Senior School Code of Conduct

  • Purpose: To ensure a well-ordered and structured environment in which concern and respect are shown for all.
  • Aims: To ensure every pupil enjoys School and is able to make a full contribution to the School community.
  • Ethos: Our ethos is based on the belief that the single sex setting creates the most effective and positive learning environment for girls and offers them every opportunity to discover and develop their own unique talents. In this environment, the girls can build their confidence and self-esteem and develop a strong emotional intelligence.

    We aim for excellence in pastoral care by providing a caring, supportive environment where each girl feels valued both as an individual and as a member of the school community. We have a positive commitment to charitable giving throughout the school and believe that a strong school community spirit itself engenders care and concern for others in society.

Our Code of Conduct
We expect:

  1. Honesty and truthfulness at all times.
  2. Tolerance and acceptance of others.
  3. Concern for others both in and out of School
  4. Willingness to be of service to the School community
  5. Self respect and pride in the School.

 

Dunottar School

Senior School Rules

All pupils are expected to adopt the principles of our CODE OF CONDUCT at all times. A breach of the Code is considered a breach of School Rules.

The Headmistress may see fit to impose additional rules or to amend the rules below, in consultation with staff.

  1. Safety
    • a) Be courteous when moving around school. Walk on the left in corridors. Wait outside a room on one side of the corridor only.
    • b) Do not enter the Science Laboratories, Art Studios, Design Technology Room, IT suite, HE room, Swimming Pool or Sports Hall unless supervised by a member of staff.
    • c) For the protection of pupils and their clothing suitable overalls must be worn in Laboratories and Art Studios. A girl may be denied the opportunity to do practical work if she does not have her overall.
    • d) Safety rules that may apply in particular departments must be adhered to. Girls not obeying such rules will be asked to leave the lesson and sent to the Assistant Head’s office.
    • e) When the alarm sounds, move swiftly and in absolute silence to the assembly point.
    • f) Unless attending an after School activity, all girls who have to stay after 4 p.m. must report to After School Care where they will be supervised up to 6 p.m. A charge applies. No girl should be in any other area unsupervised.
    • g) Any pupil expecting to be picked up but not collected by 4.15 p.m. must report to the School office. After any necessary phone calls have been made, she must wait to be collected from After School Care.
    • h) After attending after School activities, girls should wait in School until collected. No girl should wait outside the School alone, especially in the dark.
  2. Punctuality
    • a) Morning registration is at 8.35 a.m. Latecomers must report to Matron and sign in immediately on arrival at School.
    • b) Afternoon registration is at 1.50 p.m. Girls arriving late will receive a late mark.
    • c) Girls are expected to be punctual to all lessons and activities.
    • d) All pupils must return to their form rooms at 3.55 p.m. for dismissal.
    • e) Girls should not arrive before 8 a.m. Parents should note that there will be no direct supervision until 8.30 a.m., although there may be staff on the premises. Breakfast is available for a small charge in the School Hall.
  3. Absence
    • a) For absence due to illness, a note written by the parent or guardian is to be handed to the Form Tutor on return to School. For an absence of more than five days a doctor’s certificate is also required. Please see below for the method of informing the school of your daughter’s absence.
    • b) Girls should not be taken on family holidays during term time. The School is not obliged to set work in such cases. In the case of urgent need for absence on other than health grounds a letter requesting permission must be sent to the Headmistress in advance.
    • c) Girls must attend all their lessons and activities during the School day unless permission to do otherwise is granted by staff. In particular, girls must inform games staff if they are unfit to attend games lessons. A medical certificate or parent’s letter is required or, in the case of sudden illness, Matron or P.E. staff may grant permission to miss games.
    • d) No pupil may leave the School grounds without permission. All pupils leaving the grounds must sign out (the signing out book is held in the School Office).
    • e) No girl should attend School unless well enough to do so.
    • f) If girls are taken ill or injured during the School day they must not leave School without permission. Arrangements for them to be collected and cared for at home or taken to casualty will be made.
    • g) Permission must be sought before visiting Matron, except in cases of emergency.
    • h) Girls in Year 11 will normally be granted Study Leave during mock and GCSE examination periods. Lower and Upper Sixth students are permitted study leave during public examinations. However, rooms will be set aside for those who wish to remain in School.
  4. Notification of Absence
  5. Truancy
    • a) Failure to attend School without a good reason is a serious offence. Police Truancy patrols operate in the area. Parents will always be informed of any incidences of truancy.
    • b) Failure to attend lessons without permission or a good reason will be treated as a form of truancy.
  6. Transport
    • a) Sixth Formers who drive themselves to School may not park in the School grounds.
    • b) Driving lessons should not be arranged during the School day. However, permission will be granted to take the Driving Test.
    • c) We strongly recommend that any girl who cycles to School should have passed the cycling proficiency test. Girls may cycle to School provided:
      • i) The bicycle is well maintained with sound brakes and lights.
      • ii) The bicycle is parked in the designated area and is securely locked. The cyclist is responsible for her own property and we recommend that easily removable items be taken off.
      • iii) A cycle helmet is worn.
      • iv) An item of fluorescent clothing is worn.
      • v) There is to be no cycling within the School grounds.
    • d) Coaches:
      Girls using school coaches must abide by the coach rules. In particular
      • i) They must always remain seated and wear a seat belt
      • ii) They should follow any safety instructions given by the coach drivers
      • iii) They should talk quietly and not shout.
  7. Personal Property

    Each pupil is responsible for her own property. Whilst the School will endeavour to assist pupils in retrieving lost property, it cannot accept responsibility for individuals’ property. You are advised to cover valuable property using your own insurance or insurance can be purchased through the school.

    • a) All uniform, games equipment and personal property should be clearly marked or engraved with the girl’s name.
    • b) Valuables and large amounts of money should not be brought to School without good reason. If valuable items must be brought in we recommend that:
      • i) They are engraved with the girl’s name.
      • ii) They are locked in the girl’s locker or handed to a member of staff for safekeeping.
    • c) Loss of personal property must be reported immediately to increase the possibility of recovery.
    • d) Found items must be handed to Matron or any other member of staff as soon as possible. No-one may keep items found.
    • e) No-one may use any School equipment without the permission of a member of staff.
    • f) No-one may borrow from another pupil without her permission.
    • g) Pupils below Year 11 are not permitted to use music devices in School.
    • h) Mobile phones must be switched off during lessons and may be used in School only if absolutely necessary. They may not be used in the corridors or the lunch hall. Misuse will lead to confiscation.
      • i) Any items of portable electrical equipment (laptops, music devices, mobile phone chargers) must be tested for electrical safety prior to being plugged into the School electrical supply. Arrangements for the test can be made by completing a form and submitting the form and appliance to the Assistant Bursar for testing. A charge will be made for this service and added to the fee account.
  8. Library and Private Study
    • a) During normal lesson times, silence is to be observed in the Library.
    • b) Books, newspapers and journals are the property of the School and must be treated with respect.
    • c) Procedures for borrowing and returning books must be followed.
    • d) No food or drink may be consumed in the Library or Computer Suites.
    • e) Sixth Formers may also study in designated study rooms at certain times.
  9. Standards of Work
    • a) High standards of presentation are required. Written work must be completed neatly in ink.
    • b) Homework must be completed on time and handed in on time.
    • c) Pupils are expected to be well-behaved and attentive in lessons.
    • d) No ink erasers/Tippex may be used.
  10. Break Times
    • a) From Monday to Thursday girls below Year 10 must not be in their form rooms during lunch break unless the weather is bad.
    • b) There is to be no eating or drinking in form rooms. Food and drink must be consumed in the assembly hall. Exceptions are:
      • i) Year 10 and Year 11 pupils may eat break snacks (not packed lunch) in their form rooms.
      • ii) Special occasions with permission from and under supervision of a member of staff.
      • NB: The above privileges will be removed if any mess or litter is found in form rooms or common rooms.
  11. School Premises
    • a) Deliberate damage to or defacement of School premises or property or the property of other pupils is forbidden. Offenders must expect to pay repair costs and to be punished.
    • b) Pupils are expected to own up to accidental damage and bear the cost of repair or replacement.
    • c) Textbooks, exercise books, pupil planners and hymn books must be treated with respect. The cost of replacement of any lost or damaged items will be charged to individuals.
    • d) Out of Bounds areas must be respected. No pupil may go in the following areas without the permission of a member of staff:
      • i) Close to perimeter fences, especially beyond the netball courts.
      • ii) Wooded areas.
      • iii) Kitchens, maintenance rooms, caretakers’ rooms, sheds and equipment stores and building sites.
      • iv) Staff rooms and offices, except the School office only when office staff are present.
    • e) Senior School pupils may not play on the climbing frames.
  12. Uniform and General Appearance
    • a) Correct uniform must be worn at all times, in accordance with the uniform list. This includes time spent in School, on School activities and when going to and from School. The Headmistress may authorise exceptions such as Mufti Days and alternative clothing as required on certain trips.
    • b) Uniform must be neat and tidy. Sensible, low-heeled shoes must be worn.
    • c) For all girls below Year 9, no jewellery may be worn except a watch, which should be engraved with the girl’s name. Girls in Year 9 and above may wear one plain gold or silver stud earring in each ear lobe and a watch (which should be engraved with the girl’s name). No other jewellery is allowed. In the interests of safety, watches and earrings must be removed for P.E. Items of religious significance may only be worn with prior permission from the Headmistress.
    • d) Hair must not be dyed any unnatural colour, must be neat and tidy and tied back if it is shoulder length or longer.
    • e) No makeup or nail varnish may be worn. Girls will be asked to remove these.
    • f) Sixth Formers may wear suitable smart clothing. The Head of Sixth Form has the right to ban clothing deemed unsuitable.
    • g) Games kit may not normally be worn in other lessons or when coming to or going home from School. However, girls may come and go from matches outside normal School hours in kit with the permission of staff.
  13. Privileges
    • a) Certain special privileges apply to Sixth Form including:
      • i) Early afternoons.
      • ii) Extended lunch breaks.
      • iii) Use of music equipment in the common rooms.

        These privileges are at the discretion of the Head of Sixth Form and subject to the satisfactory fulfilment of responsibilities of work and duty.
    • b) Year 11 may use music equipment during lunch breaks in their form rooms.
  14. Sanctions
    The underlying philosophy is to emphasise and promote positive behaviour as set out in the Code of Conduct.
    • a) A yellow card (for academic matters) or a red card (for behaviour matters) issued by a member of staff will be handed to the appropriate Head of Department and then to the Form Tutor. A girl who receives three cards may be required to attend a lunchtime detention.
    • b) After two lunchtime detentions the third detention will be an after-school detention. Parents will be kept informed.
    • c) In the case of persistent offenders, or for serious breaches of the rules, suspension or, ultimately, permanent exclusion may be applied by the Headmistress.
  15. The following are strictly forbidden:
    • a) Chewing gum.
    • b) Tippex and any other solvents.
    • c) Fireworks.
    • d) Offensive weapons.
    • e) Matches, lighters, cigarettes, tobacco, alcoholic drinks. Pupils found in possession of these will be punished, probably by suspension.
    • f) Drugs of any kind except for medical purposes, which should be taken to Matron’s office and dispensed from there. Pupils found in possession of illegal drugs will be severely punished. (Pupils may be given permission to carry emergency items such as inhalers).
    • g) Bullying, whether verbal or physical.
    • h) Offensive language.
    • i) Dropping litter, whether in the grounds or in the classrooms.
  16. Use of ICT
    Pupils are required to follow the School’s ICT Pupil Acceptable Use policy at all times when using School ICT equipment, their own ICT equipment or mobile communications equipment of any kind.