School Rules

Any behaviour deemed to be inconsistent with the School Aims or the Code of Conduct or which would bring the school into disrepute will be regarded as breaches of the School Rules. Students who are identifiable with the school – e.g. by uniform or proximity to the school site – are accountable for their behaviour. This will include journeys to and from school and during school activities.

General Behaviour

1. Students must obey staff instructions and follow departmental rules (e.g. rules about laboratories, computer rooms etc).

2. Behaviour which could cause harm or offence to others is not allowed. In particular …

(a) No language is to be used which will cause offence to others.

(b) Aggressive conduct, and/or the use of any offensive weapon, is strictly forbidden.

(c) No physical displays of affection beyond friendship are allowed.

3. Students given positions of authority by the Headteacher should have their instructions obeyed.

4. Students are not allowed to bring any items into school with the purpose of selling them on to other persons without staff permission.

Health and Safety

5. Students must care for their own health and safety and that of others. In particular …

(a) Students must take care when carrying bags around the school. Bags must not be left where they will cause an obstruction.

(b) Students must walk on the left, and never run, in the corridors and on stairs.

(c) Students must not go into restricted areas in and around school e.g. on roofs, railway  lines etc.

(d) Dangerous or anti-social items must not be brought into school.

(e) Offensive weapons, such as any form of knife, should never be brought into school.

(f) Smoking (including e-cigarettes), drinking alcohol, the use of recreational drugs is not allowed in school, on the journeys to and from school or on school trips. Students must not be in school under the influence of alcohol or other such drugs.

(g) Students are not allowed to bring alcohol, tobacco products or recreational drugs into school. Taking, being in possession of, offering to supply or supplying illegal substances may lead to temporary or permanent exclusion from school and the involvement of the Police.

(h) Students bringing into school legally prescribed or non-prescribed drugs must take these to Reception for storage until required.

(i) Any illegal act is also a breach of school rules and may result in Police involvement.

Respect for Property

6. Students must respect and care for their surroundings. In particular…

(a) Students must not tamper with or deface school property nor use it without explicit permission. Breakages of school property must be reported; wilful or careless damage must be paid for.

(b) Chewing gum is banned in school.

(c) Tippex is banned in school.

(d) Eating and drinking (with the exception of water) is prohibited in the classroom (unless it has been designated as an eating area and a member of staff is supervising), corridors and at the front of school. Lunches may only be eaten in the canteen, the Courtyard Garden, outside at the rear of school and in Upper School Hall, if advised by the MSAs. Students must tidy away after eating.

(e) If using form rooms during break and lunchtime, students should behave appropriately e.g. sitting on chairs and not desks. They should not eat in form rooms and should leave them tidy and not cluttered with belongings.

(f) Coats cannot be worn in classrooms or the canteen. Coats can only be worn during break time, lunchtime and before or after school.

(g) The lawns in front of upper and main school are out of bounds.

Attendance

 7. Students not in registration, without good reason, will be deemed to be late or absent. All absences must be reported by telephone on the first day of absence. All absences need a prompt explanatory note from a parent/guardian on the day of return.

8. Only in exceptional circumstances will students be given permission to leave school at lunchtime, and then only with written permission from a parent/guardian to their Head of Year.

9. A note from a parent/guardian is needed to be excused from PE or Games.

10. Students who arrive after registration must sign in at Reception. Students leaving school with permission during the day must sign out at Reception on leaving, and sign in on their return. Students must present their appointment card or similar.

Transport

11. Cycles brought into school must be placed in the cycle racks and locked. Cycle helmets should be placed in lockers. Cycles may not be borrowed. No cycling is allowed on site during school hours.

12. Students not using school buses should only use the lower or upper school gates before and after school. The middle gate is for vehicles only.

13. Sixth Formers may only park cars in the Sixth Form car park and must first obtain a permit to do so.

Waiting for buses

14.

(a) The bus queue duty officer is on duty every night and is assisted by members of staff. The potential for injury is high and it is essential that everyone behaves sensibly.

(b) Students who travel by bus should not leave the school campus until they are instructed to do so and must exit through the gate nearest to lower school.

(c) Whilst awaiting their bus, students should stand on the concrete waiting area provided in the bus park. Students, when called, should walk to their bus in a calm and sensible fashion.

Personal Appearance

15. Students are expected to look neat and tidy. In particular…

(a) School uniform is compulsory in Years 7-11, including on the journeys to and from school. The Sixth Form have a dress code.

(b) Students must wear the correct school uniform.

(c) The school does not lend ties out; any student without a tie will be isolated until a new one is purchased or the original found.

(d) No obvious make-up or nail varnish can be worn. Unconventional hairstyles and hair colours are not allowed. Hair must be a natural colour.

(e) Jewellery is limited to a single small stud in each ear and a wristwatch.

(f) Except for (d) above, no other form of visible body piercing is allowed – this includes the tongue.

(g) No visible tattoos are allowed.

The Headteacher will be the final arbiter in any dispute over appearance.

Personal Property

16. Students should respect personal property, no matter to whom it belongs. In particular…

(a) Students are responsible for the security of their personal property and we do not recommend that expensive electrical/electronic items of any kind are brought into school.

(b) If a student in Years 7-11 is found using a mobile phone including receiving messages or allowing the phone to emit audible sounds, MP3 player or similar, they will be placed in Friday Night Detention. This list is not exhaustive – mobile phones should not be seen or heard. Mobile phones should be handed in to Reception if brought on site.

(c) All uniform, equipment, instruments, inhalers etc. must be clearly named.

(d) No money/valuables are to be left in cloakrooms or changing rooms.

(e) Any money or other valuables found must be handed in to the School Office.

(f) Items which are confiscated from students will, in the first instance, be returned at the end of the day.

Lunchtime Behaviour

17. In good weather, we expect students to go outside at breaks and lunchtimes. Being allowed to stay in form rooms at lunchtimes is a privilege. If students choose to stay inside they should sit quietly on the chairs in their own rooms, either talking or doing work. They must not eat in the classroom, unless it has been designated as an eating area, and must behave sensibly at all times. They must not do anything which would cause offence to members of staff nor to any of their peers. Students should not abuse any furniture in the rooms and must not touch blinds, screens, windows, whiteboards or tamper with electrical or any other school equipment.

Sanctions

18. The school operates a sanctions policy which includes lunchtime and after-school detentions. Parents/guardians will be informed after lunchtime detentions and, wherever possible, will be given at least 24 hours notice of after-school detentions. For serious or persistent misbehaviour the Headteacher may temporarily or permanently exclude students.