Behaviour Management
Serious Incidents
Because of the nature and ideals of our College and the concern for students in our care, we need to stress the unacceptability of the behaviours set out below:
- Non-acceptance or defiance of staff directions by a student will not be tolerated; any repeated offences are treated seriously. This would give reason for the College to deny residence to the student.
- Harassment: All students have a right to feel safe in their environment and as such the College views any form of bullying or harassment seriously. A violation of this would give reason for the student to be suspended from the College.
- The possession or consumption of alcohol, or being under its influence, is forbidden to all students at all times. This regulation applies not only at the College but at all functions in any way connected with the College – students may not consume alcohol at all while they are residential students at Scotch. If required, Boarding Management staff reserve the right to search a boy’s room if there is suspicion of alcohol being stored on campus.
Due to the serious nature of this matter, even for a first offence, the normal penalty will be suspension from the College, with the student actually returning home. The student will have to show a genuine willingness to partake in a rehabilitation program if he is to return to the College. A second offence may result in the parent or guardian being asked to remove the student from the College.
- The possession or use of any form of non-medical drug or hallucinogen is absolutely forbidden. Due to the serious nature of this matter, even for a first offence, the minimum penalty will be suspension from the College. For a second offence, or if the student is found to have sold or distributed any form of non-medical drug or hallucinogen, the parent or guardian will be asked to remove the student from the College. If required, Boarding Management staff reserve the right to search a boy’s room if there is suspicion of drugs being stored on campus.
- The possession and/or use of any form of tobacco, including vaping, is absolutely forbidden and will incur penalties up to and including suspension from the College. The student will have to show a genuine willingness to partake in a rehabilitation program on his return to the College. Persistence of this behaviour after a warning may result in the parent or guardian being asked to remove the student from the College. If required, Boarding Management staff reserve the right to search a boy’s room if there is suspicion of tobacco or vaping devices being stored on campus.
- No student ever leaves the College grounds without the appropriate permission. This is regarded as a very serious breach of trust as a student is effectively placing himself in a position where the College cannot accept responsibility for him. He is deemed to be absent without leave.
A first may result in the student being suspended from the College. If a subsequent offence were to occur this may result in the parent or guardian being asked to remove the student from the College.
- Any theft by a student is considered a serious matter. Even for a first offence the student may be suspended from the College. If a subsequent offence were to occur this may result in the parent or guardian being asked to remove the student from the College. If required, Boarding Management staff reserve the right to search a boy’s room if there is suspicion of stolen goods being stored on campus.
- Students are not to ride as passengers in cars driven by day boys. Parents and guardians are obviously exempt from this rule. For a first offence, the student may be denied residence and for a second offence the parent or guardian may be asked to remove the student from the College.
- The College trusts that students do not move out of their room after 10.30pm. Any student caught engaging in any form of inappropriate behaviour between 10.30pm–7am may result in his position within the Boarding community being reviewed.
Discipline Options
From time to time students will make errors in judgment as stated above. The following gives a guide to the procedures in place to assist the students and to discipline them, if necessary. It should be noted that this is only a guide and that every case will be looked at individually and that relevant personnel will be consulted before making a decision regarding the action to be implemented.
There are a number of different disciplinary actions that can be implemented within the Boarding community.
- House duty – perform duties within the Boarding House
- House gating (this means limiting leave from the House)
- Weekday – no day leave granted
- Weekend – no weekend leave granted
- May occur for more serious offences or an accumulation of many minor offences – parents to be informed immediately by the staff member implementing the gating.
- Interview with Head of Boarding
- Interview with student, parents and relevant staff
- Probation – implemented by the Head of Residence, in consultation with the Head of Boarding, and parents contacted immediately and then receive a letter regarding the matter and a copy of the contract from the Head of Residence and Head of Boarding
- School probation – implemented by the Head of Senior School/Head of Middle School.
- Isolation from classes – student is isolated at school but continues to live within the Boarding House – implemented by the Head of Senior School/Head of Middle School in consultation with the Head of Boarding – for serious breaches of school rules. Parents are contacted by Headmaster in relation to any decision made in this regard. Boys who are isolated from class are situated in the Assistant to the Head of Senior School’s office.
- Suspension from Boarding (denied residence) – student continues to attend classes but is not permitted to stay within the Boarding community – implemented by the Head of Boarding, in consultation with the Head of Residence, for serious breaches of Boarding community rules. Parents are contacted by the Head of Boarding regarding any decision made in this regard. The Headmaster is to be informed.
- Suspension from school and the Boarding community – student to be off the school premises – implemented by the Head of Senior School/Head of Middle School in consultation with the Head of Boarding – for serious breaches of school and Boarding community rules. Parents are contacted by Head of Senior School/Head of Middle School in relation to any decision made in this regard. The Headmaster is to be informed.
- Removal from the Boarding community – A student can be, if deemed not suitable to continue living within
the Boarding community, removed from the Boarding community, but may continue to attend the College as a
day student. - Expulsion – implemented by the School Council in consultation with the Headmaster.
Again, this is a guide to the different procedures in place for students whose behaviour needs modifying. The level of action taken will depend on the seriousness of the offence and it is expected that parents will be included and informed of the process as it takes place.