How to protect your school

These headlines appeared in the media in the space of six weeks.

• Most refer to student behaviour around the sharing of online images, pornography and sexual remarks, and salacious stories receive huge media publicity.
• The schools that received the most negative publicity are those that didn’t respond effectively.

Schools can’t be held responsible for student behaviour, but are responsible for their response.

1. What are you doing to PREVENT this sort of behaviour?
2. Do you have a clear RESPONSE strategy prepared (investigative and communications)?

How to avoid this sort of publicity:

1. Take it seriously and investigate quickly and thoroughly.
2. Inform your school community immediately (and regularly) with transparency.
3. Make sure your community hears information first from you.
4. Show empathy and connect with your community on an emotional level. Don’t use legal wording.

Turn a negative into a positive by reinforcing the school’s values and priorities, standing up for what is right and acting decisively. Your parents expect that and will appreciate it, and will trust you more.