The Purcell School - Handbook for Parents & Guardians by Chris Knight

ThePurcellSchoolisacompanylimitedbyguarantee(CompanyNo.759327),andalsoaregisteredcharity (CharityNo.312855).TheSchoolisregulatedbytheDepartmentforEducation(www.education.gov.uk)and inspectedbytheIndependentSchoolsInspectorate(www.isi.net).TheGoverningBodyistheownerofthe School ThecurrentChairoftheGoverningBody,DrBernardTraﬀord,canbecontactedthroughtheClerkto theGovernors,theBursar,AdamWroblewski(a.wroblewski@purcell-school.org).

ThePurcellSchool AldenhamRoad Bushey Herts WD232TS www.purcell-school.org

SchoolOﬀice&GeneralEnquiries: Tel:01923331100

Fax:01923331166

Email:info@purcell-school.org OR schooloﬀice@purcell-school.org

PrincipalʼsOﬀice: Tel:01923331104

Email:principal@purcell-school.org

Bursar: Tel:01923331127

Email:awroblewski@purcell-schoolorg

ThenameandjobtitleforallcurrentmembersofstaﬀarelistedontheSchoolwebsite: www.purcell-school.org/about-us/staﬀ-list

Alistofemailaddressesandtelephonenumbersforstaﬀissenttoallparentsatthebeginningofeach academicyear.

NB Pleaseclickthehyperlinkheadingsbelowtotakeyoutoeachrelevantsection

WELCOMEFROMTHEPRINCIPAL

AtThePurcellSchoolwebelieveeveryindividualstudentisspecial,iscapableofextraordinaryachievement andhasarighttoexpectoutstandingsupportineveryaspectoftheirschoollife.Wewanteveryoneofour studentstobesafe,healthyand,perhapsmostimportantly,happy.Allofourstaﬀarecommittedtoensuring thatyourchildhasanexceptionalexperiencehere;wewantthemtocreatememoriestheywilltreasureforthe restoftheirlives!Therelationshipweformwithyouasparentsisavitalpartofsupportingstudentsandyou mustalwaysfeelthatyoucancontactustoshareinformation,toaskquestionsand,inparticular,todiscuss anyconcerns Iwillalsoberemindingstudentsthattheythemselvesshouldneverbeembarrassedor reluctanttoshareanyworriesorconcernswithus;wearehereforthemandwillalwaysrespondwhena studentasksforourhelporadvice.Iwouldbegratefulifyoucouldalsoreinforcethisimportantmessage throughouttheyear

Thishandbookaimstoprovideinformationyoumightneedduringastudentʼstimeattheschool.Itisnot comprehensive,butitcoversmostofthemainissuesthatusuallyariseandgivesaflavourofhowtheschool operates.Forconvenience,thelatestversionofthishandbookisalsoavailableontheSchoolwebsite: https://www.purcell-school.org/school-life/other-documents/

ThePurcellSchoolisafriendly,vibrantandhappyplace Ifyouaretheparentofanewstudent,restassured thattheywillsoonmakefriendsandflourish.Ifyouaretheparentofareturningstudent,youcanbeassured ofourcontinuedcommitmenttoexceptionalprovisionandcare

PaulBambrough Principal

MISSIONSTATEMENT

Mission

ThemissionofThePurcellSchoolistoprovideyoungmusicianswhodemonstratethepotentialtobecome exceptional(irrespectiveofbackground)withoutstandingteachingwithinasupportiveschoolenvironment andtoequipthemwiththeself-confidence,adaptability,maturityandperspectivetosustaintheir professionaldevelopmentandpersonalfulfilmentthroughouttheirlives.

Aims

● Tosustainasafe,happyandhealthyenvironmentinwhichallcanflourishmusically,academicallyand emotionally

● Todeliveroutstandingmusicalandacademiceducation

● Toprovidearangeofhigh-profileanddevelopmentalperformanceopportunities

● Todeliverpersonalisedpastoralcareandsupportsothattheindividualneedsofeachstudentaremet

● Toprovideaccesstomusicalopportunityandwidenparticipationinareaswherethisisespecially diﬀicult

● Maintain(asfarasispracticallypossible)openaccessbyadmittingstudentssolelyontheability,not accordingtofinancialmeans

SECTIONA:SCHOOLROUTINES&ADMINISTRATION

A1:THESCHOOLDAY

Forboarders,theschooldaybeginswithearlymorningpractice(for studentsinY7-Y11-dependingontheday oftheweek),followedbybreakfastat8.20am.

Daystudentsshouldnotbeinschoolbefore8.00am,andshouldleavethepremisesnolaterthan4.00pm (Years7-8)or600pm,unlesstheyarerequiredtostayforanorganisedschoolactivitysupervisedbyamember ofstaﬀ. Inexceptionalandoccasionalcircumstances,permissiontostaylateratschoolisatthediscretionof thehouseparentandmustbesoughtinadvanceandconfirmedinwriting(textoremailisfine).Daystudents mustalwayssigninwiththeirhouseparentonarrivalatschoolinthemorning,andmustalwayssignoutfrom theirhousebeforeleavingschoolattheendoftheday.

DailyRoutines(Weekdays)

Classroomlessonsstartontimeandfinish3minutesearlywhenfollowedbyanotherlesson.Assembliesand tutorialsstartat8.40am.

BOARDERS

DAYSTUDENTS

8.40am Assemblies,TutorPeriod,LessonsorMusicBlock-seebelow

10.20am Break– inthedininghall

1040am Lessons

1240pm+110pm Lunchinthedininghalland LunchtimeConcerts Registration,byhouse,intheDiningHallorinhouse,asadvised 1.40pm Lessons

3.40-4.00pm Break–inthedininghall

400-500pm Y9-Y13:MusicBlock(MonandWeds), Lessons(TuesandThurs) Y7-Y8:Freetime,Prep

545pm+610pm Supper andregistrationinthedininghall

7pmonwards EveningRoutines -

AvisonDaystudentssignoutand leaveby4.00pmunlessattendinga staﬀ-supervisedactivity

SeniorDaystudentssignoutand leaveby6.00pmunlessattendinga staﬀ-supervisedactivity

Assemblies/Tutor/Lessons/MusicBlockperiod(Mon-Fri8.40-9.00)

ACTIVITY

LOCATION

Monday WholeSchoolAssembly-allstudents CPHall

Tuesday MusicBlock Asperindividualtimetables

Wednesday Y7-Y9Assembly CPHall.Allotheryearsintutorial

Thursday Y10-Y11Assembly CPHall.Allotheryearsintutorial

Friday TY12-Y13Assembly CPHall.Allotheryearsintutorial

DAYSTUDENTSINFORMATION

ArrivingandDepartingSchool

8am–8:40am ArriveatschoolandregisterinHouses

1:10–1:20pm AllstudentsregisterintheirrespectiveHouses

4pm

5pm

6pm

AvisonYear7-8StudentssignoutinHouseandmustbecollectedby4pm

Year9StudentssignoutofHouseandmustbecollectedby5pmunlesstheyareattending astaﬀsupervisedactivityandhavearrangedtostaylater.

Year10-13studentssignoutofHouseandleaveby6pmunlesstheyareattendingastaﬀ supervisedactivityandhavearrangedtostaylater

RequestsforDayStudentstostayforsupperneedtobemadeinadvanceandstudentswillbechargedfor extramealsattheendoftheterm,unlesstheyarerequiredtostayforastaﬀ-supervisedandorganised musicactivity.

BOARDINGHOUSEROUTINES

DailyRoutine(Monday–Friday)

7.20am

Earlymorningpractice Y7,8,9 (Tues,Weds,Thurs)

Earlymorningpractice Y10and11 (Mon-Ellington,Fri-Sunley)

730am - SixthFormandnon-EMPWakeUp

8.00am - SixthFormdressedandreadytoleave →Registration→Breakfastindininghall

8.20am Breakfast(Yrs7,8,9) Breakfast(Y9+EMP)

8.40am

Assembly, MusicBlockORTutorials→Lessons BoardingHousesoutofbounds untilbreak,forcleaninguntilbreak,aerwhich SixthFormmayworkinhousewiththepermissionoftheirhouseparent.

10.20am-10.40am Break– inthedininghall Break.Housesre-openforbreakonly.

12.40pm+1.10pm Lunchinthedininghalland LunchtimeConcerts–Registration 12.40pm-AvisonandSunley 1.10pm-Ellington

1.40pm Lessonsresume

340-400pm Break– inthedininghall

4.00-5.00pm Y9:MusicBlock(MonandWeds), AcademicLessons(TuesandThurs) Y7-Y8:ReturntoHouse

MusicBlock(Monday/Wednesday), AcademicLessons(Tuesday/Thursday)

5.00-6.00 PrepYear7&8 ActivityYear9 Scheduledmusicactivities

5.45pm+6.10pm Supper inthedininghall-Registration 5.45pm-AvisonandSunley 6.10pm-Ellington

615-715pm Eveningpractice(Y7–Y8) PrepY9 Prep7pm-830pm 715pm EveningPracticeY9from715pm HouseTimeYear7&8

BedtimeRoutine(Monday–Friday)

815pm Yrs7-8:Meetinthe CommonRoom→ handin electronics. Allinroomsby830pm –readorquiettime.

930pm 9.45pm Y9backinhouse → phoneshandedin → Upstairs Y10/11backinhouse→ phoneshandedin →Upstairs 9pm Lightsout(Y7-8) 10.00pm Y12/13backinhouse

830pm9.30pm 9.45pm Y9Freetime Handinelectronics→ Upstairs Lightsout 1015pm 10.45pm Y10/11 Lightsout Y12/13 Upstairs Y12&13 Bedtime

WeekendRoutines

TherearenopreptimesonFriday,SaturdayorSundayeveningsandthereisnoearlymorningpracticeon SaturdayorSundaymornings. S A

830-900am RegistrationinBoarding Houses

9.00am Breakfast 10.30–12.30pm Brunch:Registerwith Houseparent 9.30am Saturdaymorning activities-Registerin DiningHallwithMrFong

12.30pm Lunch

5.45pm+6.10pm Supper 5.45pm+6.10pm Supper 800pm Socialactivities 800pm AllstudentsinHouse Normalhouseevening routines

A2:THESCHOOLYEAR

Termdatesarepublishedatleastayearinadvanceandcanbefoundontheschoolwebsite Theschooloﬀers longholidays,includingthreeweeksatbothChristmasandEasterandafortnightʼshalfterminOctober.We thereforerequireyounottotakeyourchildoutofschoolduringtermtime

Exeatweekendsusuallyoccuronceeachhalfofterm Theschool(includingallboardinghouses)isclosed throughouttheexeatweekend,whichcansometimesincludetheFridaybeforeortheMondayfollowing. Studentsgotoparentsorguardiansforthewholeofeachexeatweekend.

Datesofexeatsfortheyearcanbefoundontheschoolwebsite wwwpurcell-schoolorg/school-life/term-dates/

Allstudentsarerequiredtobeavailableforschoolconcertsifaskedtoperform,includingthosewhichtake placeatweekendsorduringschoolholidays.Keydatesarepublishedinadvanceonourwebsite.

A3:ATTENDANCE

Allstudentsareexpectedtobeinschoolforthecoreworkinghours(Monday–Thursday,8.40amuntil5pm; Friday8.40amuntil3.40pm)unlessgivenpermissiontobelate/absentorengagedinanorganisedschool activity(eg aschooltrip)

Unlessspecificpermissionhasbeengiventogohomeearly,alldaystudentsmuststayinschooluntiltheirlast commitmentoftheday.SixthFormdaystudentsmayleavethepremisesaertheirlastcommitmentofthe dayprovidingtheyhavepermissiontodosofromtheirHouseparentorHeadofSixthForm.

Ifastudentwishestomissschoolforanyreason,aparentorguardianmustmakeadetailedabsencerequest byemail,14daysinadvance,tostudentabsence@purcell-schoolorg

A4:CONTACTINGTHESCHOOL

Forpastoralandhousematters,youshouldalwayscontactyourchildʼsHouseparentdirectly. Forotherschool mattersduringtheschoolworkingday,youcantelephoneoremailtheSchoolOffice01923331100 or schooloffice@purcell-school.org. Theofficestaffwilldotheirbesttohelp,orwilldirectyoutosomeonewho can Outsidethenormalschooldayandatweekends,pleasecontactyourchildʼsHouseparent

Parentsarewelcometoentertheschoolpremisesduringtheschooldaytodeliverorcollectitemsfortheir children,andshouldalwaysreportfirsttoReception.Parentswhowishtoseemembersofstaﬀshouldalways makeappointmentsinadvanceandshouldreporttoReception.Parentsareaskednottoenterschool buildingswithoutcheckinginwithReceptionfirst

ParentsofboardersareaskedtoalwaysletHouseparentsknowinadvance whencomingtovisittheirchildren intheboardinghouseorwhentakingtheirchildrenout.Whenparents/guardiansarriveattheBoarding HousetheyshouldmakecontactimmediatelywiththeHouseparentortutorondutyatthetime.Parentsare notallowedupstairsexceptonthefirstandlastdayoftermtohelpwithpacking.

Absencesduetoillnessmustbereportedimmediatelytostudentabsence@purcell-schoolorgandthe Houseparentbyemail.

A5:COMMUNICATION

Asuccessfuleducationreliesonpartnershipbetweenschoolandparents Webelievethatthisisbestachieved bylayingdownclearlinesofcommunicationandthispolicyexplainsourapproach.

SchoolPost

AnaccounthasbeencreatedforyouonThePurcellSchoolʼsʻSchoolPostʼparentcommunicationsystem.The schoolwillusethesystemtosendyouemails(andoccasionallytextmessages);italsoprovidesyouwitha personalonline'mailbox'whereyoucanalwaysviewarecordofallyourmessagesfromtheschooland,where appropriate,completesimplereplyforms.

Publicationswithshortmessagesfromtheschoolwillcometoyourinboxusingthisemailaddress.Thiswill containalinktothefullpublicationwithanydocumentsandanopportunitytoreply.

StudentFormssuchastheDataCollectionsheetcanbedownloadedfromSchoolPostandreturnedto schooloﬀice@purcell-schoolorg

Academic/InstrumentalreportingisalsocommunicatedviaSchoolPost

TheWeeklyHighlightsarenormallypublishedontheschoolwebsiteonFridayaernoonofeachweekduring termtime,andwillincludeitemsofschoolnews,administrativemattersandalistofsomeforthcoming events.Theschoolcalendarcanbefoundontheschoolwebsite,alongwithtermdatesandexeats.

EmergencyAnnouncements

Inthecaseofanyemergency,includingwhentheschoolisclosedastheresultofanemergency,information toparents,guardiansandfamilieswillbepublishedinitiallyonthefrontpageoftheschoolʼswebsite www.purcell-school.org.Thiswillalwaysbetheprimarysourceofsuchinformation.

InitialContact

Ifyouhaveaqueryoraconcern,youshouldnormallydirectittoyourchildʼs

● Tutor(academicmatters),

● HeadofDepartment(musicalmatters)or

● Houseparent(pastoralandwelfarematters)

NB.Eachhousehasaʻdutyʼmobilephonesothatmembersofthehousepastoralteamcanbecontacted duringboardinghours,andhouseteamsshareaccesstothehouseemailaddress,sothatmessagescanbe pickedup(andrespondedto,asappropriate),bywhoeverisonduty.

Wewillcontactyouifwehaveconcernsaboutyourchildʼswelfare,performanceorbehaviourwhichwethink shouldbebroughttoyourattention.Allstaffcanbecontactedbyemail:emailaddressesforcurrentmembers ofstaffarelistedontheSchoolwebsite. Alistofemailaddressesandtelephonenumbersforstaffissenttoall parentsatthebeginningofeachacademicyear.

Ifyouhaveanyconcernsregardingyourchildʼseducationorwelfare,pleasedosharethesewithusassoonas possible Itisdiﬀicultforustoproperlyinvestigateanincidentorproblemwhichhashappenedsometime ago,andsituationscanchangequicklywithyoungpeople,soitisimperativetorespondtowelfareconcernsas quicklyaspossible.

DetailsoftheschoolʼsComplaintsProcedurecanbefoundattheendofthishandbook.

DisciplinaryMatters

WeaskparentstosupporttheschoolʼsBehaviour&SanctionsPolicy(whichcanbefoundonourwebsite) This includes agreeing that students may occasionally have to serve a detention aerschoolandtotakingyour childhomeduringtermifsuspended.

Wewillnotautomaticallycontactyouifyourchildisintroubleforsomethingminor.However,wewillalways contactyoutodiscussmajorbreachesoftheschoolbehaviourcode,andwhereschoolsanctionsareinvolved

A6:COURTORDERS

IfastudentissubjecttoanyCourtOrderitisessentialthattheschoolisinformed. Thisinformationis confidentialbutwillhelpustounderstandthestudentʼspositionandsupportthem. AcopyofanyCourtOrder willneedtobeprovidedtotheSchoolandheldonthestudentʼsfile

Parentsneedtobeawarethattheschoolhasobligationsinrespectofparentalresponsibility Forfurther information,pleasecontacttheschool.

A7:DATAPROTECTION

PleaserefertotheSchoolwebsitefordetailsoftheDataProtectionPolicyandspecificPrivacyStatementsfor studentsandparents.

A8:TRANSPORT

TheSchoolusesataxifirmfullylicensedandvettedbyHertsmereBoroughCouncil,thelocalauthority.A1 ExecutiveTravelGroupLtdcanbebookedandpaidforviaappbyparents/guardians.Pleasecontactthe schooloﬀiceforadditionalinformationorsupportregardingbookingoftransport.

A9:INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS

AllstudentswhoseparentsarenotpermanentlyresidingintheUKarerequiredtohaveaGuardianintheUK PleaseseetheGuideforParents&GuardiansofOverseasStudentsforfurtherdetails.

AlladministrativequeriesrelatingtovisasforoverseasstudentsshouldbereferredtoMrsCarolineFletcher c.fletcher@purcell-school.org

A10:PROPERTY

StudentLockers

Theschoolhasorganisedlargeandsecurelockerstoaccommodategrowingdemandforstudentstorage.This significantlyreducesanypotentialrisksassociatedwithstoringinstrumentalequipmentandothervaluable day-to-dayitemsinunsafeplaces,(althoughstudentsshouldnotbringlargesumsofmoneyorothervaluables toschoolunlessabsolutelynecessary)Studentsareaskednottoleavetheirbelongingsintheschool corridors,butinsteadtousethelockerswhichareavailable.LockersareavailabletohireforbothDayand BoardingStudentsandforlargerinstruments,aseparatearrangementcanbemadeeitherwiththeHeadof Department(HOD)orahouseparents.

WeencourageparentstorentalockerfromtheʻIndependentLockerSolutionsLtdʼ,whoadministertherental fortheschool.Theyearlycostforalockeris£35whichisspreadtermly(£10pertermand£5whenbookinga locker) Thekeyswillbesentdirectlytotheparent/guardian Forthoselivingabroad,lockerkeyscanbe collectedfromtheSchoolOﬀiceatthestartoftheterm.Boardershaveasmallsafeintheirbedrooms.

LostpropertyisnormallyhandedintotheSchoolOﬀice,althoughboardersshouldalsocheckwiththeir Houseoﬀice. Attheendofterm,anypropertynotreclaimedwillbedisposedof.

Studentsareresponsibleforlookingaerschoolbooksandsheetmusicissuedtothem.Damageandlosswill bechargedtoparents,aswilldamagetoschoolproperty(eg brokenwindows)

A11:PUBLICITY

Aspartofourmarketingstrategy,weregularlytakephotographsandmakeaudioandvideorecordingsof concerts,whichmaysubsequentlybeusedintheschoolprospectus,socialmedia,inpressreleasesoronour website.Ifyoudonotwishustousephotographs,audioorvideoofyourchildinthisway,pleaseinformthe Schoolusingschooloﬀice@purcell-schoolorg

Pleasenotethatourmarketingstrategyonly identifiesindividual studentsinphotographs/video/recordings whenthisiscentraltothestory,andonlythenbyfirstnameandinitial

A12:SMOKING

PleasenotethatThePurcellSchoolanditscampusisanon-smokingenvironment.Parentsareaskedto respectthisatalltimes,includingoutsidebuildingsandanywhereontheschoolgrounds.Pleasenotethatour definitionofsmokingincludesvaping,e-cigarettesandʻShishapensʼ

A13:FINANCIALINFORMATION

PersonalExpenses/PocketMoney

Allstudents,bothdayandboarding,shouldhaveadequatefundswiththemeachdaytoprovidethemwiththe meanstomeetanylikelyexpenses(snacks,etc).Boardingstudentsshouldbeprovidedwithaccesstofunds, whichcanbecontrolledbypersonalarrangementwithHouseparentsorabank TheSchoolregretsthatit cannotprovideloanstostudents.

StudentsReceivingExternalInstrumentalLessons

Asarule,externallessonsarediscouraged. Ourfullpolicyonexternalmusiclessonsisonthewebsite;thefirst paragraphisprintedbelow

ThePurcellSchoolprovidesworld-classspecialisttuitioninmusictostudentsthroughtheemploymentofan exceptionallywell-qualifiedandexperiencedstaﬀ.TheSchoolalsosupportsanumberofstudentstoaccess theprovisionoﬀeredatjuniorconservatoiredepartmentsonSaturdays. Everyyearasmallnumberof studentswishtoreceiveinstrumentaltuitionfromaspecificteacherwhoisneitheremployedbytheschool noraconservatoirejuniordepartment.Eachrequestmustbeassessedonitsownmeritsandtheschoolmust satisfyitselfthatitisinthebestinterestofthestudenttostudywiththeproposedteacher Insuchcases,the schoolmustthensatisfyitselfthatadequatemeasuresareinplacetoprotectthesafetyandwellbeingofthe student

Forstudentswhoseplaceincludesaninstrumentalallowance,thecostofexternallessons(asapprovedbythe MusicDepartment),includingconsultationlessons,maybesetagainsttheallowance. Invoicesshouldbe submittedtotheFinanceOﬀice.

Forstudentsattendingoneofthejuniormusiccolleges,anamountequivalenttotheSchoolʼsinternal teachersʼhourlyratecanbesetagainsttheallowanceinrespectoftheindividualinstrumentallessons receivedatthecollege. ThearrangementmustbediscussedwithandapprovedbytheappropriateHoDin writingbeforethejuniorcollegecoursecommences. InvoicesshouldbesubmittedtotheSchoolFinance Oﬀiceonatermlybasis

Externalteachersshouldsubmittheirinvoicesforlessonfeestoparentsinthefirstinstance,whoshould forwardacopytotheappropriateHoDtobeapproved. TheSchoolwillthenreimburseparentsuptothe amountavailableintheinstrumentalallowance,aertakingintoaccountanylessonsbeingreceivedwithin School.

AnyqueriesshouldbedirectedtoMrsSuePickardintheFinanceoﬀice

MDSStudents-AdditionalAssistance

WhereparentsofMDS-fundedstudentshavebeenpreviouslynotifiedthattheyqualifyforassistancewith travelexpensesanduniformexpenses,parentsshouldsubmitreceiptstotheFinanceOﬀicefor reimbursement.

SECTIONB:PASTORALINFORMATION

B1HOUSES

AllstudentsatThePurcellSchoolaremembersofoneofthreeHouses:

Avison(mixed,Years7-9,boardersanddaystudents)

Sunley(girls,Years10-13,boardersanddaystudents)

Ellington(mixed,Years10-13,boardersanddaystudents)

EachHouseisunderthegeneralpastoralsupervisionofaHouseparent,assistedbyresidentAssistant Houseparentsand/oraDayMatronandotherstaﬀwholivewithintheboardinghouses Allstudentsalsohave aTutorwhoseesstudentsfortwoorthreeTutorialperiodseachweek,andboardingstudentsadditionally haveaboardingmentor.Thetutorsandmentorsareresponsibleformonitoringacademicprogress,balanceof commitmentsandpromotingstudentwelfare

B2CHILDPROTECTION

TheSchoolaimstokeepallstudentssafeandtocreateanenvironmentwheretheyfeelsecureenoughto discusstheirconcerns TheSchooltrainsallstaﬀtorecognisewhenyoungpeopleareinneedofhelp Ifyou haveanyconcernsaboutthebehaviourofanyadultorotherstudent,youmusttellsomeoneimmediately. Thebestpeopletotellaretheschool'ssafeguardingteam;MrSzafranski,MrBurns,MsWhitty,MsShah,Mr Hoskins,MrsMitchellorMrBambrough.

B3ANTI-BULLYINGPOLICYincludingCyber-Bullying

Theschoolisdeterminedthatnokindofbullyingwillbetolerated Theschoolʼsanti-bullyingpolicycanbe foundontheschoolwebsite.

B4ASSEMBLIES

StudentsmeetasacommunityeveryMondaymorningforawholeschoolassembly Comingtogetherto collectivelylearnabouttheworld,shareexperiences,andcelebrateeachotherʼssuccesseshelpstudentsand staﬀforgeacommunityspirit,asenseofpurposeandafeelingofpride Inadditiontoawholeschool assemblythereareadditionalassembliesduringthetermforbothlowerandupperyeargroups.

SchoolCouncil

ASchoolCouncilisorganisedbytheHeadsofSchool,withrepresentativesfromeachyeargroup.Itusually meetseveryhalftermandstudentsarewelcometoputforwardtopicsfordiscussion

B6:BOARDINGSTATEMENT

Tobereadinconjunctionwith:

● ChildProtectionandSafeguardingPolicy

● BoardingStaﬀHandbookandStudentHandbooks

Introduction

Theimperativeofsafeguarding,asoutlinedinKCSIESeptember2022,andappliedthroughThePurcell SchoolʼsSafeguardingandChildProtectionPolicy,underpinsourentireapproachtoboarding Boardinghouse teamsunderstandtheyhaveaʻdutyofcareʼtosafeguardandpromotethewelfareofallstudents,andtowork inpartnershipwithstudents,staﬀ,parents,widerpastoralteamsandexternalagencies,asappropriate,tobest fulfilthisdutyofcareandtoensurethewellbeingandpersonaldevelopmentofeachindividualstudent

ThestrongpastoralframeworkatThePurcellSchoolprovidesthefoundationforstudentstofulfiltheir potential,recogniseanddeveloptheirstrengthsindiﬀerentareasoftheirlivesandflourishinthebeliefthat theyarevaluedandrespected.

OuraimatThePurcellSchool istoensurethattheenvironmentisonewherethefocusisonpraiseand encouragementwhereboundariesaresetclearlyandgently Studentsareexpectedtovaluetheschoolrules andknowwhatisexpectedofthem,developinghighstandardsfortheirownbehaviour.Ultimately,wehope thatallindividualswillleaveThePurcellSchool asyoungadultswhovalueandrespecteachother,thenatural worldandmostimportantly,themselves

WearealsomindfuloftheneedforlifeatThePurcellSchool toupholdtheFundamentalBritishValuesof Democracy,theRuleofLaw,thepromotionofIndividualLiberty,andRespectandToleranceforthosewith diﬀerentfaithsandbeliefs

TheSchooliscontinuallyappraisingboardingprovisiontoenableittoconstantlyimproveitscarefor boarders;theSchoolwelcomesbothparentalandstudentinputinhelpingittomeetitsaims

TheBoardingEthosDerivesFrom:

● Housecommunitieswhichpromotemutualrespect,kindnessandhonestyamongstallthestudents andstaﬀ.

● Housecommunitiesinwhichstudentsareknownandvaluedasindividuals.

● Anatmospherebasedontrustandasharedunderstandingoftheʻdutyofcareʼ,wherestudentsfeel abletoapproachallmembersofstaﬀconfidentintheknowledgethattheywillbelistenedtoand treatedwithrespect Theyknowthatstaﬀseektheirviewsonboardinglife,valuethemandtakethem seriously.Theyalsofeelabletosimplysharegoodthingsthathavehappenedaswellasseeking supportwhenchallengesarise.

● Anatmosphereinwhichstudentsareaccountablefortheirindividualactionsandplaytheirpartin helpingstaﬀfulfiltheirdutyofcaretowardsthem.

● Anatmospherewhichpromotesanunderstandingofeachothersʼdiﬀerences,inclusionandkindness –andwherebullying,harassmentandintolerancearerecognisedasunacceptable.

● Anenvironmentwhichfacilitates astrongsenseofrespectandunderstandingforstudentsfrom diﬀerentcountriesandculturesandcelebratesdiversitywithinthecommunity,engenderingagood understandingofequalityanddiversitywithintheschoolandwidercommunity.

● Aninclusive,safespacewherethereisclearsupportforasafe,openlearningenvironmentfreeofslurs Noinsults-verbalornon-verbalrelatedtoability,appearance,culture,genderidentity,home language,race,ethnicity,religion,sexualorientationorsocialclasswillbetolerated These expectationsarerootedineducation,helpingtoraiseboth awarenessandempathyabouttheharm donebyslurs

● Anenvironmentwhichenablesstudentstodeveloptheiracademicandmusicaltalentsthrough well-structuredstudytime,goodroutines,thepromotionofpersonalself-disciplineandbalanced lifestyles,includingagoodunderstandingoftheimportanceof sleephygieneandnutrition

● Anenvironmentwherearangeofactivities,hobbiesandopportunitiesforleadershipandinitiative assistinthepersonal,socialandculturaldevelopmentofeachstudent

● Anenvironmentwhichiscomfortable,suitedtotheneedsofstudentsandwhichrecognisesthat althoughlivingtogetherinaclosecommunity,staﬀandpupilsacknowledgetherightofeachotherto privacy.

● Anenvironmentthatis,asfaraspossible,freefromphysicalhazardsanddangersofanysortsothatall studentsatThePurcellSchoolareallowedtothrivewithinasafeandhappyenvironment

TheBoardingEthosWill:

● Developstudentsʼresponsibility,respectandkindnesstowardseachother,thenaturalworldandmost importantlythemselves.

● Encourageallstudentstotakeresponsibilityfortheirpersonaldevelopment.Throughregular self-reflectionandexplorationwiththeirHouseparentand/orBoardingMentorallstudents recognise wheretheirindividualcharacterstrengthslieandwhattheycandotonurturethesestrengthstofulfil theirpotential Everyoneisalsoencouragedtolookbeyondtheirnaturalstrengthsand-ina supportiveenvironment–challengethemselvestoreachbeyondtheirlimits,takingrisksandlearning theimportanceoffailureforpersonalgrowth.

● Developstudentsʼqualitiesofleadershipandabilitytoworkproductivelyandpositivelyaspartofa teamaswellasconsistentlylisteningtoandstandingupforotherstoensurethehouseremainsasafe andinclusivespace

● Encouragestudentstocontributetotheneedsandwelfareofothersinthehouseandschool,aswell asthoseinthewidercommunitythroughopportunitiessuchas theschoolʼsoutreachprogramme

● Celebratethecontributionandachievementofstudentsinallareasofschoollife,individuallyand collegially.

Avison

AverywarmwelcometoAvisonHousefordayandboardingstudentsfromYear7to9

AvisonissituatedawayfromthemainSchoolinitsowngardens.Westrivetocreateawelcomingandhomely atmosphereandarefullycommittedtoprovidingyouwithasafeandsecureHouse. Youwillbeableto developbothacademicallyandsocially,becomingconfident,wellroundedindividuals AvisonisledbyMs Hawkins,Houseparent,andAssistantHouseparent,MrConquer.Weareallheretosupportyouduringyour timeinAvison,inacommunitybasedonmutualtrustandrespect

Ellington

WelcometoEllington;acommunityforboardersanddaystudentsinYears10–13.

MrCubarsiisHouseparentandalongwiththeAssistantHouseparents,MsMrozek,DayMatronMrsMendes daCosta,plusateamofwonderfulGraduatestaﬀ,wewillbeonhandtoprovideyouwithsupportand guidancethroughoutyourtimeatPurcell.Weaimtoensurethatallstudentshaveasecure,comfortableand welcomingenvironmentinwhichtogrow,andwearecommittedtodevelopingthesocialandemotionalskills ofallourstudents.WewanteachstudenttoleaveEllingtonasastrongandconfidentindividual,readytotake ontheworld!Ourgoalistoensurethatyoufindabalancebetweenyourmusic,studyingandsocialising,and tocreateahousewhichisinclusiveforallstudentsbasedonmutualrespect,trustandkindness.

Sunley

WelcometoSunley;aHouseforgirls,boardinganddayfromYear10-12.

MissPriceistheHouseparentandMrsHunteristheDayMatron MsBlondistheAssistantHouseparent,and alongwithateamofGraduateAssistantsweaimtoensurethatstudentsfeelsafe,secureandathomewhile theyareatschool Wearecommittedtocreatingacommunitythatisbasedonmutualkindnessandtrust, whereeveryonelooksoutforoneanotherwhilerespectingeachother'sindividuality.TheHouseTeamishere tosupportstudentsmusically,academicallyandsociallyandwewillencouragethemtomaintainahealthy balancebetweenthesediﬀerentareas.Wearealwaysheretosupportandassiststudentssothattheycan achievetothebestoftheirabilitiesandleaveschoolasconfidentindividuals.

B7:MEDICALINFORMATION

TheSchoolHealthCentreisrunbytheSchoolNurses,MrsHilaryAustinandNurseCarolMorgan Allmedical informationisheldinconfidencebythemedicalstaﬀandwillnotbedivulgedwithoutthepermissionofthe student.Studentsareencouragedtokeepparents/guardiansinformedofanymedicalproblemsandifthey

requireprivacyareabletotelephonefromtheSchoolHealthCentre. Parentsofnewstudentsarerequiredto completeamedicalquestionnaire.

HealthCentreHours

AmemberoftheHealthCentreteam isroutinely availableforstudentsfrom0830-1630MondaytoFriday Outsideofthesetimes,NurseCarolMorganisavailableforemergencies,ʻoutofhoursʼmedicalmattersand supportforhealthandwellbeing TheSchoolHealthCentreissituatedonthegroundfloorofDulverton House.

EmergencyContact

Intheeventofillnessorinjuryeveryeﬀortismadetocontacttheparentorguardian.Itisveryimportantthat theSchoolhasanup-to-dateandaccessiblehome/work/mobileorothercontactnumber Untilthestudentʼs parent/guardianiscontacted,theSchoolwilltakeanyactionrequiredinthebestinterestsofthestudent.A numberoftheSchoolstaﬀaretrainedEmergencyFirstAidersandintheeventofanaccident,appropriateFirst Aidwillbegiven.

Intheeventofadaystudentbecomingunwellandrequiringtobesenthome,parentsarecontacted immediatelyandrequestedtocollecttheirchildassoonaspossible.StudentsarecaredforintheSchool HealthCentreuntilparentsarrive

Physiotherapy

Ourvisitingphysiotherapist,DrSUpjohn,attendstheHealthCentreonWednesdays.Anystudentmayrequest anappointmentwithherthroughtheSchoolNurse.DrUpjohnoﬀerssupportandadviceformusicianson maintainingmusculoskeletalwellbeingandavoidingplaying-relatedinjuries

Counselling

OurCounsellor,MsNickyMorris,visitstheHealthCentre on4daysaweektoseestudentsinstrictconfidence. AnystudentmayrequestanappointmentwithherthroughtheHealthCentreorbycontactingthecounsellor directly.

Immunisations

RoutineimmunisationsaregivenattheSchoolandyouwillbeaskedpriortothesessiontoconsenttothis procedure ThisisforHPVinYear8,BCGscreeninginYear9andDiphtheria,TetanusandPolioinYear10

INFORMATIONFORPARENTSOFBOARDERS

Doctor-Registration

BoardersmustregisterwiththeSchoolʼslocalGPpractice(informationissentwiththehealthquestionnaire onadmissiontotheschool).StudentswillundergoaroutinehealthcheckonadmissiontotheSchool, includingheight,weightandurinetest AnystudentundersixteenrequiringaGPappointmentwillbe accompaniedbyoneoftheSchoolNursesoramemberofstaﬀ.Theymayofcoursechoosetoseethedoctor aloneorwiththenursepresent.AllstudentswhohaveasthmawillberequestedtoattendtheGPSurgeryand beunderthecareofthespecialistpracticenursewhowillmonitortheirasthmasymptomsandensurethatthe conditionstayswellcontrolledthroughouttheSchoolyear.

HospitalTreatment/HospitalOut-PatientAppointments

StudentsrequiringtreatmentatthelocalAccidentandEmergencyDepartmentatWatfordGeneralHospital, approximately2.5milesaway,willnormallybeaccompaniedbyoneoftheSchoolNursesoramemberofstaﬀ. Everyeﬀortwillbemadetoinformtheparents/guardiansassoonaspossiblepriortohospitaltreatment(i.e. foranymedicaltreatment,anaestheticoroperationdeemednecessarybyamedicalpractitioner,specialistor surgeon).IfthisisnotpossiblethenthePrincipalorHouseparentactinginlocoparentiswillgiveconsent.

Parentsshouldensuretheyhavecompletedtheyellowconsentform. Boardersundersixteenwillnormallybe accompaniedtoout-patientappointmentsatthelocalhospital.

AdmissiontotheSchoolHealthCentre

Onafewoccasions,somemedicalconditionsmaymakeitnecessaryforastudenttobeadmittedovernightto theHealthCentretoallowmoreclosesupervision.Parentsorguardianswillbeinformed.

Whenstudentsareparticularlyunwell,andhaveapersistentlyhighbodytemperatureorongoingdiarrhoeaor vomiting,everyeﬀortshouldbemadetoensurethattheyaresenthometoparents/guardianstorecover. StudentsmustnotreturntoSchooluntiltheyarefitandwellandsymptomshaveresolvedformorethan48 hours.

Illness

Incasesofmildillness(forexample,heavycolds,migrainesetc)studentsmaybeallowedtorecoverintheir ownrooms.Thenurseswillensurethewell-beingofthestudentbyregularsupervisionandcommunication withtheDayMatronandHouseDutyTeamconcerned.

DentalandOpticalTreatment

Routinevisitstothedentistandopticianshould,wheneverpossible,bearrangedduringtheschoolholidays Allstudentsshouldhave6-to-12-monthlydentalcheck-upsandanannualeyesighttest.Onlyemergency dentaltreatmentisavailableduringtermtime.WestronglyencourageyoutotakeouttheSchoolpersonaland dentalinsuranceplanforaminimalfeethatcoversallpersonal/dentalaccidentandemergencytreatmentfor yourchild.Pleaserefertotherelevantinformationandformsentfromthefinancedepartment.

PrivateMedicalCoverOption

Allstudents,includingoverseasstudents,areeligibleformedicaltreatmentundertheNationalHealthService, whetherroutineoremergency.Thisisfreeofcharge.Parentshavetheoptionoftakingoutprivatemedical coverthroughtheBUPASchoolsScheme.Studentswhohaveprivatemedicalinsuranceintheirhomecountry shouldcheckwiththecompanyconcernedastowhetherthisisvalid/transferableforuseintheUnited Kingdom.IfastudentisalreadycoveredunderaUKprivatemedicalscheme,pleaseindicatethisonthe medicalquestionnaire

StudentsTravellingOverseas

Parents/guardiansshouldmakeanappointmenttoseetheSchoolNurseswellinadvanceoftheschool holidaysifastudentistravellingtoanareathatrequiresimmunisation.Vaccinationscanbearrangedwith parental/guardianconsentatthelocalGPsurgery,andanycostswillhavetobemetbyparents

MedicalTreatmentduringSchoolHolidays

ItisimportantthattheSchoolNurseisinformedofanymedicaltreatment,vaccinationsgiven,andof medicinesprescribedduringtheSchoolholidays[aformissentoutattheendofeveryterm]. Studentsshould bringanynewmedicationstotheHealthCentreonreturntoSchooltoensurethenursingstaﬀareawareof thetreatment.

IfastudentneedstoseeaGPwhilstawayfromSchoolintheUnitedKingdom,itisimportantthattheyare temporarilyregisteredwiththeGPthattheyareseeing Parentsshouldensurewhencompletingthe temporaryregistrationformthattheirpermanentaddressisʻThePurcellSchoolʼ,otherwisetheywill automaticallyberemovedfromtheAttenboroughSurgeryfiles.Ifastudentisinthecareofaguardianovera holidayperiodandbecomesunwell,theguardianshouldliaisewiththeparentsdirectly.

Medications

ItistheSchoolʼspolicythatstudentsdonottakemedicationwithoutsupervision.Nostudentisallowedtobe inpossessionofprescribedorover-the-countermedicationswithoutpriorassessmentbyamemberofthe

SchoolMedicalTeam..Exceptionsareasthmainhalersandadrenalineautoinjectordevices(e.g.EpiPens)for

severeallergies. ParentsshouldsupplytheSchoolwithaspare,namedinhaler/adrenalineautoinjector devicewhichwillthenbestoredinaknown,accessibleplaceincaseofanemergency,orforSchooltrips.

TheSchoolNurseispermittedtoadministersomeover-the-countermedicationsonatemporarybasisas authorisedbyanagreedlistwiththelocalGP.Somemembersoftheteaching/musicstaﬀ/Houseparentsare authorisedtogivesimpleanalgesiaandcoughandthroatremedies Pleaserefertothemedicationslistthatis sentwiththemedicalquestionnaire.Anobjection/exclusionformaccompaniesthisforcompletion.Any medicationsrequiredonaregularbasiswillbeprescribedbytheGP.

VisitingYourChildinTheirBoardingHouse

(outsideofbeginningandendsoftermdrop-oﬀandcollection)

Youareverywelcometovisittheschoolatanytime;pleaseletusknowthatyouwouldliketovisitandwewill adviseastothebesttimesintermsofyourchildʼscommitmentsandtheavailabilityofstaﬀ Forthepurposes ofsafeguardingallstudentsattheschoolwerespectfullyrequestthat:

● parentsarenotallowedupstairsexceptonthefirstandlastdayoftermtohelpwithpacking.

● studentsstaywiththeirparent/guardianatalltimeswhilstintheboardinghouse;

● parentsusethevisitortoiletslocatedonthegroundfloorratherthanstudentsʼfacilities.

InformationfortheParentsofDayStudents

DaystudentsmustattendtheirownGPwhentheneedarises.ParentsshouldadvisetheSchoolthroughout theSchoolyearofanysignificantchangesinstudentsʼhealthandthestudentwillbegivenappropriate supportinSchool.

IllnessAtHome

Anystudentwhoexperiencesahighbodytemperature(380Corabove),diarrhoeaorvomitingmustbeabsent fromSchoolforatleast48hoursaerthesymptomshaveresolved.

Aeraperiodofabsenceduetoillnessorinjury,parentsmustnotifytheSchoolMedicalTeamofany medicationormanagementthatthestudentmightrequireontheirreturntoSchool.Thismustbeintheform ofaletteroutliningtheillness/injuryandthedatesabsentfromschool

AdministrationofMedicationonTripsOutsideSchool

ItistheSchoolʼspolicythatstudentsdonottakemedicationwithoutsupervision.TheSchoolNursesorstaﬀin chargeofatripmayadministercertainmedicationandparentsshouldgivetheirpermissiononthemedical questionnairefordayandboardingstudents

AsthmaandAllergies

Studentswhohaveasthmaorsevereallergiesareencouragedtokeeptheirinhalers/adrenalineautoinjector devices(e.g.EpiPens)withthem. Pleasearrangeforaspare,named,inhaler/adrenalineautoinjectordevices tobegiventotheSchoolNurse. Thiswillbekeptinanallocatedareawithinthegeneralstaﬀroom,foreasy accessibility,andwillbeavailableforuseifastudentlosesorforgetshis/herinhaler. Itwillalsobetakenon Schooltrips

B8:CATERING

TheSchoolprovidesafullcateringserviceinassociationwithIFGIndependent.Boardersareprovidedwith breakfast,lunchandsuppersixdaysaweek,withmid-morningandtea-timesnacksduringtheweek.On Sunday,brunchisserveduntil1230pmandsupperisservedat545pmand610pm

Daystudentsmayelecttotakeluncheverydayaswellasmid-morningandtea-timesnacks.

Daystudentswhowishtohavesupper(orbreakfast)onanoccasionalbasismustsignupintheir boarding-houseswellinadvance,andatthelatestbymorningregistrationofthedayinquestion.Unless previouslynotified,thesemealswillbechargedtoparentsontheschoolbill(£3forsupper) Alternatively,day studentsmaybringapackedlunch.

Wetrytoencouragestudentstoeatahealthyandbalanceddiet Themenus(whicharepublishedeachweek onthecateringnoticeboards)arecarefullymonitoredtoensuretheymeettherequirementsfornutrition. Vegetarianoptionsarealwaysavailable Studentswithspecialdietaryrequirementsarecateredfor

Thecateringstaﬀprovideawidechoiceoffood,sothereshouldalwaysbesomethingforeveryone.

Ifastudenthasanyparticulardietaryneedsorallergies,theyshouldtalkfirsttotheSchoolMedical TeamwhowillliaisewiththeChef.

Bought-inproductsthatmaycontainnuttracesarelabelled,butnonutsofanydescriptionareusedinthe kitchen.Pleasealertusifyourchildhasanallergytonuts,oranyotherproduct.

Weaskparentstosupportourschoolpolicyinrespectofallergiesbynotallowingstudentstobringto schoolanyfooditemsorsweetscontainingnuts.

BacktoContents

SECTIONC:ACADEMICINFORMATION

C1:CURRICULUM

Theaimofourcurriculumistoachieveabalancebetweenmusicalandacademicstudies Althoughtheexact shapeofthecurriculumwillbediﬀerentfordiﬀerentstudents,thebroadintentionisthatthereshouldbea progressionovertime:youngerstudentsneedalargeramountofacademictimetoensurethatthebasicskills andknowledgeareinplace,andthattheyareabletoachievegoodgradesatGCSEandIGCSE.Astheyget older,theyareexpectedtospendmoretimepractisingtheirinstruments,takingpartinchambermusicand orchestralorchoralgroups,andtheproportionoftimespentonacademicworkmaythereforedecrease. Dependingonastudentʼsageandinstrumentalcommitments,between25%and50%ofcurriculartimeis spentonmusicalactivities

AtGCSE,studentsareadvisedtotakesevenoramaximumofeightsubjects AllstudentstakeIGCSEMusicat thebeginningofYear11,andGCSEsorIGCSEsinMathematics,EnglishLanguageandScienceTrilogy(Biology, ChemistryandPhysics,givingtwoGCSEgrades)attheendofYear11.OptionalsubjectsincludeEnglish Literature,French,German,History,DramaandArt.AllstudentsuptoYear11haveonesessioneachweekof physicaleducation.

AllSixthFormstudentstakeMusicALevelplustwootherALevels.Somestudentsmaywishtotakeafourth subjectbutthisisnotarequirementforstudyatuniversityandneedscarefulthoughtwithregardtothe balancebetweenacademicworkandmusiccommitments.Inexceptionalcircumstancestheschoolmayagree toareducedacademicprogrammeofMusicALevelandoneALevelinYear13forthosewithaparticularly heavyscheduleorforoverseasstudentsstudyingEnglishasanadditionallanguage EALcanreplaceoneA LeveloptionforoverseasstudentswhomayhaveadditionalEnglishlanguageneeds,followingdiscussionwith theHeadofEALandHeadofSixthForm Subjectsonoﬀerare:Music,MusicTechnology,EnglishLiterature, Mathematics,French,German,History,Art,TheatreStudies,Biology,PhysicsandChemistry.

Thecurriculumanditsdeliveryareunderconstantreviewandmaychangefromyeartoyear.Wecannot guaranteetheavailabilityofcoursesorparticularsubjects,asthesewilldependondemandandourabilityto provideteachingofasuﬀicientlyhighstandard

Theschooltimetableisdesignedforthebenefitoftheschoolasawholeandcannotbechangedtosatisfy individualrequirements.Theschoolcannotguaranteethatanyparticularteacherwill,orwillnot,teachany particularstudent.

PleaserefertothefullCurriculumPolicyontheschoolwebsiteforfurtherdetailsofcurriculum.

C2:HOMEWORK

Homeworkissetforallstudentsintheschool,andnotifiedusingGoogleClassroom Ouraimistoprovidean inspiring,well-managedhomeworkprogrammewhichhelpsstudentstodeveloptheskillsandattitudesthey willneedforsuccessfullifelonglearning.Homeworkshouldsupportthedevelopmentofindependentlearning skills.

However,wealsorecognisethatstudentsneedtimetopractisetheirinstruments,attendrehearsalsand engageinothermusicalactivities.Withthisinmind,classroomteachingstaﬀsethomeworktaskswhichare manageable,takingintoconsiderationtheamountofpracticeexpectedfromastudentatThePurcellSchool

SixthFormerstakeresponsibilityfororganisingtheirownwork. Homeworkcanbedoneatdiﬀerenttimesand asstudentsgetoldertheyhavesomefreetimeduringthedayforprivatestudy. Boardersusepreptimeinthe evenings,althoughinevitablysomewillneedlongerthanthesettime.

ForYears7,8and9,ahomeworktimetableispublishedatthebeginningofeachyear Nohomeworktaskset forasingleeveningorsessionshouldtakelongerthan30minutes. Tasksshouldbedesignedtobedoneon theeveningtheyareset InYear9,somehomeworkwillbeextendedsothatitcanbedoneovertwoorthree eveningsinlinewiththehomeworktimetable.

Years10and11alsoworkfromapublishedhomeworktimetable AsstudentsʼprogressthroughtheirGCSE courses,prepwillinevitablybecomemoreextendedinsomesubjectsandmoreresponsibilityshouldbegiven tostudentstomeetdeadlines Nevertheless,nohomeworktasksetforasinglesessionshouldtakelonger than30or40minutes. Courseworkdoneoutsidetheclassroomshouldbetreatedashomework.

SixthFormersarealmostentirelyindependentinthewayinwhichtheyorganisetheirtime. Manyhave reasonableflexibilitywithintheschooldayandmayprefertocompletethebulkoftheirhomeworkthen. Wheneverhomeworkisset,clearandsupportiveguidelinesshouldbegivenabouttheamountoftimetobe spentonit. SixthFormersareexpectedtospendbetweensixandsevenhoursoutsidetheclassroomper subjectperweek

C3:RELATIONSHIPSANDSEXEDUCATION

ThepurposeofRSEistohelpchildrenandyoungpeopletobesafe,healthyandhappyastheygrowupandin theirfuturelives.Itteachesaboutunderstandingoftheimportanceofallrelationshipsregardlessofrace, religion,genderorsexuality,aswellasprovidinganunderstandingofphysical,sexual,moralandemotional development.RSEmustalwaysbeappropriatetopupilsʼageandstageofdevelopmentandisanessential partofsafeguarding

AimsandObjectives

● Tobeanidentifiablepartofourpersonal,social,healthandeconomic(PSHE)educationcurriculum, whichhasplanned,timetabledlessonsacrossalltheKeyStages;

● TobetaughtbystaﬀregularlytrainedinRSEandPSHE(withexpertvisitorsinvitedintoenhanceand supplementtheprogrammewhereappropriate);

● Toworkinpartnershipwithparentsandcarers,informingthemaboutwhattheirchildrenwillbe learningandabouthowtheycancontributeathome;

● Todeliverlessonswherepupilsfeelsafeandencouragesparticipationbyusingavarietyofteaching approacheswithopportunitiestodevelopcriticalthinkingandrelationshipskills;

● Tobebasedonreliablesourcesofinformation,includingaboutthelawandlegalrights,and distinguishesbetweenfactandopinion;

● Topromotesafe,equal,caringandenjoyablerelationshipsanddiscussesreal-lifeissuesappropriateto theageandstageofpupils,includingfriendships,families,consent,relationshipabuse,sexual exploitationandsaferelationshipsonline;

● Togiveapositiveviewofhumansexuality,withhonestandmedicallyaccurateinformation,sothat pupilscanlearnabouttheirbodiesandsexualandreproductivehealthinwaysthatareappropriateto theirageandmaturity;

● Togivepupilsopportunitiestoreflectonvaluesandinfluences(suchasfrompeers,media,faithand culture)thatmayshapetheirattitudestorelationshipsandsex,andnurturesrespectfordiﬀerent views;

● Toincludelearningabouthowtogethelpandtreatmentfromsourcessuchastheschoolnurseand otherhealthandadviceservices,includingreliableinformationonline;

● TofostergenderequalityandLGBT+(lesbian,gay,bisexual,trans)equalityandchallengesallformsof discriminationinRSElessonsandinevery-dayschoollife;

● Tomeettheneedsofallpupilswiththeirdiverseexperiences-includingthosewithspecial educationalneedsanddisabilities.

● ToseekpupilsʼviewsaboutRSEsothatteachingcanbemaderelevanttotheirreallivesandassessed andadaptedastheirneedschange

Provisions

Asasubjectinitsownright,sexeducationisdeliveredwithinthePHSEprogrammewhichstudentsreceivein timetabledlessons. Inaddition,aspectsofsexeducationremainwithinthescienceNationalCurriculum. Parentscannotwithdrawtheirchildfromthelatter. Detailsofthecurriculuminbothareasareavailableon request Parentswhorequesttheirchildtobewithdrawnfromanelementofthesexeducationcurriculumare madeawareofthemissedelements. Anywithdrawalofstudentsfromlessonsisrecordedinthestudentʼsfile.

C4:LEARNINGSUPPORT

Theschooliscommittedtoachievingthebestpossibleeducationforeverystudent Partofthisapproach involvesdealingwithspecificlearningdiﬀiculties.Pleasetellusimmediatelyifyouknoworsuspectthatyour childmayhavesomespecificproblemwhichmayneedtobeaddressed.

Somestudentsarealreadyidentifiedashavingaspecialneedbeforetheyentertheschool,themostcommon beingsomeformofdyslexia Othersmanifestsignsonentry,suchasdifficultieswithhand-writing,poor difficultieswithpresentation,inconsistentspellingorverysignificantdifficultieswithorganisation.

Wherethereiscauseforconcern,theHeadofLearningSupportwilldecidewhethertorecommendtoparents thatthestudentseesaneducationalpsychologisttoobtainaformalreport.TheHeadofLearningSupportwill actontheeducationalpsychologistʼsadvice Iftheadviceisthatyourchildshouldreceiveextratuition,the learningsupportdepartmentwillifpossibleprovidethis,havingfirstdiscussedthematterwithyou.

Candidatesforpublicexaminationsmaybeentitledtoaccessarrangementsintheseexaminations,ranging fromextratimetotheuseofascribe,ortheuseofacomputer.Inordertoqualifyforaccessarrangements,the schoolmustnormallysubmitonthestudentʼsbehalfaneducationalpsychologistʼsreportproducedinthelast twoyears.ThereportshouldcontaintheinformationreferredtointheEducationalAssessmentReportformor theSupplementtothePsychologistReportform

FurtherdetailscanbefoundinourLearningSupportPolicyontheschoolwebsite

C5:ASSESSMENTANDREPORTING

Academicprogressismonitoredthroughformativeandsummativeassessment.Thepatternofassessment providesfrequentbutʻlighttouchʼreportingtoparentsviaʻinterimʼreports(asingleeﬀortgradeand attainmentreportineachsubject)everyterm,withfullwrittenreportsprovidedinthespringtermforYear11 and13orattheendoftheacademicyearforallotheryeargroups.

Instrumentalmusicreportsareprovidedtwiceeachyear,inJanuaryandineitherAprilorJuly,supportedby anoverviewfromtherelevantHeadofDepartment.

ReportswillbesenttoParents/Guardiansbyemail.ParentsshouldinformtheSchoolOﬀicebeforetheendof Septembereachyeariftheywishtheirreportstobesentinsteadinhardcopybypost;however,thisislikelyto delaythearrivalofthosereports.

Eachstudentisgivengradesasindicatedbelow.

AcademicMonitoring

Academicprogressismonitoredthroughformativeandsummativeassessment.StudentsaregivenInterim GradeseverytermandafullwrittenreportinthespringtermforYear11and13andattheendoftheacademic yearforallotheryeargroups.

Eachstudentisgivengradesasindicatedbelow:

Eﬀort

E–excellent

G–good

S–satisfactory(meetingrequirementsbutneedstoimprovetoexcel)

C–concern(thisgradeisaccompaniedbyacommentclarifyingthenatureoftheconcern)

Awiderangeoffactors(classroomdiscipline,prepmanagement,motivationandengagement)cancontribute totheoveralleﬀortgradeaward.

Attainment

Years12-13:GradesA*/A/B/C/D/E/Uareawardedtomatchtheattainmentexpectedatthatstageofanexternal examinationcourse

(Attainmentgradesinreportsareonlyawardedonthebasisofworksubmittedinthereportingperiod. They areNOTapredictionofafinalresult,althoughagrademayapproximatetoitinthefinalstagesofacourse, unlessexplainedbyanappropriateeﬀortgradeandcomment).

Years7-9:Studentsarerewardedoneofthefollowing:

WorkingTowardsExpectedLevel(thisoptionwillincludeasupportivecommentfromtheteacher)

WorkingAtExpectedLevel

WorkingAboveExpectedLevel

Years10-11:Grades9(highest)-1(lowest)asaboveintermsofapplyingtoworksubmittedinthereporting period.

ThenewgradingsystemofGrades9-1isshownbelowwiththeoldsysteminbrackets: 9-8(A*) 7(A) 6-5-4 (B/C) 3(D/E) 2(E/F) 1(G)

Academicdepartmentswilluseregulartrackingdatatostandardiseattainment.

Benchmarks

Years10-13:Benchmarkgrades(A*-E/9–4)appearonreportsandrepresenttheminimumstandardatwhich thestudentshouldbeworkingatthatstageofatwoyearperiod/course(Y12-13(GCE)andY10-11((I)GCSE))

BenchmarksaresetatthestartofthetwoyearperiodusingabilitydataprovidedbyMidyis/YellisandAlis testingandarereviewedfollowinginternalexaminations

TargetGrades

Years10-13:Targetgrades(A*-C/Dor9-4)fortheendofthecourse(GCE/(I)GCSE)appearonreportsandare assignedatthestartofGCEand(I)GCSEcourses,followingdiscussionwithstudents Targetgradesarerealistic butaspirationalandareNOTpredictions.Atargetgrademustbeatleastonegradehigherthanthebenchmark andcanbereviewedfollowinginternalexaminations.

ParentswithanyqueriesrelatedtotheaboveshouldcontactMrMikeLong(Y10/11)orMrSzafranski(Sixth Form)inthefirstinstance.

InternalExaminations

Internalschoolexaminationsareheldaerhalfterminthesummerbreakforallyeargroups,exceptthose involvedinpublicexaminations.InJanuary,mockexaminationsareheldtopreparestudentsforpublic examinations;othergroupsmayhavetestsincoresubjects

ParentsʼMeetings

Parentsʼmeetingsareheldfrom400to600pmonaFridayaernoonforeachyeargrouponceayearwhen parentshaveanopportunitytomeetacademicstaﬀ. Detailsofparentsʼmeetingsarepublishedintheschool calendaratthestartofeachacademicyear:https://wwwpurcell-schoolorg/news/calendarandareheld eitherinpersonoronline.

Thepurposeofthesemeetingsistogiveparentsanopportunitytodiscussstudentsʼprogresswithstaﬀ. Teachingstaﬀandgrouptutorsattend;instrumentalspecialistteachersdonotusuallyattend. SixthFormers areexpectedtoattendwiththeirparents;youngerstudentsarenot Theprecisedatesarelistedintheschool calendarandparentswillbesentanemailreminderinadvanceofthemeeting.

Ifparentsareunabletoattendaparentsʼmeeting,thestudentʼstutorcan,onrequest,collatecommentsfrom academicstaﬀandemailthemhome.

FurtherdetailscanbefoundinourAssessment&ReportingPolicyontheschoolwebsite.

C6:POST-EXAMSSERVICESANDAPPEALSPROCEDURESINPUBLICEXAMINATIONS

Fulldetailsofresultsdaysandpost-examsservices,includinghowtomakeenquiriesaboutresults,torequest re-marksandallothermattersrelatingtoresultsinpublicexaminations,arepublishedontheschoolwebsite.

BacktoContents

SECTIOND:MUSICINFORMATION

D1:INDIVIDUALINSTRUMENTALLESSONS

Instrumental,singingandcompositionlessonsaretimetabledbyMrsDuce,whoworksintheMusicOﬀice The instrumentaltimetableisemailedtostudentsonThursdayaernoonforthefollowingweek.Lessonsdonot takeplaceatthesametimeeachweek,andstudentshavetobeveryorganisedandcommunicativeabout theirplanningandschedule.Missedlessonscannotbemadeuporreimbursed,andsanctionsareplacedon studentswhoforgettogotoaninstrumentallessonorrehearsal.

Studentsmustchecktheirlessonsonthedaytheemailisreceivedandifthereisanyclashorproblemforthe followingweek,mustimmediatelyletMrsDuceknowbyemail Thismustbedonebeforethedeadlineof 10.40amthenextdayi.e.ontheFridayoftheweekbeforelessonsareduetotakeplace. Ifnovalidreasonis given,ortheFridaydeadlineismissed,nochangecanbemadeandthestudentmustattendthelessonas timetabled.

Ifastudentwishestomissschoolforanyreason,aparentorguardianmustmakeadetailedabsencerequest byemail,14daysinadvance,tostudentabsence@purcell-school.org

Whenpermissionforabsenceisgiven,thestudentisresponsibleforlettingallteachersknowcourteouslyin advance,andfulfillinganyextratasksset

Pleasenotethatparentsarenotpermittedtoattendmusiclessons.

TeachingWeeks

MusicSpecialistteachersareexpectedtoprovideupto30weeksoflessonsunlessagreedotherwisewiththe relevantHeadofDepartment(HoD).InY11andY13,slightlyfewerlessonsmaybepossible,giventhepublic examsinthesecondhalfofthesummerterm.Allinstrumentallessonsandmusicalcommitmentsdocontinue throughoutstudyleaveperiods,andabsencesfromschoolmustberequestedinadvanceasabove.

LessonDurationandAdditionalLessons

Thenormalexpectationformoststudentsisthattheywillreceivebetweentwoandthreehoursperweek tuitionintotal,one-to-one Threehoursisthemaximum;decisionsastohowmuchofthispotentialallowance isneededforeachindividualstudent,anditsdistributionbetweendiﬀerentstudies,aremadebytheMusic Departmentaccordingtostudentsʼmusicalandacademicneeds,timetableandotheractivities.Nostudent hasanautomaticrighttothreehoursʼtuition:eachindividualwillbeoﬀeredaprogrammeappropriateto them.

Insomecases,inconsultationwithparentsandsubjecttotheapprovaloftherelevantHoD,studentsmay choosetoreceiveinexcessofthethreehourallowance Insuchexceptionalcases,theexcessinstrumental lessonscostsarerechargedtoparentsasʻextrasʼonthefollowingtermʼsbill. Arrangementsforadditional instrumentallessonswillnotbeputinplaceunlessparentshavegiventheirpermissioninwritingtothe appropriateHoD

TheSchoolacknowledgesthatteachersmaygetrequestsfromstudentsandparentstocontinuelessonsasa privatearrangementduringtheholidays. Asageneralrule,theSchooldoesnotencourageoff-siteteaching outofterm,butitdoesrecognisethatitmaybethepreferredchoiceforsomefamiliesandtheremaybesome benefitsforsomeindividualstudents.Staffshouldnotfeelobligedtoagreetoanyrequestsandshouldreport anyunduepressuretoprovidelessonstotheSchool. Equally,staffmaynotofferorseekteaching opportunitiestostudentswhereithasnotbeenrequestednorapplypressureonfamiliestoagreeto additionallessons.

D2:CHOICEOFSPECIALISTMUSICTEACHER

ThechoiceofspecialistmusicteacherisdeterminedbytheappropriateHeadofDepartment(HoD).Every eﬀortismadetochoosetherightteachertomatchtheneedsoftheindividualstudent.Parentsshouldalways consultwiththeIststudyHoDinthefirstinstancewithanymusicalconcerns

D3:CHANGESOFINSTRUMENTORSPECIALISTMUSICTEACHER

ChangesofTeacher

NochangesofspecialistteachercantakeplacewithoutpriorconsultationwiththeDirectorofMusic. Notice provisionswillnormallyapply–seebelowfordetails.

StartingaNewInstrumentorComposition

Thisshouldbeinitiatedbyanemailrequestfromparentstothe1ststudyHoD. Requestswillnormallybe accommodatedprovidedthatteachingisavailableandsubjecttothestudentʼsoverallworkload

ChangestoInstrumentalLessons

Anyrequestsforchangestoinstrumentallessons(e.g.additionaltime,ordroppingasecondstudy)shouldbe madeinwritingbythestudentʼsparentorguardianandsenttothe1ststudyHoD.

NoticePeriods

Forallchangestoinstrumentalteachingallocation,therewillnormallybeanoticeperiodofhalfaterm,and studentsareexpectedtocontinuelessonsastheyare,totheendofthenoticeperiod.

ChangeofFirstStudyInstrument

AdmissiontoThePurcellSchoolisthroughmusicalaudition,andanyoﬀerofaplaceismadefortheagreed specificcourseofstudy Anyrequesttochangethefirststudyinstrument(s)mustbemadebyparents/ guardiansinwritingtotheDirectorofMusic.

Wheneverpossible,theschoolwilltrytoaccommodatetherequest.However,thefinaldecisionwillreflectthe schoolʼsprofessionalopinionofwhatisinthebestlong-terminterestsofthestudent.

D4:SHEETMUSICANDEXTRAS

SheetMusic

Mostfamiliesfinditsimplesttoordersheetmusicdirectlyonline,deliveredbyposttostudentsatschool. Wherethisisdiﬀicultforanyreason,itmaybeorderedviatheLibrary Thecostofthisandanymusicor equipmentsuppliedbyinstrumentalteachers,willbeaddedasextrastothenexttermlybill. Musicbelonging totheschoolmayalsobeborrowedfromtheLibrary. Whereparentsdonotwishtopurchaseaparticularitem ofmusic,anditisnotcurrentlyavailablefromthelibrary,thenarequestcanbemadeforittobeorderedfor thelibrary.Itmustbereturnedaeruse.

LoansofSchoolSheetMusic

StudentsareresponsiblefortakingcareofanymusiconloanfromtheSchool. Failuretoreturnmusicwill resultinachargeonthetermlybill.

Extras

Studentsareallocatedaweeklyphotocopyingallowancewhichissetaccordingtoyear-group. Itisarolling allowance;ifastudentexceedshisorherallowance,theexcesswillbechargedtothebill Chargesare1pper copyforblack-and-whiteand5ppercopycolourA4. Chargesarehigherforlargercopies.Recordablemedia canbepurchasedfromtheMusicTechnologydepartment.

Thecostofallsuchsuppliesandserviceswillberechargedtoparentsinthetermlybill.

D5:ENSEMBLES

AllfirststudykeyboardplayersattendaweeklyPianoClass;singershaveaweeklySongClass;composershave weeklyseminars;chambermusicisorganisedbothwithinandoutsidetheschooltimetable Orchestral playerswillplayinoneormoreoftheschoolensemblesandorchestras,andtheserehearseonceortwice weekly;therearealsomoreintensivecoursesoccasionally,dependingontheconcertprogramme Jazz,pop andcommercialbandsalsorehearseeveryweek.

ThereisaChamberChoir,aJuniorChoir,aSixthFormChoirandfurtheropportunitiesforchoralsingingwithin andoutsidethetimetable.

Rehearsals

Mostrehearsalstakeplaceduringtheschoolday,whichendsat340pmforyears7-8andat5pmforeveryone else.However,thereisanhourbetween5pmand6pmwhichmaybeusedforensemblesandforextra rehearsalsclosetoconcerts.Boardersareencouragedtoarrangetheirowninformalmusicalactivitiesinthe evening.

Studentsshouldarriveateveryrehearsalontime,withinstrumentandmusicifrequired,andwithapencil Ifa studenthasaclashwithanotherrehearsal,instrumentallessonorotherevent,theyshouldspeaktothe memberofstaﬀinchargeoftherehearsalwellinadvance

Ifastudentisnotneededforarehearsalforanyreasonandhasnootherscheduledcommitments,thisistime forpractice,home-work,readingorlistening–studentsareexpectedtousethetimeprofitably

D6:CONCERTSPROCEDURE

Lunchtimeconcertstakeplacefourtimesaweek,andthereareperformanceclassesinthetimetableforyears 7-11 Allstudentsinyear9andaboveshouldaimtoperforminatleastonelunchtimeconcerteachterm, ideallymoreoen.Studentsshouldplanrepertoireanddateswiththeirteacher.Concertsaremanagedby theConcertsCoordinator,whoworksintheMusicOﬀice.Thereareformstocompletewithdetailsofthe programme,andstudentsmustarrangerehearsalswithoneoftheschoolaccompanists,DebbieShahand DanielSwain,orafellowstudent,unlesstheyareplayingunaccompanied.

Eveningconcertstakeplacemostweeks,andstudentsareinvitedtotakepart,basedontheirreadiness, willingness,generalpreparationandworkethic Anystudentwhofeelsthattheyarenotbeinggivenenough opportunitiestoperform,shoulddiscusswiththeirteacher,HeadofDepartmentortheDirectorofMusic.

AttendanceatLunchtimeConcerts

Eachstudentisrequiredtoattendatleastoneconcertonceaweekandregistersaretaken.

ExternalConcertsArrangedbytheSchool

Therearealotofconcertsoutsideschool,somemoreformalandhigh-profilethanothers.Theseare programmedbytheDirectorofMusicandHeadsofDepartmentinconsultationwithinstrumentalteachers.

SeeAppendix2fordetailsofConcertDress(page45)

D7:COMPETITIONSANDCONCERTSWITHOTHERORGANISATIONS

OutsideConcerts

StudentsareencouragedtotakepartinmusicalactivitiesoutsideSchool,particularlyattheweekendand duringschoolholidays Eventsthatclashwithschooldaysarenotencouraged,becauseourtermsareshort andourdaysarebusy,andwealreadymanageacomplextimetableofclashesbetweenmusiclessonsand academiclessons Permissionmustberequested,andwillonlybegivenwhentheprosandconshavebeen consideredbytheDirectorofMusic.

Ifastudentwishestomissschoolforanyreason,aparentorguardianmustmakeadetailedabsencerequest byemail,14daysinadvance,tostudentabsence@purcell-school.org

Whenplayinganywhere,studentsareaskedtoacknowledgeThePurcellSchoolinconcertprogrammes;for example,“SamSmithholdsascholarshipundertheGovernmentʼsMusicandDanceSchemeatThePurcell School”.

StudentsmaynotusetheschoolʼsnameorlogotoadvertiseanexternalprivateconcertwithoutthePrincipalʼs permission.

Competitions

Competitionsaresometimesagoodidea,butnotalways,andshouldbeundertakenonlyveryexceptionallyin termtime. StudentsmayonlyapplyforcompetitionswiththeagreementoftheirteacherandHeadof Department. Aswithexternalconcerts,permissionforabsencewillonlybegivenaerconsiderationbythe DirectorofMusic

Accompanists

AccompanistsareprovidedforSchoolconcerts(internalandexternal),andforAssociatedBoardexaminations organisedbytheschool. Anyotherrequestforanaccompanistismadebyprivatearrangement. Accompanists arenotprovidedformusiccollegeauditions.

D8:ASSESSMENTPROCEDURE

PlacesattheSchool,togetherwithGovernmentandPurcellSchoolscholarships,areawardedaeraudition andaresubjecttosatisfactoryprogressandconduct.Progressismonitoredcontinuouslyandreportedto parents.Ifthereareseriousdoubtsaboutconductorprogress,parentsorguardianswillbecontactedmore formally

Studentswhodonotmakeexpectedprogresswillbeadvisedonareasinneedofimprovement,andspecific targetswillbeset. Ifthesearenotmet,parentsmayberequiredtowithdrawtheirchildfromtheschoolatthe endoftheyear. Advicewillbegiventoenablestudentstofindsuitablealternativeschooling.

D9:STORINGINSTRUMENTS

Instrumentsshouldbekeptinlockersorasafealternativeplace.Allinstrumentcasesshouldbelabelledwith thestudentʼsname,schooladdress,anditshouldbeclearwhethertheinstrumentbelongstothemorison loanfromsomebodyelse.

D10:SUPERVISEDPRACTICEANDNOTEBOOKS

Allstudentshaveregulartimetabledpracticesessions,andLowerSchoolstudentsareoverseenbyateamof practicesupervisors AllboardersuptoYear11havesupervisedpracticetimeearlyeveryweekdaymorning

Itisimportanttorememberthatpracticedoesnʼtnecessarilymakeperfect:itcanreinforcebadhabitsifnot carefullyconsidered.Studentsshouldspendafewminutesatthestartofeachpracticesessionplanningwhat theyaregoingtodo,settingrealisticandachievabletargets;warmupbeforetheystart;takeregularshort breaks;aereachpracticesessionspendafewminutesthinkingaboutwhattheyhavedonesuccessfully,what theyhavenotmanagedtodo,andusethattoplanthenextpractice Musicianscanalsopractisevery eﬀectivelywithoutaninstrument,byimaginingthattheyareplaying.

Studentswillfinditusefultokeepanotebookinwhichtheycanmakenotesaboutlessons,practiceand repertoire. Teachers,students,parentsandotheradultsmaywanttocommunicatewitheachotherviashort messagesinthisbook.

D11:SATURDAYPROGRAMME

ThereisamusicalprogrammeforboardersonSaturdaymornings Itincludesaregularperformanceclass, scheduledpractice,andopportunitiesforstudentstoruntheirowngroups.

D12:ABRSM/EXTERNALEXAMINATIONS

AssociatedBoard(ABRSM)examsaregenerallyoﬀeredintheSchoolatleastonceduringtheyear,usuallyin theSpringterm.OnjoiningtheSchool,studentswhohavealreadytakenAssociatedBoardTheoryGrade5 shouldbringacopyoftheirresulttotheLibrarian;thiswillbeeithertheoriginalmarkformprovidedbythe AssociatedBoardoracopyofthecertificate.ThedocumentwillbekeptsafelyattheSchooluntilthestudent leaves,sothatitisavailableforusewhenthestudententersanyAssociatedBoardexamaboveGrade6

D13:BIOGRAPHIES

Studentswillbeaskedtowriteashortbiography(50-100words)detailingwheretheywereborn,whenthey firststartedplaying,andperhapswhattheylikeaboutmusicorotheroutsideinterests Anyfinancialsupport thatyoureceiveshouldalsobeacknowledged.Thebiographyshouldbehandedintothemusicoﬀiceatthe startoftermoremailedtotheConcertsCoordinator.

D14:INSTRUMENTALINSURANCEANDLOANS

Parentsmustensurethatallpersonalinstrumentsareinsuredandthatinstrumentsarecoveredfortravelto andfromschoolandwhenstudentsareperformingoutsideofschool.Schoolinstrumentsmaybelentto students(subjecttoavailability) Asmallhirecharge(£50perterminthecurrentacademicyear)maybe leviedforlongtermloans

D15:STUDENTSRECEIVINGEXTERNALINSTRUMENTALLESSONS

Asarule,externallessonsarediscouragedandparentsmustinformtheschooliftheywishtostartthem,orif theyarealreadytakingplace,andkeepusupdatedofanychanges. Ourfullpolicyonexternalmusiclessonsis onthewebsite;thefirstparagraphisprintedbelow

ThePurcellSchoolprovidesworld-classspecialisttuitioninmusictostudentsthroughtheemploymentofan exceptionallywell-qualifiedandexperiencedstaﬀ.Externalmusiclessonsarediscouraged,asstudentsbenefitso muchfromlearninginschool.TheSchoolsupportsasmallnumberofstudentstoaccesstheprovisionoﬀeredat juniorconservatoiredepartmentsonSaturdays Occasionallyastudentmayreceiveinstrumentaltuitionfroma specificteacherwhoisneitheremployedbytheschoolnoraconservatoirejuniordepartment.Anexamplemight bewheretheschooldoesnotcurrentlyemployateacherofthatinstrument,orifa2ndor3rdstudyʻhobbyʼisto becontinuedwithateacherathomeattheweekendsorintheholidays.Eachrequestmustbeassessedonits ownmeritsandtheschoolmustsatisfyitselfthatitisinthebestinterestofthestudenttostudywiththe

proposedteacher.Insuchcases,theschoolmustthensatisfyitselfthatadequatemeasuresareinplaceto protectthesafetyandwellbeingofthestudent

PleasecontacttheMusicOﬀiceifyouhaveaquestionaboutamatternotcoveredhere. BacktoContents

SECTIONE:BEHAVIOURS

E1:INTRODUCTION

TheSchoolRulesaredesignedtoencouragestudentstobehaveinathoughtfulandresponsibleway,toensure thattheyreceivethemaximumbenefitfromtheireducation,tomaintaintheschoolʼsexcellentreputation,and tohelpthewholeschoolcommunitytolivetogetheramicably

TheSchoolRulescanbefoundasAppendix1tothishandbook,aswellasontheschoolwebsite.Theyarealso issuedtoallstudents.

YoushouldalsoreadtheschoolʼsAnti-BullyingPolicy,BehaviourandSanctionsPolicy(whichexplainsrewards andsanctionsusedattheschool),DrugsandAlcoholPolicy&theICTAcceptableUsePolicy.Summariesof thesepoliciescanbefoundbelow/elsewhereinthishandbook,andthefullversionscanbedownloadedfrom ourwebsite

E2:PRINCIPLESANDEXPECTATIONS

● ThePurcellSchoolencouragesthegoodbehaviourofitsstudentsatalltimes.Theschoolattaches greatimportancetocourtesy,integrity,goodmanners,gooddisciplineandrespectfortheneedsof others.TheSchoolRulesandtheschoolʼsAnti-BullyingPolicymakeclearourexpectationsinthis regard.

● Theguidingprincipleisthattheschooltrustsstudentstoknowhowtobehaveandtoactatalltimesin theirownbestinterestsandthoseofthewholeschoolcommunity.Onlywhenstudentsbreachthis trustwillsanctionsberequired

● Whensanctionsareunavoidable,studentsandparentshavetherighttoexpecttheschooltoapply thispolicyfairly However,thisdoesnotmeanthatsanctionswillinvariablybethesameforeach oﬀence,astheremaybediﬀeringcircumstanceswhichmaybetakenintoaccount.Inotherwords, everyincidentwillbeviewedonitsownmerits,usingthispolicyasguidance.

● ThePurcellSchooldoesnotusephysicalpunishmentofanysort Thereisnocorporalpunishmentand nopunishmentisintendedtohumiliateorintimidateanystudent.

● TheschoolʼsBehaviourManagementStrategyisagradedscalecoveringbothrewardsandsanctions, intendedtoencouragestudentstowardsanacceptablelevelofbehaviour.Acopycanbefoundasan appendixtotheschoolʼsBehaviourPolicyonourwebsite.

E3:REWARDSANDSANCTIONS

Rewards

Studentswhodoparticularlygoodworkrelativetotheirability,ormakeapositivecontributiontothelifeof theschool,receiveaCommendation.TheCommendationcardisissuedbyateacher,TutororHouseparent; thestudentshouldtakeittothePrincipalforrecording,beforetakingithometoshowtohisorherparents

Attheendoftheschoolyear,prizesareawardedforeﬀort,forachievementinacademicsubjects,for commendationsawarded,inmusic,andforgeneralcontributiontothelifeoftheschool

Sanctions

TheschoolʼsBehaviourManagementStrategyprovidesarangeofsanctionsinagradualscaleofincreasing severitydesignedtoencouragethestudenttowardsanacceptablelevelofattainmentorbehaviour Possible sanctionsforminoroﬀencesorpooracademicworkincludedetentions,gating(i.e.notbeingallowedtoleave

theschoolpremisesor,forboarders,thehouseaertheschoolday),academicreportorsupervisedprivate study.

Seriousmisbehaviour,orpersistentacademicindiscipline,mayresultinaSchoolDetention,whichusually takesplaceonaFridayaerschool ThestudentwillalsobeinterviewedbytheVicePrincipaltodiscussthe oﬀenceandtheirfutureconduct.Forcertainoﬀences,thePrincipalmayrequireastudenttoserveaPrincipalʼs DetentiononaSaturdaymorning APrincipalʼsDetentionisonestepshortofsuspensionandstudentsneedto understandhowseriousitis.

Suspension

Seriousorrepeateddisciplinaryoﬀencesmayresultinthestudentʼssuspensionforbetweentwodaysandtwo weeks Whilesuspended,thestudentisexpectedtoremainathomeduringtheschoolday,andworkwill, wheneverpossible,beset.Asuspendedstudentmaynotattendanyschoolfunction(e.g.concert)orsocial event (Astudentmayalsobesuspendedwhilstaninvestigationintoanallegedseriousincidenttakesplace)

Incertaincases,astudentmaybeputintoʻinternalsuspensionʼ,wheretheywillberequiredtoworkinschool undersupervisionduringfreetimeandwithotherprivilegessuspended

Followingasuspension,thestudent(andifpossiblehisorherparents)willberequiredtoattendaninterview withthePrincipaland/ortheVIcePrincipaltodiscusshis/herfutureconduct.Afinalwarningmayalsobe issuedatthisstage.

Expulsion

InthemostextremecircumstancesthePrincipalreservestherighttoexpelastudentfromtheschool Althoughthestudentʼsbestinterestswillbetakenintoconsideration,theinterestsofthewholeschool communityandthenatureoftheoﬀencewillbeofparticularsignificance Insuchcircumstances,parentshave arightofappealtotheschoolgovernors.Aseparateprocedurecoveringtherightofappealisavailablefrom thePrincipalʼsoﬀice.

ParentsʼattentionisdrawntotheschoolʼsTermsandConditions,paragraph7(b),whichstatesthat:

ThePrincipalmayattheirdiscretionrequireyoutoremoveormaysuspendorexpelyourchildfromtheSchoolif theyconsiderthatyourchildʼsattendance,progressorbehaviour(includingbehaviouroutsideSchool)is seriouslyunsatisfactoryor(atthePrincipalʼssolediscretion)foranyotherreasonifinthereasonableopinionof thePrincipaltheremovalisintheSchoolʼsbestinterestsorthoseofyourchild,otherchildren,staﬀorparents.

ThePrincipalisrequiredtoactfairlyandinaccordancewiththeprinciplesofnaturaljustice.ThePrincipalwill makeadecisiononacase-by-casebasis,willexpelastudentfromtheSchoolonlyasalastresortandwillnot expelastudentotherthaningravecircumstances.

WithdrawalofRighttoBoard

Forrepeatedboardingoﬀences,orwherethecontinuedpresenceofthestudentisfelttobedetrimentalto goodorderintheHouse,aboardingplacemaybewithdrawneithertemporarilyorpermanentlyatthe Principalʼsdiscretion.

E4:DRUGSANDALCOHOL

ThisisasummaryoftheschoolʼsDrugsandAlcoholPolicy,whichcanbefoundontheschoolwebsite.

ControlledDrugs

TheSchoolʼspolicyisthatThePurcellSchoolshouldbefreefromdrugscontrolledundertheMisuseofDrugs Act1971/2001 Webelievethatinvolvementwithcontrolleddrugsisalwayswrongforthefollowingreasons:

● Itisillegal.Usingcontrolleddrugscanleadtoacriminalconvictionwhichwillaﬀectemployment prospects,forexamplebymakingitimpossibletovisitcertaincountriesincludingtheUSA.Thiscould haveseriousimplicationsforanycareer,butparticularlyinmusic.

● Drugshaveharmfulphysicalside-eﬀects.Someoftheseareunpredictableandimmediateandaccount foranumberofprematuredeathsamongstyoungpeopleeachyear;allarenowassociatedwithlonger termhealthproblems.

● Asmallnumberofyoungpeoplequicklydevelopsomeformofdependencyondrugs

● Involvementindrugculturetendstodrawyoungpeopleawayfrommoreworthwhileactivitiesand oenresultsinafallingawayofacademicperformance.

● Involvementwithcontrolleddrugsisdamagingtotheschoolcommunityasawhole

Anystudentsuspectedofbeinginvolvedwithillegalorotherharmfuldrugswhileunderschooljurisdiction eitheronoroﬀschoolpremisescanexpecttobesuspendedfromschoolandmaysubsequentlybyexpelled dependingonthecircumstances Theschoolreservestherighttoinformthepolice

LegalDrugs

Theschooloperatesaʻnosmokingorvapingʼʼpolicyatalltimesthroughoutthebuildingsandgrounds This policyappliestostudents,employees,parentsandvisitors,andincludestheuseofe-cigarettesandʻShisha pensʼ

ThePurcellSchoolisanunsuitableinstitutionforthosewithanestablishedsmokinghabit.

Studentsarenotpermittedtobeinpossessionofalcohol,orundertheinfluenceofalcohol,onschool premisesorwhenunderthejurisdictionoftheschool(eg onschooltrips) Nostudent,includingthoseof legalage,mayenterlicensedpremises,includingoﬀ-licences,duringtermtime.

AtthediscretionofthePrincipal,alcohol(beer,wineorsimilar)maybeofferedtoSixthFormstudentsat staffedschoolfunctions,whereparentshavespecific,individualpermission.Noalcoholwillbeservedto studentsbelowtheSixthFormonanyoccasion AlcoholmaynotbeconsumedinSchoolwithoutpermission fromthePrincipalanddrinkmaybetakenonlyinthepresenceofamemberofstaff.

E5:ICT:ACCEPTABLEUSEPOLICY

TheSchoolʼsICT(InformationandCommunicationTechnology)AcceptableUsePolicygovernstheuseby studentsoftheSchoolʼscomputernetworkandanycomputerandperipheralequipmentconnectedtoit togetherwiththeuseofanystand-aloneICTequipment.

TheuseoftheSchoolʼsnetworkandequipmentisaprivilegeandnotaright. TheSchooltakesreasonable stepstocontrolandmonitortheuseoftheinternetandotherelectronicmeansofcommunicationwithout unnecessarilyordisproportionatelycompromisingtheprivacyofboardersortheirabilitytocommunicate withtheirparents,guardiansoroutsideagencies TheSchoolwillthereforedetermineappropriateuseand monitoruseraccountsandfileserverspaceasnecessary. Inappropriateuse,includingcontraveningtherules andconditions,willresultinwithdrawaloftheprivilege;studentsshouldbeawareofthepersonaland academicconsequencesthatmayensuefromsuchawithdrawal Failuretoadheretothispolicywillalsobe regardedasabreachofSchoolRulesandmaythereforeresultinothersanctions.

Thefullpolicycanbefoundonourwebsite:www.purcell-school.org/about-us/policies/underICTAcceptable UsePolicy(Students&Guests)

TheSchoolhasawirelessnetworkand,aercompletingtherelevantpaperwork,studentsareallowedto connecttheirownpersonaldevicestothenetwork TheschoolnetworkprovidesaccesstoSkypeandtosocial networkingsites,althoughaccessmayberestrictedtocertaintimesofday.

ParentsʼattentionisalsodrawntotheSchoolRules(Appendix1),Section15,regardingtheuseofmobile phonesandotherdevicesinschool.

BacktoContents

SECTIONF:OTHERMATTERS

F1:SCHOOLTRIPS

Aspartoftheeducationweoﬀer,studentsarefrequentlygiventheopportunitytomaketripsorexcursionsout ofschool.Thesewillrangefromshort,one-daytripsforawholeclasstoalocalsiteofinterest,oreveningsout toplaysorconcerts,tooccasionaloverseasconcerttourswhichtakeplaceduringholidaytime Your permissionwillbesoughtforanytripwhichtakesyourchildoutofschool,withtheexceptionofconcertsat whichyourchildisperformingandthedetailsofwhichhavebeenpublishedintheschoolcalendar.

Theschoolcarriesoutcomprehensiveriskassessmentsforanytripswhichinvolveastayovernight,andall relevantdocumentationwillbemadeavailabletoparents

F2:COMPLAINTSPROCEDUREFORPARENTSANDGUARDIANS

ItishopedthattheSchoolwillcontinuetomaintainexcellentrelationshipswiththeparentsandguardiansof studentsattendingthePurcellSchool Nonetheless,theremaybeoccasionsduringastudentʼstimeatThe PurcellSchoolwhenparentsmayfeeltheywishtomakeacomplaint. Ifso,pleasefollowthisprocedure.

Pleasetellusofyourconcernassoonaspossible Itisdiﬀicultforustoinvestigateproperlyanincidentor problemwhichhashappenedsometimeago. Pleasestateyourproblemorconcerncourteously:itdoesnot helpstaﬀtoresolveissuesifintemperateoraggressivelanguageisused,eitherinwritingorinperson

Wewillnormallytrytoresolveanycomplaintswithin10workingdaysofthembeingraised,exceptwherethey areraisedinschoolholidays,inwhichcasewewilltrytoresolvethemwithin10workingdaysofthestartof thenewschoolterm.

ChildProtection:ConcernsregardingChildProtectionareoutsidethescopeofthisprocedure.Ifyouhavea concernregardingChildProtection,pleasecontacttheschoolʼsDesignatedSafeguardingLead,MrZiggi Szafranski(HeadofSixthForm),directlybytelephoningtheSchoolOﬀice(01923331100).

Appealsagainstexpulsion:Theseareheardunderadiﬀerentprocedure,detailsofwhichareavailablefromthe PrincipalʼsOﬀice.

Stage1(Informal)

1 Itishopedthatmostcomplaintsandconcernscanberesolvedquicklyandinformally Oenthereisa misunderstandingwhichcanbeeasilyresolved.Ifnot,wewillgiveyouachancetoexplainyour concernsandwilltrytoresolvethem.Ofcourse,thisdoesnotmeanthatineverycasewewillcome roundtoyourpointofviewbutitwillhelpbothyouandtheschooltounderstandbothsidesofthe question.Itmayalsohelptopreventasimilarproblemarisingagain.

2 Thepersonbestplacedtodealwithanyconcernandcomplaintwilldependonthesubjectofyour complaint,asfollows:

SUBJECTOFCOMPLAINT

PERSONTOCONTACT

Ifyouarenotsurewhomtocontact,pleasecontacttheSchoolOﬀice(info@purcell-school.org).

3. Ifyouwishtodiscusstheproblemfacetoface,therelevantmemberofstaﬀwillusuallybeabletosee youonaschooldaybeforeoraerschool.Pleasecontactthembyemailinadvancetomakean appointment Pleasedonotsimplyturnupatschoolandexpecttoseesomeone,astheymaynotbe available.

4 Ifthematterisnotresolvedtoyoursatisfaction,orifyouhaveaseriouscomplaintwhichyoufeel cannotbedealtwithbythepersonabove,youshouldthenproceedtoStage2ofthisprocedure

Stage2(Formal)

1. Ifyoubelievethatyourcomplaintissuﬀicientlyserious,orifthematterhasnotbeenresolvedatStage 1above,youcanmakeaformalcomplaintdirectlytothePrincipal Thismustbemadecourteouslyin writing,statingthatyouaremakingaformalcomplaint.ThePrincipalwillacknowledgereceiptofyour complaint

2. ThePrincipalwillusuallydelegateresponsibilityforundertakinginvestigationofthecomplainttothe VicePrincipaloranotherseniormemberofstaﬀasappropriate.Thedesignatedpersonmayaskto meetyouforadiscussionoftheproblem Youcantakeafriendorrelationtothisappointmentwith youifyouwish,whoshouldnotbelegallyqualified,andlegalrepresentationwillnotnormallybe permitted Thedesignatedpersonwillthenconductafullinvestigationofthecomplaintandmay interviewanymembersofstaﬀorstudentsinvolved.Awrittenrecordwillbekeptofallmeetingsand interviewsheldinrelationtothecomplaint.

3. Followingtheinvestigation,thePrincipalwilldecide,aerconsideringthecomplaint,theappropriate courseofactiontotake.Youwillbeinformedofthisdecisioninwriting.ThePrincipalmayalsoaskto meetwithyoutoexplainthedecision

4 IfyourcomplaintisaboutanactionofthePrincipalpersonally,thenyoucanreferitinconfidenceto theChairmanofGovernors Youcancontacthimbywritingtohimc/otheBursarorbyemailtothe Bursar(a.wroblewski@purcell-school.org),statingclearlythatyouaremakingaformalcomplaint.

Stage3(Appeal)

1. Ifthematterisstillnotresolvedtoyoursatisfaction,youmaywishtoproceedtoStage3,andaskfor yourcomplainttobereferredtoahearingpanel Theappealmustbemadeinwriting,statingthatyou aremakinganAppeal.

2 YourappealshouldbeaddressedinconfidencetotheChairmanofGovernorsandsenttohimc/othe BursarorbyemailtotheBursar(a.wroblewski@purcell-school.org).TheBursarwillacknowledge receiptofyourcomplaint.

3 Youmustlodgeyourappealwithin10workingdaysofthedateoftheSchoolʼsdecisionmadein accordancewiththeStage2Procedure.Youshouldprovidealistofyourcomplaint(s)madeagainst theschoolandwhichyoubelievenottohavebeenresolvedsatisfactorilybytheStage2Procedure, alongwiththeremediessoughtinrespectofeach.Youshouldalsostatewhetheryouwishtoattend thehearing,orwhetherthepanelmaydealwiththematterbasedonlyonwrittensubmissions.

4. TheChairmanofGovernorswillthenconveneapanelconsistingofthreeindividuals,twogovernors andonememberwhoisindependentofthemanagementandrunningoftheschool,noneofwhom willhavebeendirectlyinvolvedinthemattersdetailedinthecomplaintandsowillbeabletogiveita freshassessment.Thepanelwillconveneassoonaspossible,normallywithin10workingdaysofthe receiptofyourappeal

5. Ifyouhaverequestedtoattendthehearing,youwillbeinvitedtoattendandspeaktothepanel;you maybringafriendorrelativewithyou,whoshouldnotbelegallyqualified,andlegalrepresentation willnotnormallybepermitted.ThePrincipalwillnormallyalsoattendthehearing,andmaybringa colleague(normallythepersonwhohasinvestigatedthematterunderStage2above).

6 Aerdueconsiderationofallthefactstheyconsiderrelevant,thepanelwillreachadecision,andmay makerecommendations,whichitshallendeavourtocompletewithin10workingdaysofthehearing. ThedecisionreachedbytheComplaintsPanelisfinal Thepanelʼsfindingswillbesentinwritingor

emailtotheparents,thePrincipal,theChairmanofGovernorsand,whererelevant,theperson complainedabout.Theletterwillstateanyreasonsforthedecisionreachedandrecommendations(if any)madebytheComplaintsPanel. Therecordoftheoutcomeofthehearingiskeptinschoolin confidence,availabletothePrincipalandtheChairofGovernors.

FurtherdetailsoftheComplaintsPanelprocedureareavailablefromthePrincipalʼsOﬀice.

WelfareofBoarders(inaccordancewithNationalMinimumBoardingStandard5.8)

Boardersortheirparentswhohaveacomplaintabouttheirwelfarewhichtheyfeelhasnotbeenansweredby theschoolʼsnormalprocedurescanwritetotheIndependentSchoolsʼInspectorateat:ISI,FirstFloor,CAP House,9-12LongLane,LondonEC1A9HA,ortoinfo@isi.net

Alternatively,theymaycontacttheLocalAuthorityDesignatedOﬀiceron03001234043.

RecordKeeping

Confidentialwrittenrecordsofallformal(Stage2)complaintsandtheiroutcome(includingwhethertheywere resolvedatStage2orproceededtoapanelhearing)willbekeptinasecurefilebythePrincipal Therecords canbereadonlybythePrincipalandtheChairofGovernors.

Parentscanbeassuredthatallcomplaintsandexpressionsofconcern,whetherraisedinformallyorformally, willbetreatedseriouslyandconfidentially.Correspondence,statementsandrecordswillremainconfidential exceptwheretheSecretaryofStateorabodyconductinganinspectionundersection162Aofthe2002Act requestsaccesstothem,orwhereanyotherlegalobligationprevails.

F3:WHISTLEBLOWINGPOLICY

Purpose

Intheinterestsofopennessandaccountability,theSchoolencouragesanyonewithseriousconcernstocome forwardandvoicethem. Thisappliestoconcernsabouttheactivitiesofstaﬀ,governorsandexternal organisationsintheirdealingswiththeSchool.

ThisPolicy

● Providesthebasisonwhichstudents/parentscanraiseanysuchconcernsandreceivefeedbackon actiontaken,

● Allowsstudents/parentstotakethematterfurtheriftheyaredissatisfiedwiththeSchoolʼsresponse,

● Givesprotectionfromreprisalsorvictimisationfor“whistleblowing”ingoodfaith.

Existingpoliciesandproceduresareinplacetoenableemployeestoraisegrievancesorforparentsand studentstomakeroutinecomplaints Thispolicyisintendedtocoverconcernsthatfalloutsidethescopeof individualgrievances. Theconcernmaybeaboutsomethingthat:

● Isunlawful,

● Iscontrarytotheschoolʼspolicies,

● Amountstoimproperconduct,

● Seemslikelytoharmsomebodyortheenvironment,

● Representsunsatisfactoryconcealmentoftheseissues.

Safeguards

TheGoverningBodyrecognisesthatthedecisiontoreportaconcerncanbeadiﬀicultonetomake,notleast becauseofthefearofreprisalsfromthoseallegedlyresponsibleforthemalpractice. TheSchoolwillnot tolerateharassmentorvictimisationandwilltakeallpossiblemeasurestoprotectthosewhoraiseconcernsin goodfaith

Confidentiality

Wherepossible,theSchoolwillprotecttheidentityofanyonewhoraisesconcernsanddoesnotwanttheir nametobedisclosed. Itmustbeappreciated,however,thattheinvestigationmayrevealthesourceofthe information,andstatementsmademayberequiredaspartoftheevidence. TheSchoolencouragesthe concernedindividualtoputtheirnametoallegationsmade Concernsexpressedanonymouslyaremuchless powerful,buttheywillbeconsideredatthediscretionoftheSchool.

Inexercisingthisdiscretion,thefollowingfactorswillbetakenintoaccount:

● Theseriousnessoftheissueraised,

● Thecredibilityoftheconcern,

● Thelikelihoodofconfirmingtheallegationfromattributablesources,

● Thepossibilityofuntrueorunsupportedallegations

Ifanallegationismadeingoodfaith,butisnotconfirmedbytheinvestigation,noactionwillbetaken However,ifallegationsaremadethataremaliciousorvexatious,furtheractionislikely.

HowtoRaiseaConcern

Theearlieraconcernisraised,theeasieritistotakeaction.

Asafirststep,parentsshouldnormallyraiseconcernswiththePrincipalortheChairmanofGovernors. This depends,ofcourse,ontheseriousnessandsensitivityoftheissuesinvolvedandwhoisthoughttobeinvolved inthemalpractice. TocontactamemberoftheGoverningBody,parentsshouldwritetotheSchoolcareofthe ClerktotheGovernors,markingtheenvelopeʻPrivateandConfidentialʼandtheletterwillbepassedon. If parentsfeeltheycannotapproacheitheroftheabove,theyshouldapproachtheGovernorwithresponsibility forChildProtectionandSafeguarding,DrRebeccaMooney.

Concernsarebestraisedinwriting. Thisshouldsetoutthebackgroundandhistoryoftheconcern,giving names,datesandplaceswherepossible,andthereasonforconcernaboutthesituation. Ifparentsfeelunable toputtheirconcernsinwriting,theymaytelephoneoraskforameetingwiththeappropriateperson

HowtheSchoolWillRespond

TheactiontakenbytheSchoolwilldependonthenatureoftheconcern. Themattermay,forexample,be investigatedinternallyoritmaybereferredtothepoliceoranappropriatestatutoryagency Inorderto protectindividualsandtheSchool,initialenquirieswillbemadetodecidewhetheraninvestigationis appropriateand,ifso,whatformitshouldtake. Someconcernsmayberesolvedbyagreedactionwithoutthe needforinvestigation Assoonaspossibleand,atthemost,withintwoweeksofaconcernbeingreceived,the ChairmanofGovernorsortheappropriatememberofstaﬀwillrespond:

● Acknowledgingthattheconcernhasbeenraised,

● Indicatinghowitisproposedtodealwiththematter,

● Wherepossible,givinganestimateofhowlongitwilltaketoprovideafinalresponse,

● Advisingwhetherfurtherinvestigationswilltakeplaceandifnot,whynot.

Whenameetingisarranged,parentsmaybeaccompaniedbyacolleagueorfriend Subjecttolegalorcontractualconstraints,parentswillalwaysreceiveinformationabouttheoutcomeofany investigation

TakingtheIssueFurther

Individualswhoarenotsatisfiedwiththeactiontakenasaresultofaninvestigation,andfeelitisrighttotake thematteroutsidetheSchool,aredirectedtothefollowingpossiblecontactpoints:

● Relevantprofessionalbodies,

● TheDepartmentofEducation,

● Thepolice,

● ThecharityPublicConcernatWork(telephone02074046609).

F4:FUNDRAISINGANDSPONSORSHIP

Aswellasbeinganeducationalestablishment,ThePurcellSchoolisalsoaregisteredcharity(Number312855) andneedstofundraise.

AlthoughthegovernmentʼsMusicandDanceSchemeprovidesfundingfor143oftheSchoolʼsstudents, financialsupportisrequiredfortheremaining20%ofstudents. PartoftheFundraisingDepartmentʼsroleisto securescholarshipsandbursariesforthesestudents

Parentsareaskedtoassistwiththisworkby:

● BeingambassadorsfortheSchoolandrecommendingitforsupporttotheirfriends,colleaguesand businesscontacts.

● NotmakingrequestsdirectlytotheSchoolʼsbenefactorsforfinancialassistancefortheirchildren, eitherwhilsttheyareatschoolorwhentheymoveon.TheFundraisingDepartmentisresponsiblefor makingapproachestofundingsourcesonbehalfoftheSchoolandcanadviseonsourcesoffinancial supportavailablefortertiaryeducation.

ForfurtherinformationabouttheworkoftheDevelopmentDepartment,Scholarships,Bursariesand fundraisingactivities,pleasecontacttheHeadofDevelopmentandPhilanthropy. BacktoContents

APPENDICES

APPENDIX1:SCHOOLRULES

Theserulesaredesignedtoencourageyoutobehaveinathoughtfulandresponsibleway,toensurethatyou receivethemaximumbenefitfromyoureducation,tomaintaintheSchoolʼsexcellentreputation,andtohelp uslivetogetherasaschoolcommunity

YoushouldalsoreadtheschoolʼsAnti-BullyingPolicy,BehaviourandSanctionsPolicy(whichexplainsrewards andsanctionsusedattheschool),DrugsandAlcoholPolicy&theICTAcceptableUsePolicy.

1.ATTENDANCE

A Youmustregistereveryschooldayby840aminHouses Itistheschoolʼslegalobligationtorecord yourattendanceinthisway. Ifyouarrivelateinthemorning,youmustsignineitherinyourboarding houseorusetheelectronicsigninginsystem,InVentry

B. Aernoonregistrationistakenintheboardinghousesatlunchtimebetween1pmand1.20pm;ifyou takeanearlyorlatelunchduetocommitmentsandmissregistrationyoumustsignininyourboarding house.

C. Daystudents:Youshouldnotbeinschoolbefore8.00am,andyoushouldleavethepremisesby 600pm(400pmforAvison)unlessyouarerequiredtostayforanorganisedschoolactivitysupervised byamemberofstaﬀ(e.g.arehearsal).Inexceptionalandoccasionalcircumstances,permissiontostay lateratschoolisstrictlyatthediscretionoftheHouseparentandmustbesoughtatleast48hoursin advanceandinwritingfromparentsorguardians.Daystudentsmustalwayssigninwiththeir houseparentonarrivalatschoolinthemorning,andmustalwayssignoutfromtheirhousebefore leavingschoolattheendoftheday

D. Youareexpectedtobeinschoolforthecoreworkinghours(8.40amuntil3.40pm)unlessgiven permissiontobelate/absentorengagedinanorganisedschoolactivity(eg aschooltrip) Unless specificpermissionhasbeengiventogohomeearly,alldaystudentsmuststayinschooluntiltheir lastcommitmentoftheday DaystudentsinAvisonmaynotleavethepremisesattheendoftheday untilcollectedbyanagreedadult.

E. Youareexpectedtoattendalltimetabledlessons,assemblies,tutorsessions,rehearsals,concertsand otheractivitiesunlessillorinjured Ifyoudonothaveataughtlessonduringtheworkingday,you shouldeitherbedoingpracticeorprivatestudy.

F Ifyouneedtomissanacademiclesson(orothertimetabledactivity)foraninstrumentallesson,you mustexcuseyourselffromthatlessonbyspeakingtothememberofstaﬀconcerned.Permissionto missalessonforanextraordinaryrehearsalcanonlybegivenbytherelevantHeadofDepartment (HoD).PermissiontomissGameswillnormallybegivenonlyifaletterhasbeenbroughtfromparents ortheSchoolNurse.

G IfyouareinYear10andaboveanddohavepermissiontoleaveschoolduringtheday,youmustsign outofyourboardinghousewhenyouleave,andsigninagaininyourboardinghousewhenyoureturn, sothatweknowwhoisonsiteatalltimes IfyouareinAvisonandhavepermissiontoleaveschool duringtheday,youmustgototheSchoolOﬀice.

H. SixthFormdaystudentsmayleavethepremisesaertheirlastcommitmentofthedayprovidingthey havepermissiontodosofromtheirHouseparentorHeadofSixthForm Thisprivilegemaybe withdrawnatanytimeasasanctionforinappropriatebehaviouroracontraventionoftheschool rules

2.WHATTODOIFYOUAREILL

A DayStudents:Ifyouareillathome,yourparents/guardiansmustphonetheSchoolOﬀiceoremail studentabsence@purcell-school.orgonthefirstmorningofabsence,explainingthereasonforyour absence Thisshouldberepeatedeachdayuntilyoureturntoschool

B. Ifyouareillwhileatschool,youmustalwaysreportimmediatelytoamemberofstaff. Duringthe schoolday,youshouldreporttotheSchoolOfficewhereyouwillbeseenbytheNurseoraqualified first-aider. Undernocircumstancesmayyouleavetheschool,evenwithyourparents,withoutsigning out.Boarderswhofeelillbefore9.00amoraer4.30pmshouldreporttoHouseStaff.

C Boarders:Ifyoufallillwhileathomeandneedtoreturntoschoollate,yourparentsorguardians shouldinformyourHouseparentassoonaspossible.

3.SPECIALABSENCE

A. Ifyouwishtobeabsentfromschoolforanexternalmusicalcommitmentsuchasaconcertora competition,youshouldfirstdiscussitwellinadvancewithyourHeadofInstrumentalDepartment Yourparentorguardianmustmakeadetailedabsencerequestbyemail,atleast14daysinadvance,to studentabsence@purcell-schoolorg

B. Ifyouwishtomissschoolforanyotherreason,yourparentorguardianmustmakeadetailedabsence requestbyemail,atleast14daysinadvance,tostudentabsence@purcell-school.org

C Detailsgiveninanyabsencerequestmustincludedetailsofhowyouwillbetravelling,includingflight ortraininformation,andarecordoftheadultwhowillberesponsibleforyouduringthistime.

D Whenpermissionforabsenceisgiven,youareresponsibleforlettingallteachersknowcourteouslyin advance,andfulfillinganyextratasksset.

E. Boarders:Tobeabsentforanyperiodoutsidetheschoolday,parentsorguardiansmustsubmitan exeatrequestthroughOrah(previouslycalledBoardingware)toobtainpermission.

4.BOUNDSANDLEAVINGTHESCHOOLSITE

A. Thefollowingareasareoutofbounds:

1 Anywoodedareaaroundtheschool;Estateworkshops,laundryandanyroofs

2. Thelowerfieldatthebackoftheschoolaerdark

3 BusheyHallGolfClub

4. TheLincolnsfieldCentre

5 BusheyMillLaneaerdark

6. HartspringMeadow

7. TheMetropolitanPoliceClubandGrounds-exceptforthosestudentsintheSixthFormwho aremembersoftheMetClubGym,whocansignouttousethefitnesssuite,havingregistered theirmembershipinadvancewiththeirhouseparent.Studentsshouldsignoutintheusual way

B. BoardersinYears7-9

YoumaynotleavetheSchoolsiteatanytimeunlessaccompaniedbyamemberofstaﬀ,parentor guardian

C. BoardersinYears10and11

Providedyouhavenoscheduledlessonsoractivities,youmaysignoutofschoolbetween5pmand 6.00pmMondaytoFriday(12.30pmto6.00pmatweekends).Youmustgoinagroupofatleastthree. YoumustalwayshavepermissionfromyourHouseparent,statewhereyouaregoing,becontactable bymobilephoneandbebackinschoolby545pmforsupper

D SixthFormBoarders

Providedyouhavenoscheduledlessonsoractivities,studentsmaysignoutofschoolbetweenthe timesindicatedbelowandmustbepresentforsupperat545pm(Sunley)+610pm(Ellington):

Monday 5.00-6.00pm Tuesday 500-600pm Wednesday 500-600pm

Thursday 5.00-6.00pm Friday 400-800pm

Saturday 1200-945pm Exceptionsgranted inspecial circumstancesvia Directorof Boarding Sunday 12.00-6.00pm

YoumustalwayshavepermissionfromyourHouseparent(ordutymemberofstaﬀ),statewhereyou aregoing,andbecontactablebymobilephone.Returntimesabovemustbestrictlyobserved.

Notethatpermissiontoleaveschoolintheeveningsisaprivilegebasedonthetrustthatexists betweenseniorboardingstudentsandthosewhoareresponsibleforlookingaerthemin school.Housestaﬀextendthetrustthatseniorboardersareuptodatewiththeirwork,will behavealwaysinawaythatbringscredittothemselvesandtheschool,andmeettheschoolʼs expectationswithregardtorules.Theprivilegemaybewithdrawnifthattrustisbreached.

E. SaturdayMusicCollegeJuniorDepartments

IfyouwishtoattendtheJuniorDepartmentofanyoftheLondonMusicCollegesonSaturdays,you mustensurethatyourparentshavediscussedarrangementswiththeDirectorofMusicandHeadof Department

5.SAFETY

A. Youmustensurethatyourbehaviourdoesnothingtoharmorendangeryourselforothermembersof theschool,staﬀorpublic,ordodamagetoproperty.Thisincludestamperingwithelectronicor computerequipment

B. Youmaynotenteranypartofthemaintenanceworkshops,roomswhereequipmentisstored,or boilerrooms Youmaynotclimbonanyrooforoutofanywindow Youmaynotremovetherestrictors onwindows,whicharethereforyoursafety,withoutpermissionfromamemberofstaﬀ.

C Youshouldnotrunincorridors,onstaircases,orinthedininghall

D. Youshouldnotenteranyschoolcarparkwithoutgoodreason.Youshouldtakeparticularcareof traﬀicenteringandleavingthesite.

E Ifthefirealarmsounds,remainsilentandfollowstaﬀinstructions,walkingquicklyandsilentlyviathe nearestexittotheassemblypoint.

F Youmustnottamperwithanyfirealarmequipment Settingoﬀthefirealarmorfireextinguishers deliberatelywillberegardedasveryseriousoﬀences.

G. Youmaynotcarrywithyouanymedicines,exceptinsulin,epipens,asthmainhalersorsimilar emergencyitems.AllothermedicinesmustbehandedtotheSchoolNurseorHouseparentsinthefirst instanceforsafe-keepingandadministration.

6.ROOMSINBOARDINGHOUSES

A OnlySixthFormstudentsmayusetheirroomduringthedayforpracticeandprivatestudy

B. Boysmaynotvisitstudies/bedroomsorcorridorsinSunley,orthegirlsʼsideofEllingtonorAvison. Girlsmaynotvisitstudies/bedroomsorcorridorsontheboysʼsideofEllington Ifyoubreaktheserules youmustexpecttobesuspendedfromschool.

C. Youareexpectedtokeepyourroomtidyandtoputyourbelongingsaway.

D. Allroomsmustbeemptiedattheendofeachterm,andpossessionstakenhome.Thereissome storagefortheuseofinternationalboarders.

7.EVENINGROUTINEFORBOARDERS

A Allboarders(andanydaystudentsstillinschool)mustregisterfordinnerwithdutystaﬀintheDining Hallat6.00pm(Sunley)or6.30pm(Ellington).

B. Preptimesexisttoenableyoutocompleteworkoutsidelessons.PrepforstudentsinYear9isfrom 6.30pm-7.30pmMondaytoThursday,andforthoseinYears10-13from7.15-8.45pmMondayto Thursday.

C AvisonboardersaresupervisedduringprepintheHouse AvisonboardersinYears7-8haveorganised practicetimefrom6.30-7.30pm.

D Boarderscompletetheirprepintheirownrooms Ifyouwishtoworkelsewhere(egintheMusic TechnologyStudioorArtRoom)youmusthavepermissionfromthememberofhousestaﬀonduty.

E. IfyouareaSixthFormerandareuptodatewithyourwork,youmayrequesttobeallowedtopractise duringpreptime ThiswillbeauthorisedatthediscretionofyourHouseparent

F. Houseparentsmay,attheirdiscretion,occasionallyallowyoungerstudentstopractiseduringprepif theyarepreparingforspecificimportantmusicalactivitiesandareuptodatewiththeiracademic work.

8.VISITINGHOUSES

A AvisonstudentsshouldnotvisitanyotherHouse

B. MembersofSeniorHousesmaynotvisitAvisonexceptwiththespecificpermissionofthe Houseparent.

C. Seniorstudentsvisitingotherhousesmustaskforpermissionfromdutystaﬀiftheymaysigninto visit.

9.BEDTIMES

Itisimportantthatyougetsuﬀicientsleepeachnighttoenableyoutomeetallyouracademicandmusical commitments.Inyourowninterests,bedtimesforboardersareasfollows:

10.USEOFSCHOOLROOMS

A Youmayonlyusepracticeroomsforindividualpracticeorensemblerehearsals Youareexpectedto takecareoffurniture,equipment,pianosorotherinstrumentsintheserooms. Youshouldalways leavetheroomtidyandreadyforuse,closewindowsandturnoﬀlights Emptyclassroomsmayalso beusedforpracticeonthesamebasis.Unlessrehearsing,onlyonestudentmayoccupyapractice roomatanyonetime

B. Roomsmaynotbeʻreservedʼandstudentsshouldnotleavebelongingsinroomsduringtheschool day.Ifyouareusingapracticeroomandareleavingtoattendalesson,breakorlunchtimeyoumust takeyourbelongingswithyou

C. TheMusicLibraryisavailablethroughoutthedayforquietprivatestudy. Youmaynotbringfoodor drinkintotheLibrary AllbooksormusicremovedfromtheLibrarymustbesignedfor

D. TheICTRoomisavailableforuseatcertainpublishedtimes.YoumustfollowtheICTAcceptableUse

Policy,whichwillbegiventoyou.YoumaynotbringfoodordrinkintotheICTroom,andyoumustnot tamperwithanyequipment.

11.ACADEMICRULES

A. Youshouldensurethatyoualwaysarrivepromptlyforlessons,andhaveallthecorrectbooksand materials.

B Youmustbringyourplannertoalllessonsandrecordallhomeworkinit

C. Allhomeworkmustbecompletedontimeasrequiredbyteachers.Courseworkandcontrolled assessmenttasksmustbecompletedaccordingtotheinstructionsofteachers,andmustbeyourown unaidedwork.

D Duringlessons,youshouldshowrespectforyourteacherandfellowlearnersby:

1. Listeningandconcentratingwhenyourteacheroranotherstudenttalkstothewholeclass.

2. Answeringquestionsproperly,withtheaimoflearningandhelpingotherstolearn.

3 Workingsensiblywithyourfellowstudents,andavoidinganythingtodistractorannoythem

E. Youshouldcarryoutanyreasonablerequestfromateacheratonceandwithoutargument.

12.DRESSCODE

Thereisnoschooluniform,butitisimportantthatyouareclean,wellturnedoutanddecent,inclothingthat isappropriateforpurposefulacademicandmusicalwork.HouseparentsortheDeputyPrincipalwillbethe arbitersofwhetherclothingisacceptable,butthefollowingexamplesgiveguidanceastowhattoavoid:

● Extremesoffashionandill-fittingclothes,croptopsorveryshortshorts,garmentswithoﬀensive slogansorpictures,clothesthataretornorrippedorsee-throughmaterialswhichexposeunderwear

● Ostentatiousjewelleryorextravagantbodypiercing

● Visibletattoosunlessverysmall

Forreasonsofsafety,flip-flopsarenotacceptableindoorfootwearduringtheschooldayandyoumaybe requiredtotieanylonghairoutoftheway(e.g.insciencelabs).

SeparaterulesonConcertDressareissuedbytheMusicDepartment.

13.CATERING

A. Allstudentsmayhavelunch,morningbreakandaernoonbreakintheDiningHallfromMondayto Friday

B. Breakfastandsupperonweekdays,andallmealsatweekends,areforboardersonly.Daystudents whowouldlikesupper(orbreakfastthefollowingday)mustdiscussthiswiththeirHouseparentat leastthreedaysinadvance.

14.RESPONSIBILITYFORPROPERTY

A. Allpersonalpropertyshouldbeclearlymarkedwithyourname.

B. Donotbringlargesumsofmoneyandothervaluablestoschoolunlessabsolutelynecessary.Ifso, boardersshouldkeeptheminthesafethatisprovidedintheirbedrooms.Ifyouregularlyneedaccess tolargeamountsofmoney,youshouldhaveacashcardsothatyoucanwithdrawitwhenyourequire it. Donotleavecash,mobilephonesorothervaluableslyingaround.

C Youareexpectedtotakesensibleprecautionstokeepyourpropertysafe Weencourageyourparents torentalockerfromtheʻIndependentLockerSolutionsLtdʼ,whoadministertherentalfortheschool. Thekeyswillbesentdirectlytoyourparent/guardian.Forthoselivingabroad,lockerkeyscanbe collectedfromtheSchoolOﬀiceatthestartoftheterm Youshouldrequestalockerofasuitablesize foryourinstrument.Forlargerinstruments,aseparatearrangementcanbemadeeitherwithyour

HeadofDepartment(HOD)oraHouseparent.

D. Youareresponsibleforschoolpropertysuchasbooks,equipment,instrumentsorsheetmusicloaned toyou. Youwillbechargedifyoulosethem.

E. Reportbreakagesordamagestothepremises,schoolequipmentorthepropertyofothermembersof theschoolimmediatelytoamemberofstaﬀ Youwillnotbechargedifitisagenuineaccident,but youshouldexpecttopayfordeliberateorcarelessdamage.

F Bagsandinstrumentsshouldbeleintheplacesprovidedandnotaroundschoolwheretheyare likelytocauseanobstacleordangertootherpeople,orinvulnerableplacesnearexitsfromthe school.

G Donottamperwith,handleorinterfereinanywaywithotherpeopleʼsproperty,including instruments,exceptunderclearinstructionsfromamemberofstaﬀ.

15.MOBILEPHONES

A Youmaybringmobilephonesandsimilardevicestoschool However,theymustbeswitchedoﬀand keptoutofsightduringassemblies,concerts,rehearsals,lessonsandpreptimes,unlessrequiredfor academicwork Boardersmayberequiredtohandinmobilephonesorsimilardevicesduringprep timesorovernight.

B. AllboardersuptoandincludingYear11willberequiredtohandinmobilephones,tabletsandlaptops overnight.DeviceswillbereturnedtoY9-11aermorningpracticethenextday.StudentsbelowY9will havetheirdevicesreturnedattheendoftheschoolday.

C Anyuseofmobilephoneswhichinvolvesbullying,theinvasionofprivacy,thecirculationoflibellous orpornographicmaterials,orthephotographyofotherindividualswithoutpermissionisconsidered unacceptable Thisincludesreadingtextmessagesoremailsonanotherpersonʼsphonewithouttheir specificconsent.

D. Youmustensurethatyouruseofamobilephoneorotherdevicedoesnotdisrupttheworkofthe schoolordisturbotherstudents,forexamplebydeprivingthemoftherighttosleep

E. YouareremindedthattheExaminationBoardsspecificallyforbidtheuseofmobilephonesin examinationrooms;ifyouarefoundinthepossessionofamobilephone,youriskbeingdisqualified fromallyourexaminations.

F Theschoolreservestherighttosearchand/orconfiscateyourmobilephoneifwehavegoodcauseto believethatithasbeenusedillegallyorinamannerthatwouldbreaktherulesdetailedabove.

G. YoumustatalltimesonlyusemobiledevicesaccordingtotheschoolʼsResponsibleandAcceptable UsePolicy

16.TRAVELLINGBYMINIBUS

A. Whentravellingbyminibus,youmustwearaseatbeltatalltimesandsitquietly.

B Foryourownsafetyandthatofotherpassengers,youmustnotdistractthedriverordoanything whichmightendangerthevehicle.Studentswhomakeitdiﬀicultforthedrivertodrivesafelymaylose theirprivilegetousetheminibus

C. Onschooltrips,youshouldlistencarefullytotheriskassessmentdetailswhichwillbereadoutbythe groupleaderbeforeyouleavetheminibusorcoach.

17.GENERALBEHAVIOUR

A. Youareexpectedtobepoliteandhelpfultootherstudents,staﬀandvisitors.Thereisnoexcusefor rudeness,disrespectorinsolencetowardsothermembersoftheschoolcommunity.

B. Youareexpectedtoobeyanyreasonablerequestorinstructionfromteachingstaff,boardingstaff, supportstafforprefects.

C YoumustsignandobservetheICTAcceptableUsePolicy

D. Youarenotallowedtosmokeorvapeontheschoolpremisesoranywhereelseduringtermtime. You

mustnotbringcigarettes,e-cigarettes,Shishapens,tobacco,matches,orlighterstoschool.Youmust notbringcandlesorjossstickstoschool.

E. Youmustnotbeinpossessionofalcohol,orundertheinfluenceofalcohol,orvisitlicensedpremises atanytimeduringtheschooldayorduringschoolactivities.StudentsinYears12and13mayon occasionbeallowedalcoholicdrinksatschooleventswithparentalpermissiontobemembersofthe SixthFormClubandthespecificpermissionofthePrincipal,ortovisitrestaurantswherealcoholis served,withthepermissionoftheirHouseparents SeetheDrugs&AlcoholPolicyforfurtherdetails

F. Youmustnotbeinpossessionorundertheinfluenceofanycontrolleddrugs.SeetheDrugs&Alcohol Policyforfurtherdetails.

G Youmustnothaveinyourpossessionanyrealorreplicaweapons,hazardouschemicalsorfireworks

H. Youmaynotentergamblingpremisesorbookmakersduringtermtime;gamblinginschoolformoney isforbidden

I. Sexualintimacy,physicalrelationshipsorpublicdisplaysofaﬀectionarenotappropriateinaschool. Studentsengaginginsexualactivitycanexpecttobesanctionedasthisbehaviourwillnotbe tolerated.

J. Youmustnotpublishinprintedorelectronicformat(e.g.onwebsites)anymaterialwhichisoﬀensive orderogatoryabouttheschoolorindividualsconnectedwithit

K. Youmaynotdriveacar,mopedormotorbiketoorfromschool,orwithintheschoolgrounds,without theexpresspermissionofthePrincipal SeetheStudentCarPolicyforfurtherdetails

L. Youareexpectedtohelpkeeptheschoolandgroundsfreefromlitter. Pleaseplacelitterintothebins provided. Youmustnotbringchewinggumtoschoolatanytime.

M. Studentsarenotpermittedtoorderfoodtobedeliveredtoschool.

Intheinterpretationofalloftheaboverules,thePrincipalʼsdecisionwillbefinal.Theserulesmaybe amendedfromtimetotime. BacktoContents

APPENDIX2:DRESSCODE

DressCode-DuringtheSchoolDay

Thereisnoschooluniform,butitisimportantthatstudentsareclean,wellturnedout anddecent,inclothing thatisappropriateforpurposefulacademicandmusicalwork. HouseparentsortheVicePrincipalwillbethe arbitersofwhetherclothingisacceptable,butthefollowingexamplesgiveguidanceastowhattoavoid:

● Extremesoffashionandill-fittingclothes,garmentswithoﬀensiveslogansorpictures,croptopsor veryshortshorts,clothesthataretornorrippedorsee-throughmaterialswhichexposeunderwear.

● Ostentatiousjewelleryorextravagantbodypiercing

● Visibletattoosunlessverysmall.

Forreasonsofsafety,flip-flopsarenotacceptableindoorfootwearduringtheschooldayandyoumaybe requiredtotieanylonghairoutoftheway(e.g.insciencelabs).

PhysicalEducationandGamesClothing

Boysandgirls:Nonrestrictivesafeclothingsuitableforphysicalactivity(nothoodiesorjeans).Appropriate footwearsuchastrainers.

SixthFormstudents:Ifyouintendtoswim,usingthelocalleisurefacilitiesandinyourowntime,pleasebring appropriateswimwear.

FormalConcertDress

Ourintentionistokeepconcertdressassimpleaspossible.Purcellstudentsshouldperforminclothesthat makethemfeelcomfortableandabletoexpressthemselvesmusicallywithoutdistraction.Audiencesexpecta levelofprofessionalismfromus,andclothingshouldbeclean,smart,andappropriatetothemusicalactivity, settingandoccasion Studentswillbegivenspecificguidanceinadvanceofexternalconcerts(particulardress code,changingandstoragespace,likelyvenuetemperatureetc).

Ingeneral"allblack"willbetheconcertdressforalmostallevents,andstudentsshouldhavethefollowing,as aminimum.Thiswillbeenoughformostorchestral,choral,house,classorgroupperformances:

● Smartblackshoes,blacksocks/tights

● Blackcollaredshirts/blouses/tops

● BlacktrousersORlongskirtORlongblackdress

Plus,optionally,

● Blackjacketor'dinnerjacket'/otherappropriateconcertwear

Whenperformingsoloorinsmallgroups,studentsmayoccasionallyprefertobeinsomethingmorecolourful appropriatetotheoccasion.Thefollowingmaybewornwhenappropriate,butitisnotessentialtohavethem:

● Whitecollaredshirts/blouses(NBmustbelongsleeved)

● Colouredshirts/blouses

● Smartcolouredsuit

● Ties,bowties

Ingeneral,youngmusiciansknowwhattheyliketowearwhenperforming,followingtheexampleofrespected professionals.TheSchoolwillonlyinsistonaparticularuniformifitisinthestudent'sinterests,orwherea consistentstagepictureisrequired

InformalConcertDress

Ourlunchtimeconcertshappeninthemiddleofabusyschoolday,andwedonotexpectstudentstodressup formallyforthese,buttheymayiftheywish.Theexpectationof"clean,smartandappropriate"stillapplies regardless.

BacktoContents

APPENDIX3:INDEXOFPOLICIES

Thefollowingschoolpoliciescanbefoundontheschoolwebsite:

A1Curriculum

A2Assessment&Reporting

A3Homework

A4LearningSupport

A5SexEducation

G1Equality

G2DataProtection&Privacy Statements

H1Health&Safety P3SelfHarmPolicy

H2EducationalVisits P4Behaviour&Sanctions

M2ComplaintsPolicy P5Boarding–Principlesand Practice

M4Admissions P6SchoolRules

M5ExternalMusicLessons P7 StudentCarPolicy

P1ChildProtection P8Drugs&Alcohol

P2Anti-BullyingPolicy

BacktoContents