The Edwardian Ethos and Community

St Edward’s is more than an institution. Edwardians feel a strong sense of belonging to the College. Old Edwardians who visit the College in which they spent some of the most important years of their lives are a testament to this. St Edward’s demands that its students behave in a way becoming of an Edwardian. The College ethos of Virtue and Honour, as seen on the College crest, establishes the fundamental Catholic values upon which the College was founded. By the time students leave the College, they will have become worthy Edwardians and fully prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead for them with confidence and determination. This policy document will help our students become the gentlemen that those with a knowledge of St Edward’s expect them to be. In practical terms, it will give our students a clear understanding of the behaviour expected of them during their time at College.

Edwardian Behaviour

St Edward’s College aims to ensure that good behaviour is a quality inherent in our students’ characters. Good behaviour is based on the respect and good-will shown between staff and students and between the students themselves. Thus, the College strives to establish a way of life in which positive behaviour is a by-product of positive relationships, based on respect for others and an ongoing desire to act in a virtuous and honourable manner.  

Aims

It is important that students and parents are aware of the expected behaviour of students attending the College, as well as the fact that there are consequences which have to be faced for displays of misbehaviour.

This policy aims to:

·         Safeguard the rights of all stakeholders

·         Establish the responsibilities of all stakeholders

·         Ensure a clear understanding of expected student behaviour

·         Ensure a clear understanding of College rules and sanctions

Students’ Rights

All students have the right to be part of a happy, constructive and fulfilling learning experience based on respect for oneself, others and the College.

All students have the right to fully partake in the learning environment of the classroom and the recreational environment of the playground during break time.

All students have the right to make full and unhindered use of College facilities at the appropriate time and under appropriate supervision. These include the Library, Gymnasium and other sports facilities, Creative Arts facilities, Canteen, etc.

All students have the right to inform the appropriate authority if they feel that they are being treated unjustly or disrespectfully.

Teachers’ Rights

All teachers have the right to carry out their duties in an unhindered manner.

All teachers have the right to be treated with respect by students, in a manner reflective of their position and professional status.

All teachers have the right to their privacy, including online and whenever they are not on duty.

Students’ Responsibilities

Behaviour

All students are expected to treat fellow students, teachers, management and all other members of the College community with the utmost respect and courtesy. Good manners are to be shown at all times and one’s actions are to be constantly tempered by consideration for others.

All students are expected to partake fully in the educational experience that St Edward’s provides. In class, students are expected to work hard and participate actively.

All students are expected to take an active role in other activities organised outside the classroom, such as sports and the creative arts.

All students are expected to ensure that all College property is kept in perfect condition and working order.

All students are expected behave reasonably and responsibly at all times, including on journeys to and from College.

Appearance

All students are expected to be smart at all times and wear their full uniform with pride, including on journeys to and from College. Parents will be asked to make arrangements to collect their child if they are not wearing full uniform at College and have no justifiable reason.

Students’ hair will be neither too long nor too short. As a general rule, hair is expected to be short and of equal length on either side. The hair should not touch the top of the shirt collar. If a student’s hair is deemed unacceptable, he will be informed of this and expected to remedy the situation forthwith.

Ear rings and/or other jewellery are strictly prohibited.

 Staff Members’ Role

Since parents entrust the College with their son’s upbringing and character development, the role and responsibility of educators goes beyond the teaching of academic subjects. Every staff member’s obligation is to ensure the character development of College students by wholeheartedly and consistently upholding College principles and policies.

Communication with Parents

If students’ behaviour is not up to the expected standard, parents will be informed in writing. The College uses a general note (known as ‘the Green Note’) on which the person making the report writes down the details of the student’s misdemeanour. This system is used to record any misdemeanor requiring official registering and informing of parents.  This note is then given to the parents (usually by the boy). The note is then signed by the parents and returned to the person who has issued the note the following school day. Parents are able to write a comment on the note if necessary. Once a Green Note is handed back to the teacher concerned, it is passed on to the Master of Discipline and recorded in the student’s online Myschool account. The hard copy is entered into the student’s file.

Green Notes are not normally used as a first resort unless in dealing with a serious case of misbehaviour or work that is not up to the expected standard. The note should serve as a warning to the boy that his behaviour or work ethic requires attention. Teachers may ask for the Green Note not to be registered in the student’s file.

Three notes will warrant an afternoon detention, normally until 4.30pm. Parents will be advised at least 24 hours in advance.

If a boy receives a fifth note, he will be detained on a Saturday morning where he will be expected to attend College from 9.00am until 11.30a.m. in full school uniform.

Since parents are aware of the College’s expectations as well as the consequences of their child’s misbehaviour, the College expects their full support.

Sanctions

The College does not employ a system of fixed punishments for specific misdemeanors. It recognises that all incidents occur in their own circumstances and each case is treated on an individual basis.

General Approach

Teachers distinguish between minor incidents which they handle themselves and more serious incidents which are referred to the Master of Discipline, Section Head or Headmaster. All punishments are to respect the dignity of the student. Corporal punishment is strictly forbidden.

Minor cases (e.g. first time missing/below standard homework & schoolwork, minor behavioural issues in and out of class) are dealt with by the teacher concerned.

Some cases, especially of a pastoral nature, can be referred to the Class/House Tutor.

More serious or repeated cases such as disrespect towards teachers, any form of bullying, persistent missing or below standard work, damage to College resources or property, etc. are referred to the Master of Discipline.

General Sanctions

These include, in increasing severity: Stern Verbal Reprimand, Extra Work, Break Detention, Banning from certain school activities, School Community Service, After School Gating, Weekly Report Card, Saturday Gating.

Sanctions for cases of serious or repeated misbehaviour

Suspension: If a student partakes in serious misbehaviour or his/her behaviour does not show signs of improvement after repeated occurrences, the Headmaster may decide to suspended the student from the College for a definite or indefinite period.

Expulsion:  A student may be formally expelled from the College if:

he has committed a grave breach of College discipline;

he has been convicted of a serious criminal offence;

the suspension process is failing to correct repeated misbehaviours.

It is not pleasant or usual for the College to take such action, but this may have to be done in the cases stipulated above in order to safeguard the well-being of the College stakeholders and reputation.

Rewards

The College is happy to recognise positive behaviour. It does so in a variety of different ways. These include:

Teacher Commendation – teachers write a note in the student’s diary or on a separate note to parents in order to inform them of a particular improvement, effort or achievement on the part of their child.

Public recognition of good deeds during Assembly, in the College Gazette and/or on the College website.

House Prize: this may be awarded in a special assembly at the end of each term or Academic Year to a student who has made a significant improvement in his academic or personal development. Up to two prizes may be given per year group. Class and House Tutors, Teachers, Heads of Department, Section Heads and the Headmaster may all put forward recommendations. A specifically set-up committee will choose the final winners.

Bullying

At St Edward’s, we adopt a zero-tolerance policy to bullies and bullying. Stern sanctions will follow when a student has been found to be bullying others. Students who show tendencies to being bullies are given all the help they need to change their ways – if they do, the community will welcome them.

Illegal Substances

St Edward’s College will not tolerate the use (or misuse) of drugs or any other illegal substances. Any drug-abuse cases will be dealt with swiftly and severely.

Other Disciplinary Measures

Academic Matters

When a student in Year 7 and 8 fails to obtain the 45% overall average mark in the Annual Examinations or in the combination of Mid-Year and Annual Exams for two consecutive years, regardless of the year group to which the student belongs, he may be asked to leave the College or repeat the year.

Students in Years 9 and 10 may be asked to choose between:

                (a) repeating the academic year if an average of 45% in five core subjects has not been achieved, or

                (b) leaving College if the student has failed to obtain an average of 45% in five subjects after having repeated Year 10.

Students in Year 11 may apply to the Headmaster for approval to drop subjects which they do not intend to sit for at the end of the academic year. If approval is given, these students are all still expected to remain in class to do extra work or study and must follow the strict rule of ‘perfect silence’.  Failing this, their ‘opt out’ privilege will be immediately revoked by the subject teacher.

Electronic Equipment

Students are not allowed to bring mobiles, iPods, MP3 players, iPads or any other electronic and/or expensive equipment to school. If a student provides a justifiable reason to bring in a mobile phone on a specific day, concessions may be granted as deemed necessary. In this case, the mobile phone is to be handed in to the Headmaster’s Secretary or Head of Section as soon as the student arrives at College and collected at the end of the school day. Mobile phones shall not be handed to any other person for safekeeping during the school day. Failing this, any of these items will be confiscated immediately by The Head of Section or Master of Discipline and kept for one week.  Parents will be informed. In the case of a second offence, the item will be confiscated and returned at the end of term.

Students from Year 1 to Year 11 are not allowed to bring laptop computers to College.

Behaviour on the School Bus

Students who misbehave on College buses and/or vans may be suspended by the Headmaster and the Master of Discipline for a definite or indefinite period. Bus monitors are appointed to ensure that good behaviour prevails. Kindly see the separate College Policy “Expected Behaviour on the School Bus” for more details.

September 2012