct may result in disciplinary action being taken, as set out in our staff
disciplinary procedures.
Please note that this code of conduct is not exhaustive. If situations arise that are not covered by this code, staff
will use their professional judgement and act in the best interests of the school and its pupils.

2. Legislation and guidance
In line with the statutory safeguarding guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education, we should have a staff codeof conduct, which should cover low-level concerns, allegations against staff and whistle-blowing, as well as
acceptable use of technologies (including the use of mobile devices), staff/pupil relationships andcommunications, including the use of social media.
This policy also complies with our funding agreement and articles of association.

3. General obligations
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Staff set an example to pupils. They will:
Maintain high standards in their attendance and punctuality
Never use inappropriate or offensive language in school
Treat pupils and others with dignity and respect
Show tolerance and respect for the rights of others
Not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual
respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
Not express personal beliefs in a way that exploits pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law
Understand the statutory frameworks they must act within Teachers’ Standards by MEXT

4. Safeguarding
Staff have a duty to safeguard pupils from harm, and to report any concerns they have. This includes physical,
emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect.
Staff will familiarise themselves with our child protection and safeguarding policy and procedures, and the Prevent
initiative, and ensure they are aware of the processes to follow if they have concerns about a child.
Our child protection and safeguarding policy and procedures are available on our school website.

4.1 Allegations that may meet the harm threshold
This section applies to all cases in which it is alleged that anyone working in the school, including a
supply teacher, volunteer or contractor, has:
Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child, and/or
Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child, and/or
Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children, and/orBehaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children – this includes behaviour taking place inside or outside of school
We will deal with any such allegation quickly and in a fair and consistent way that provides effective childprotection while also supporting the individual who is the subject of the allegation.
A ‘case manager’ will lead any investigation. This will be the headteacher, or the chair of governors. Where theheadteacher is the subject of the allegation.

4.2 Low-level concerns about members of staff
A low-level concern is a behaviour towards a child by a member of staff that does not meet the harm threshold, isinconsistent with the staff code of conduct, and may be as simple as causing a sense of unease or a ‘nagging
doubt’. For example, this may include:
Being over-friendly with children
Having favourites
Taking photographs of children on a personal device
Engaging in 1-to-1 activities where they can’t easily be seen
Humiliating pupils
Low-level concerns can include inappropriate conduct inside and outside of work.
All staff should share any low-level concerns they have using the reporting procedures set out in our childprotection and safeguarding policy. We also encourage staff to self-refer if they find themselves in a situation that
could be misinterpreted. If staff are not sure whether behaviour would be deemed a low-level concern, weencourage staff to report it.
All reports will be handled in a responsive, sensitive and proportionate way.
Unprofessional behaviour will be addressed, and the staff member supported to correct it, at an early stage.

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This creates and embeds a culture of openness, trust and transparency in which our values and expectedbehaviour are constantly lived, monitored and reinforced by all staff, while minimising the risk of abuse.
Reporting and responding to low-level concerns is covered in more detail in our child protection and safeguarding
policy. This is available on our school website.
Our procedures for dealing with allegations will be applied with common sense and judgement.

4.3 Whistle-blowing
Whistle-blowing reports wrongdoing that it is “in the public interest” to report. Examples linked to safeguarding
include:Pupils’ or staff members’ health and safety being put in danger
Failure to comply with a legal obligation or statutory requirement
Attempts to cover up the above, or any other wrongdoing in the public interest
Staff are encouraged to report suspected wrongdoing as soon as possible. Their concerns will be taken seriously
and investigated, and their confidentiality will be respected.
Staff should consider the examples above when deciding whether their concern is of a whistle-blowing nature.
Consider whether the incident(s) was illegal, breached statutory or school procedures, put people in danger or
was an attempt to cover any such activity up.
Staff should report their concern to the headteacher. If the concern is about the headteacher or it is believed they
may be involved in the wrongdoing in some way, the staff member should report their concern to the chair of thegoverning board.
If you would like to have a whistle-blowing, please contact the following email address.
SMC email address: unei@thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk
Concerns should be made in writing wherever possible. They should include names of those committing
wrongdoing, dates, places and as much evidence and context as possible. Staff raising a concern should also
include details of any personal interest in the matter.

5. Staff-pupil relationships
Staff will observe proper boundaries with pupils that are appropriate to their professional position. They will act ina fair and transparent way that would not lead anyone to reasonably assume they are not doing so.
If staff members and pupils must spend time on a one-to-one basis, staff will ensure that:
This takes place in a public place that others can access
Others can see into the room
A colleague or senior leaders knows this is taking place
Staff should avoid contact with pupils outside of school hours if possible.
Personal contact details should not be exchanged between staff and pupils. This includes social media profiles.
While we are aware many pupils and their parents may wish to give gifts to staff, for example, at the end of theschool year, gifts from staff to pupils are not acceptable.
If a staff member is concerned at any point that an interaction between themselves and a pupil may be
misinterpreted, or if a staff member is concerned at any point about a fellow staff member and a pupil, this should
be reported in line with the procedures set out in our child protection and safeguarding policy.

6. Communication and social media
School staff’s social media profiles should not be available to pupils. If they have a personal profile on social
media sites, they should not use their full name, as pupils may be able to find them. Staff should consider using afirst and middle name instead and set public profiles to private.

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Staff should not attempt to contact pupils or their parents via social media, or any other means outside school, inorder to develop any sort of relationship. They will not make any efforts to find pupils’ or parents’ social media
profiles.
Staff will ensure that they do not post any images online that identify children who are pupils at the school.
Staff should be aware of the school’s online safety policy.

7. Acceptable use of technology
Staff will not use technology in school or belonging to the school to view material that is illegal, inappropriate or
likely to be deemed offensive. This includes, but is not limited to, sending obscene emails, gambling and viewing
pornography or other inappropriate content.
Staff will not use personal mobile phones and laptops, or school equipment for personal use, in school hours or in
front of pupils. They will also not use personal mobile phones or cameras to take pictures of pupils.
We have the right to monitor emails and internet use on the school IT system.

8. Confidentiality
In the course of their role, members of staff are often privy to sensitive and confidential information about theschool, staff, pupils and their parents.
This information should never be:
Disclosed to anyone unless required by law or with consent from the relevant party or parties
Used to humiliate, embarrass or extort others
Used for a purpose other than what it was collected and intended forThis does not overrule staff’s duty to report child protection concerns to the appropriate channel where staff
believe a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm, as detailed further in our child protection and safeguarding
policy.

9. Honesty and integrity
Staff should maintain high standards of honesty and integrity in their role. This includes when dealing with pupils,
handling money, claiming expenses and using school property and facilities.
Staff will not accept bribes. Gifts that are worth more than 50 pounds must be declared.
Staff will ensure that all information given to the school is correct. This should include:
Background information (including any past or current investigations/cautions related to conduct outside ofschool)
Qualifications
Professional experience
Where there are any updates to the information provided to the school, the member of staff will advise the school
as such as soon as reasonably practicable. Consideration will then be given to the nature and circumstances ofthe matter and whether this may have an impact on the member of staff’s employment.

10. Dress code
Staff will dress in a professional, appropriate manner.
Outfits will not be overly revealing, and we ask that tattoos are covered up.
Clothes will not display any offensive or political slogans.

11. Conduct outside of work
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Staff will not act in a way that would bring the school, or the teaching profession, into disrepute. This covers
conduct including but not limited to relevant criminal offences, such as violence or sexual misconduct, as well as
negative comments about the school on social media.

12. Monitoring arrangements
This policy will be reviewed annually but can be revised as needed. It will be approved by the [The School
Management Committee/
The SMC will ensure this code of conduct is implemented effectively and will ensure appropriate action is taken ina timely manner to safeguard children and deal with any concerns.

13. Links with other policies
This policy links with our policies on:
Staff disciplinary procedures, which will be used if staff breach this code of conduct. It also sets out examples ofwhat we will deem as misconduct and gross misconduct
Staff grievance proceduresChild protection and safeguarding
Online safety

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