2.10 School Manual: Colour Level System

A key component of the Farrer Behaviour, Wellbeing and Discipline policy is the colour level system, as explained here.

The Colour System is designed to recognise student achievement, and to provide encouragement, praise and reward.

At Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, we are proud of the achievements, participation and efforts of our students. Emphasis is given to acknowledging the students’ accomplishments as well as to encouraging improvement and sustained application. A colour level system is used to acknowledge individual achievement and to provide support for students experiencing difficulty complying with the school discipline policy.

The colour level committee consisting of the Head Teachers Wellbeing and the Year Coordinators, who decide on which level a student should be placed. All students commence on green level and are then promoted or demoted on the basis of their behaviour and contribution to the school. A student is required to submit an application form if they wish to be considered for promotion. The application form allows a student the opportunity to highlight his contribution to the school and the level of participation and success he has attained.

In determining the colour level, the committee will take into account a number of criteria including:

• The completion of an application for promotion;
  
• Merit and demerits;
  
• Millennium records;
  
• Excellence awards;
  
• Academic, agricultural and cultural achievement;
  
• OPAL grades;
  
• Sporting participation;
  
• School or community service;
  
• Leadership awards;
• Staff and prefect’s comments.
  

Any movement to another level will be recorded and published for ready access by the teaching and duty staff. Parents will be informed by email. A student may move more than one level at a time if so determined by the colour committee. Students will be informed by their Year Coordinator or the Head Teacher Wellbeing if any change of level is to occur.

2.10.1 Discipline

Incidents of serious or persistent misbehaviour will be referred to the Principal and the Deputy Principals. The Principal and Deputies will determine appropriate disciplinary consequences and place students on a colour level consistent with the student’s record of behaviour. The Principal has the right to impose instant sanctions in cases of a severe nature.

2.10.2 Merit and Demerit

The behaviour and actions of students may lead to the Principal, Deputy Principal, teachers, other staff and prefects rewarding or disciplining those students. Students demonstrating consistent high levels of acceptable behaviour may receive a merit slip. Students committing a serious misdemeanour or demonstrating consistent levels of unacceptable behaviour may receive a demerit slip.

2.10.3 Colour Level Definitions

Each colour level consists of behavioural expectations, privileges or consequences.

Gold Gold
The highest merit level possible at Farrer awarded because: 

• The student has consistently maintained an excellent record of behaviour and attitude and deserves additional recognition of his efforts;
  
• The student has demonstrated a special commitment to improving some aspect of the Farrer community for the benefit of others; and
  
• The student has been nominated by a member(s) of the Farrer Family; and
• The Colour Level committee have agreed that the student has earned this honour.
  

Special privileges the student can enjoy on gold level include:

• The student will receive a special gold certificate signed by the principal, presented at speech day.
  
• The student’s school report and reference will detail his outstanding contribution to the Farrer community,
  
• The student will be given a special gold level badge.
  
• Student in either Year 11 or 12 may negotiate having a vehicle at school.
  
• The student will be allowed access to some special facilities and equipment under his own supervision e.g. weights room.
  
• More flexibility will be allowed with special requests including leave for boarders.
  
• Year 12 seniors will be awarded prefect status.
  
• Admission to school socials will be free.
  
• The student will have the highest priority for trips away, town leave and the weekend activity program.
  
• The student will have a priority in the allocation of dormitory areas.
  
• The student may be able to undertake prep in a location of his choice.
  
• Opportunities may be provided for boarders to vary lights out requirements.
  
• The student will be given the highest priority in the selection of sport.
  
• The student will enjoy all silver and bronze privileges
• Day Students get free outside lunch on Fridays.
  

Silver Silver
The student has been awarded this merit level because: -

• The student has consistently shown very good behaviour and attitude, as indicated by the receipt of a number of merit slips, Excellence awards or commendations and;
• The student has been nominated by a member of the Farrer Family, and;
• The colour level committee agrees that the student deserves to be awarded this level.

Privileges you can enjoy on silver level include:

• The student will receive a special silver certificate at a Year assembly.
  
• The student will be given a special silver badge.
  
• The student’s year coordinator will indicate his excellent school involvement on his school report.
  
• The student will be issued with a special card indicating his status, which may be used to gain privileges.
  
• The student will be allowed to negotiate access to some special facilities and equipment under his own supervision.
  
• Student in either Year 11 or 12 may negotiate having a vehicle at school.
  
• Leave requests will be given special consideration.
  
• The student will have a high priority for trips away, and for Weekend Activity Programs.
  
• The student may be able to undertake prep in a location of his choice.
  
• The student will be accorded a priority in the allocation of dormitory spaces.
  
• Opportunities may be provided for boarders to vary lights out requirements.
  
• Admission to school socials will be discounted.
  
• The student will be given priority when booking up facilities for prep.
  
• Day students get free outside lunch on Fridays.
  
• The student will enjoy all bronze level privileges.
• The student may negotiate having a vehicle at school.
  

Bronze Bronze
The student has achieved this merit level because:

• The student has consistently shown good behaviour and attitude, as indicated by the receipt of a number of merit slips, excellence awards or commendations and;
• The student has been nominated by a member of the Farrer Family and;
• The colour committee agrees that the student deserves to be awarded this level.

Privileges you can enjoy on bronze level include:

• The student will receive a special Bronze certificate at a Year assembly.
  
• The student may be given special consideration for leave applications and other activities such as trips away.
  
• Student in Year 12 may negotiate having a vehicle at school.
  
• The student has priority for sport choices over those of lower levels
  

Green Green

All students start at this merit level

The Farrer Family expects that:

• The student already possesses this level of good conduct
  
• The student will strive to maintain this level of good conduct
  
• The student will respect the rights of others
  
• The student will be cooperative and courteous
  
• The student enjoys the respect and interest of his teachers
  
• The student will participate fully in school activities
• The student accepts his responsibilities as a member of the Farrer Family
  

At this level;

• The student will enjoy all the normal privileges associated with being a student of this great school.
• If a student is concerned at his continued placement on this level, he should talk with his year coordinator.
  

Brown Brown
Students are placed on this demerit level because;

• The student’s Millennium register is not satisfactory to be on green colour level
• The colour level committee has found that the student has committed a serious misdemeanour/s, or that his conduct and behaviour in general warrants that he be placed on this level or because:
  
• The principal or deputy have demoted the student
  
• The student has not redeemed an unsatisfactory OPAL work audit
• The colour level committee has been impressed by the student’s efforts to improve and has moved him up from orange level.
  

What happens to students on this level?

• The teacher, prefect, head teacher or duty master concerned will discipline the student.
  
• The student’s demotion will be recorded on his Millennium record.
  
• The student will undertake a program with the Head teacher Wellbeing to correct the unsatisfactory behaviour.
  
• The student will be excluded from extracurricular activities and from representing the school. The student will not be permitted to participate in any school social activities (eg dances, dorm parties, BBQ's)
  
• Boarders will be required to report to the duty master on Saturday and Sunday and all unsupervised leave (such as shopping leave, work leave, town leave, night leave etc) will be cancelled.
  
• Special arrangements may be made for prep, eg library restriction
  
• The student’s parents will be informed. Parents will need to apply for special permission to take their son on leave. No other leave will be granted.
  
• Students on this level will report for 8 lunchtime detentions (second half) from Monday to Thursday.
  
• The student must complete a promotion form approved by the year coordinator and the Head Teacher Wellbeing to return to green level
• Students may undertake additional detentions after school to reduce the period on brown level.

Students will remain on brown level until the Head Teacher Wellbeing is convinced that their behaviour warrants movement back to green level (or their behaviour warrants transfer to orange level). The conditions of brown level will operate continuously until the student is moved to another level. Normally it would be envisaged that students would remain on this level for no more than two weeks. 

If a student is concerned at his continued placement on this level, he should speak with his year coordinator or Head Teacher Wellbeing.

Orange Orange

Students are placed on this demerit level because of one of these reasons:

• The student’s behaviour has not improved despite help given to him - his behaviour is deliberately unacceptable.
  
• The student has received further demerits while on the brown level
  
• The colour level committee has recommended the student’s placement on this level for seriously ignoring the rights of others
  
• The principal or deputy have demoted the student because the student has committed a serious misdemeanour, or that his conduct and behaviour in general warrants that he be placed on this level.
• The colour level committee has been satisfied by the student’s efforts to improve and has moved him up from Red level.
  

What happens to students on this level?

• The principal or the deputy principal will discipline the student.
  
• This serious misdemeanour or persistent disobedience will be noted on the student’s school records.
  
• The student will be excluded from participating in any social activities, sporting or cultural events.
  
• For Boarders, parents will need to apply for special permission to take their son on leave. No other leave will be granted.
• The student’s parents will be informed, and may be invited to attend an interview.
  
• The student will be interviewed by the school counsellor/social worker to assist in correcting the unsatisfactory behaviour.
  
• Special arrangements may be made for prep for boarders.
  
• Day students and boarders will be placed on a 1 day weekend detention. 
  
• The student must complete a promotion form approved by the Year Coordinator and the Head Teacher Wellbeing to return to brown level.
• Students on this level will report for lunchtime detention (second half) from Monday to Thursday for a minimum of 4 days.
  

Students will remain on orange level until the colour committee is convinced that their behaviour warrants movement back to brown level (or their behaviour warrants transfer to red level). The conditions of orange level will operate continuously until the student is moved to another level. It is not anticipated that students would remain on orange level for long periods of time (minimum of 1 week). If a student is concerned at his continued placement on this level, he should talk with his year coordinator.

Red Red
Students are placed on this demerit level because

• The student has continued to ignore the rights of others in the Farrer Family, or
  
• The student has not accepted help offered to him at other colour levels, or
• The principal or deputy has recommended the student’s placement on this level for a serious breach of the code of acceptable behaviour or a serious misdemeanour.
  

What happens to students on this level?

• The student will be disciplined by the principal 
  
• The school counsellor/social worker will interview the student.
  
• The student’s parents will be informed, and required to attend an interview with the principal to discuss such options as:

- suspension from class
- "N" awards for the School Certificate
- suspension from school
- the student’s position declared vacant
- condition of re-entry to the classroom

• The student will be excluded from participating in any school excursions, work experience, social activities, and sporting or cultural events.
  
• The student may be placed on a daily register by the Head Teacher Wellbeing.
• For Boarders, parents will need to apply for special permission to take their son on leave. No other leave will be granted.
• Day students and boarders will be placed on a 1 day weekend detention.
• The student must complete a promotion form approved by the Year Coordinator and the Head Teacher Wellbeing to return to orange level
• Students on this level will report for lunchtime detention (second half) from Monday to Thursday for a minimum of 4 days.
  

Students will remain on red level for a limited time only, (approximately 1 week). If students improve their behaviour to an acceptable level, then the Head Teacher Wellbeing will move them back to orange level. If student behaviour does not improve there may not be a place for the student at Farrer. The conditions of red level will operate continuously until the student is moved back to orange level or is removed from the school.

Last updated October 2023

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