Restorative Justice
At Bilton School, we are constantly seeking ways to foster a safe, respectful and inclusive school environment where every student feels valued, heard, and supported. In line with this, we recently introduced Restorative Justice Practices as part of our approach to student behaviour, discipline, and community building.
All staff have received comprehensive training provided by RJ 4 Schools, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to effectively embed restorative practices in their interactions with students.
What is Restorative Justice?
Restorative Justice is an approach that focuses on repairing harm and restoring relationships when conflicts arise. Rather than simply punishing students for misbehaviour, restorative practices encourage accountability, reflection, and dialogue. The goal is to understand the root causes of conflict, address them collaboratively, and rebuild trust within our school community.
How does it work?
When a conflict or issue occurs, students will have the opportunity to participate in a restorative process. This may include:
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Restorative circles: Students, staff, and affected parties come together to discuss the incident, share perspectives, and work towards a solution that benefits everyone involved.
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Mediation: A guided discussion between the individuals involved to foster understanding and create a plan to resolve the conflict.
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Repairing harm: Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and actively work to repair any harm caused, whether through apologies, community service, or other meaningful actions.
Restorative conversations with students are structured around key questions to encourage reflection and accountability:
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What happened?
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What were you thinking?
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What do you think now?
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Who has been affected by this?
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What needs to happen to put this right?
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What will you do differently next time?
Benefits of Restorative Justice
Restorative practices help students:
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Develop stronger conflict resolution skills
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Understand the impact of their behaviour on others
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Build empathy and communication abilities
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Foster a greater sense of belonging and respect for the school community
By shifting from an entirely punitive to a restorative model, we aim to create a school environment where students feel safe and supported to learn from their mistakes, while also maintaining a strong sense of accountability.
What can you expect?
Over the course of this school year, we are integrating restorative practices into our behaviour policies and day to day interactions. While there may still be consequences for certain actions, restorative justice will help us approach behaviour in a way that is fair, compassionate, and educational for all students.
We greatly value parental support in reinforcing these principles at home in order to maintain consistency and to help our young people reflect on their actions, understand consequences, and find constructive solutions.
We believe that with your support, Restorative Justice will help our students become more responsible, thoughtful, and connected members of the school community.