Restorative practice at EGGS

Epsom Girls Grammar School is a restorative school.  It is committed to facilitating constructive relationships and values the opportunity for students to learn through life experiences. The school is committed to restoring relationships with restorative practice when harm has occurred.

We aim to create a supportive and inclusive school environment by prioritising our school values,  and we use restorative practices as one approach to maintain our constructive relationships. Restorative Practice is a philosophy and set of strategies that focus on fostering relationships, promoting accountability, and repairing harm. It encourages active participation from all parties involved in a conflict or harm.

Key elements of restorative practices include circles, conferences, and restorative conversations. Circles provide a safe space for open communication and problem-solving, allowing students and staff to express themselves, listen to others, and build relationships. Conferences bring together those affected by an incident to discuss its impact, explore perspectives, and collectively develop solutions and agreements. Restorative conversations involve one-on-one discussions aimed at addressing specific incidents and repairing relationships.

By implementing restorative practices, we aim to promote a sense of belonging, improve behaviour and academic outcomes, and reduce the likelihood of future conflicts. Students are empowered to take responsibility for their actions, learn from their mistakes, and make amends, fostering a positive school climate that supports both individual growth and community well-being.

What Restorative means?

We have a Code of Conduct,  this is our version of  "school rules" and the focus is on the actions and conduct of the people in our school community. 

Traditionally, when rules are broken, punishment is given. However this does not always change behaviour or address harm.  With restorative practices, rules are important and when they are broken, relationships are harmed. Restorative maintains high expectations of behaviour for all members of our school community and makes space for people to learn and grow through repairing  relationships. 

What does restorative look like?

Restorative processes follow a process to identify and repair harm. 

1. What happened? - restorative looks at how people are involved in a situation or incident.
2. What is the harm? - effects of what happened on people, and how they feel.
3. Understanding and repairing harm - this is about taking up responsibility and putting things right