English Class Contract & Expectations

Begin the school year with clear, positive and consistent expectations using this ready-to-print English Class Contract.

Designed for secondary-school English classrooms, this resource presents classroom rules as a shared agreement between the teacher and students. It promotes respect, participation, independent thinking, academic honesty and a positive learning environment without feeling overly strict or childish.

The contract covers:

Arriving prepared and ready to learn
Respecting every voice
Participating positively
Creating a safe space for ideas
Understanding that mistakes are part of learning
Completing work carefully and meeting deadlines
Reading actively and thinking independently
Using technology responsibly
Producing honest, original work
Protecting the classroom learning environment

The second page also outlines what students can expect from their teacher, including fairness, clear explanations, helpful feedback and support. A shared commitment statement and dedicated spaces for the student’s name, signature and date are included.

Resource details:

Two A4 pages
Full-colour PDF
Suitable for Junior Cycle, Transition Year and Leaving Certificate classes
Space to personalise the contract with the teacher’s name
Ideal for the first English lesson, student journals, classroom displays or back-to-school packs
Can be printed double-sided as one complete contract

This is a simple, practical resource for establishing a respectful English classroom in which every student has the opportunity to participate, develop confidence and learn.