A Restorative School 

Kelston Girls' College is committed to being a Restorative School, meaning our approach to managing behaviour and conflict is centred on relationships, respect, and responsibility. This philosophy is fundamental to creating the nurturing, supportive, and restorative environment we promise our students.

The goal of Restorative Practice is to empower students to take ownership of their actions and to understand the impact of those actions on others and the wider school community. Our school values are central to the restorative approach.

Key Principles of Restorative Practice

Our restorative approach works to:

  1. Build Strong Relationships: Proactively create a supportive school environment where students and staff feel safe, valued, and respected.

  2. Repair Harm: When harm occurs, the focus shifts from "What rule was broken?" to "Who has been harmed and what needs to happen to repair the harm?"

  3. Encourage Accountability: Require students to confront the impact of their behaviour, accept responsibility, and actively participate in finding a resolution.

  4. Strengthen Whānau Connection: Utilise Restorative Practice Hui as part of the Ngā Toa o Kerehana programme, bringing together the student, those harmed, whānau, and staff to collaboratively agree on a way forward.

By using restorative strategies, Kelston Girls' College ensures that every conflict becomes a valuable learning opportunity that strengthens community bonds and equips our students with essential skills in conflict resolution and empathy.