codes and agreements
A school’s codes and classroom agreements are defined as the rules of engagement and learning within a specific context, whether that be the whole school, an individual classroom or a field trip. They guide actions and behaviour by setting expectations as well as beliefs and principles and as a result, codes and agreements should be clearly defined, binding and aligned to the ideals of Great Learning to give students the best opportunity to achieve Great Learning.
At Danube, codes and agreements are clearly defined within our policies and strategies, collaboratively developed with students in the classroom and visually shared through various formats. These provide all members of our community with clear guidance on teaching and learning expectations that promote a culture of Great Learning.
Conversely, if codes and agreements are undefined and unbinding then the rules of engagement and learning become blurred and are left to individual interpretation. For example, rules may be applied unfairly and inconsistently by an individual due to personal bias. Furthermore, difficult choices can be avoided as a result of the unbinding codes and agreements.