DISCIPLINE POLICY


ASSUMPTIONS


The College believes that:

  • It is a community, where the members have both rights and responsibilities.
  • The fewer rules the better.
  • Rules, which cannot realistically be enforced, will undermine the overall discipline structure.
  • Our students should be treated as young adults rather than children.
  • Persuasion and dialogue are more powerful than either prescription or proscription.
  • Self discipline is preferable to externally enforced discipline.
  • Rehabilitation is preferable to retribution.
  • Punishment can sometimes be an effective deterrent.
  • Some behaviour necessitates automatic removal from the College.

DISCIPLINE POLICY


  1. Responses to problems or behaviour, effort or attitude will be, in most cases, incremental.
  2. Not all problems of behaviour, effort or attitude will necessitate a meeting with the student.
  3. All problems of behaviour, effort or attitude will be recorded in the student’s file.
  4. The principal sanctions available to the College will be counselling, detention, change of accommodation, curfew (boarding), suspension and expulsion.
  5. Except for serious behaviour problems, the initial counselling/discussion will be between the student and his/her Personal Tutor or Course Director.
  6. The Head of Boarding will be responsible for all but the most serious problems related to boarding.
  7. Regardless of whether a behaviour, effort or attitude problem has led to an official sanction, any meeting with a student will focus primarily on the future and strategies for improvement.
  8. Only the Principal, Vice Principal, Principal Tutor, Course Director, Assistant Course Director or Head of Boarding may place a student in detention.
  9. A minimum of two senior members of staff should be involved in a decision to suspend a student.
  10. Unless impractical, the Principal must provide approval for the expulsion of a student.
  11. Any student found in possession, or proved to be under the influence of an illegal substance will be expelled.
  12. Parents/guardians will normally be advised of all but the most routine discipline problems or concerns.
  13. Students who are unhappy with any action taken by the College will have recourse through the Student Complaints Procedure.
  14. The Discipline Policy will be reviewed as necessary, but in any case every two years. The next review will be during the Autumn Term 2009.

SEARCH POLICY


The college reserves the right to search a student’s accommodation.

This is only done under the following circumstances

  • It has been authorised by the Principal or Vice Principal
  • The student will normally be present
  • Two members of them Senior Management team will be present. This will usually be the Head of Boarding and either the Principal or Vice Principal.

RULES


We have as few rules as possible, and just because something is not listed below, it doesn’t mean it is OK. If in doubt students should ask before doing something.

  • Treat everyone politely and with respect.
  • Be on time to lessons.
  • Hand homework in on time.
  • If English is your second language, speak it on college premises.
  • You should not smoke on college premises except in the two allowed areas.
  • Turn your mobile off when going into a class, study hall or meeting
  • Cross Barrack Road carefully.
  • Switch of all electronic entertainment devices before going into a class, study hall or meeting.
  • Bringing alcohol or any illegal substance into college will result in automatic expulsion.

(Note: An extended version of this document can be obtained from the school and is contained in the student planner. A copy of the procedure for suspension and expulsion is also available upon request.)