Dress and behaviour regulations
A strong sense of identity through a strong uniform code
Good behaviour and sound attitudes are the foundations of responsibility. Talk and discussion alone cannot acquire them. Teaching and study are insufficient for the inculcation of good habits and a sense of duty; in these matters practice, pride and correction are fundamental and, thus, the School operates a set of rules which all pupils are expected to adhere to every day.
Our boys acquire a sense of duty first of all by knowing that in putting on the QE uniform they take on a reputation which was hard earned by many generations before them. They learn to take pride in their uniform and to honour the debt of tradition by remaking our reputation year by year. They are exhorted to a high level of commitment; to give themselves generously in their duties and their activities for the School. Every effort is acknowledged and approved.
Boys in Year 9 will be dressed in:
- Navy blue blazer ( with School badge attached)
- Plain dark blue or navy shower-proof overcoat/anorak (without motifs) to fully cover blazer
- School tie with House colours
- School blue-coloured long sleeved shirt
- Navy blue v-necked sweater
- Dark grey/charcoal grey long trousers classic style (not baggy)
- Black or dark grey socks
- Plain black sensible shoes
School bags should be:
- Black or navy blue with logo no bigger than a postage stamp
- Strong enough to provide protection for all School books
- Provided with a suitable lock if they are to be left in School.
Mobile telephones and pagers.
The School will accommodate these where parents feel that there are good reasons for their sons having one, such as safety between home and School. However, we must strongly insist that:
- all mobile phones remain switched off during the School day
- they are not used at any time on School premises other than with permission from a member of staff
- they are password-protected and privately insured
- they are NEVER brought into public examinations as this contravenes examination board regulations
- no boy brings a phone capable of taking pictures to School at any time.
Hair
Eccentric or cult hairstyles have no place in this School. Hair will be of uniform length (i.e. without a step cut in it), short and neatly combed and will not be close-cropped, shaven or dyed. Hair gel or similar hair products are not permitted. Any other item deemed unsuitable by the Head of Year will be notified through year assembly.
Boys in Year 9 will already know the importance of these things, but vigilance is important to ensure that standards do not decline. We are grateful to parents for their support over the last year and actively welcome your continued involvement, through Year 9, to secure the ethos which has helped to raise the School to its present eminent position.
We have a code of conduct which is clearly understood by all and boys are expected to behave in a considerate and mature way while they are in School. It is equally important that they should do nothing to tarnish the School’s reputation while travelling to and from School and wearing our uniform.
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Looking after property:
The School provides lockers for the majority of boys and it is in these that students should keep their possessions, particularly at break times and when they are in PE classes. It is the individual’s responsibility to look after his own possessions at all times; possessions should NEVER be left unguarded at any time. Conversely, if any pupil is suspected of stealing, he will be dealt with by using the most severe of sanctions.
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The highest standards of behaviour at all times
The School’s mission is the driving force behind our behavioural management document. We must create an environment, which allows the boys to develop the ability to accept and abide by rules. They must have a sense of right and wrong and they should develop a sense of responsibility, self and mutual respect, honesty, tolerance, compassion, and trust.
The primary objective of the School’s behaviour management policy is to create an environment that promotes good behaviour and high academic standards. The School’s behaviour policy will help to modify pupil behaviour, clarify School procedure and provide advice to staff in the handling of inappropriate behaviour. It will also make clear to pupils and their parents the boundaries and the effect of a pupil’s actions. We continue to have a strong positive influence on our pupils and have the capacity to lead, support and encourage them in developing good behaviour. The good behaviour of pupils at Queen Elizabeth’s School enables effective teaching and learning to take place and gives them every opportunity to reach their full potential. When pupils misbehave they not only prejudice their own educational chances but also the chances of others.
Good behaviour is conduct which assists the school to provide an environment in which effective teaching and learning can take place, and allows boys to achieve their full potential. Our major focus when looking at the school’s behaviour management strategies will be on the vast majority of pupils who behave well. Other sections of this document look at the many strategies already in place to achieve such behaviour.
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Rewards system
Boys will collect good notes in their diaries; when they have filled ten good notes they will let their tutor know and will then be sent to get another good note sheet from the Year Head. The Year Head will record the number of good notes. Ultimately boys will receive awards; a bronze award for 20 good notes, a silver award for 40 and a gold award for 60.
Besides these tangible rewards, boys will also know when their performance has been acknowledged, by the conferral of some post of responsibility. This may be small at first but may culminate in the position of Form Captain for those who best show the qualities of leadership associated with that post.
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Clear and definite action against bad behaviour
It is important that everyone involved has an understanding of what is acceptable and that there is consistency in applying standards to all pupils.
The School will promote positive behaviour both in the classroom and in the wider context of the School. At Queen Elizabeth's School we focus on the positives and recognise the boys for their achievements. The School will also give a clear set of values and make clear the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
Regrettably, there are a minority of pupils who reject the ethos of the School. This is manifested through their patterns of behaviour. The following supportive actions are put in place so that boys might improve this behaviour: special report; use of mentors; quality checks; reprimands; detentions; loss of early day; Head of Department’s detention, exclusion from lessons (both internal and external) ; pupil contracts; Saturday detention; exclusion from School. The majority of boys adopt and contribute to the School’s ethos and do not require the use of these measures.
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A note on plagiarism
In studying GCSEs in some subjects from Year 9, there is a great deal of coursework to be completed and the School recognises the pressure that this places students under. The growth of the internet and e-mail may offer the opportunity to submit work which is not one’s own; it is important, therefore, that students realise that this is something that can lead to immediate disqualification from examinations and is, thus, something which the School will deal with using the strongest of disciplinary sanctions where appropriate.
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Drug education policy
It is the aim of the Queen Elizabeth’s School drug education policy to:
- Provide a protective framework within which staff can teach and young people can be taught
- Ensure that all young people are given opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to make confident, responsible, healthy and informed decisions about drug use and misuse in order to achieve their full potential
- Provide clear guidance on how to respond to drug-related incidents.
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The School seeks to educate its pupils to live healthy lifestyles and to make appropriate choices in doing so. Our programmes of study seek to make pupils fully cognisant of the legal and ethical debates around drug use and misuse. The School also recognises that there may be young people who choose to take risks; however, at no time will the School knowingly permit or tolerate possession, consumption, supply or offer to supply any restricted drugs on the School premises. If any of these offences are committed they will be fully investigated and dealt with, ensuring that drugs use or misuse is challenged using a range of responses and sanctions which reflect the principles of the School and the law of the country. The guiding Principle will be that the possession, use or supply of illegal and other unauthorised drugs within School boundaries is unacceptable.
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