ABSTRACT
In order to maintain consistency across the school, the school staff develop policies. Most of the elements of the NOS refer to knowing the school policy in the area being described. Some of these are legal requirements, like having a policy on sex education, others are guidance on procedures like behaviour management and others are there to safeguard the school against unfair allegations. If parents send their children to a school where a certain policy is in place, say for dealing with bullying, and then complain about what happens, if that incident was dealt with according to the laid down policy, the parents have no grounds for complaint. They can still lobby for change, but not blame the school for dealing with the incident in the way laid down by the policy. Policies are to ensure that pupils and staff are treated the same. No member of staff can complain, ‘It is no good me telling them not to slide down the banisters if the deputy head does not check them!’
