Educational Matters
34. Our Commitment: Within the published range of the School's provision from time to time, we will do all that is reasonable to provide an educational environment and teaching of a range, standard and quality which is suitable for each pupil, and to provide education to the highest possible standard.
35. Organisation: We must reserve the right to organise the curriculum and its delivery in a way which, in the professional judgment of the Headmaster, is most appropriate to the school community as a whole. Our policy on streaming and setting may change from year to year and from time to time, and will depend mainly on the mixture of abilities and aptitudes among the pupils and may take into account management of friendship groups. Any parent who has specific requirements or concerns about any aspect of their child's education or progress should contact their child's classroom teacher/tutor, or any other appropriate member of staff, as soon as possible, or contact the Headmaster or Head of Section in the case of a grave concern.
36. Progress Reports: The School monitors the progress of each pupil, and reports regularly to parents by means of progress and full written reports.
37. PHSE: All pupils will receive health and life skills education appropriate to their age in accordance with the curriculum from time to time, unless the parents have given formal notice in writing that they do not wish their child to take part in this aspect of the curriculum.
38. Public Examinations: The Headmaster may, after consultation with a parent and pupil, decline to enter a pupil's name for a public examination if, in the exercise of professional judgment, the Headmaster considers that by doing so the pupil's prospects in other examinations would be impaired and/or if the pupil has not prepared for the examination with sufficient diligence, for example, because the pupil has not worked or revised in accordance with advice or instruction from the staff.
39. Reports and References: Information supplied to parents and others concerning the progress and character of a pupil, and about examination, further education and career prospects, and any references will be given conscientiously and with all due care and skill but otherwise without liability on the part of the School.
40. Information about Learning Difficulties: At entry to the School, parents must provide the School with copies of all medical, psychological or educational assessments or reports. Such materials are a prerequisite in enabling the School to provide the best education for pupils. Failure to disclose any such information, including the deliberate withholding of information, may result in a pupil being asked to leave.
Parents must notify the Headmaster in writing if they are aware or suspect that a pupil (or anyone in his or her immediate family) has a learning difficulty, and the parents must provide us with copies of all written reports and other relevant information. Parents will be asked to withdraw the pupil, without being charged fees in lieu of notice if, in the professional judgment of the Headmaster and after consultation with the parents and with the pupil (where appropriate), the School cannot provide adequately for a pupil's special educational needs. Remedial teaching provided by the School will be charged as an extra.
41. Learning Difficulties: The School will do all that is reasonable in the case of each pupil to detect and deal appropriately with a learning difficulty which amounts to a ‘special educational need’. Our staff are not, however, qualified to make a medical diagnosis of conditions such as those commonly referred to as dyslexia, or of other learning difficulties.
42. Screening for Learning Difficulties: The screening tests available to Schools are indicative only: they are not infallible. Parents will be notified if a screening test indicates that a pupil has a learning difficulty. A formal assessment can be arranged by the School at the parents' expense or by the parents themselves.
43. Moving up the School: It is assumed that each pupil who satisfies the relevant criteria at the time will progress through the School and will ultimately complete the Upper Sixth (Year 13). Parents will be consulted before the end of the Spring term in Year 11 if there appears to be any reason why the pupil may be refused a place at the next stage of the School. Parents must give a term's notice in writing, in accordance with the Provisions about Notice, if they do not intend their child to proceed to the next stage of the School, or a term's fees in lieu of notice will be payable.
44. School's Intellectual Property: The School reserves all rights and interest in any copyright, design right, registered design, patent or trademark ("intellectual property"), arising as a result of the actions or work of a pupil in conjunction with any member of staff and/or other pupils at the School for a purpose associated with the School. The School will acknowledge and allow to be acknowledged the pupil's role in creation/development of intellectual property.
45. Pupil's Original Work: Copyright in the pupil’s original work, such as classroom work, prep or homework, projects, internal examination scripts, paintings and computer generated material, belongs to the pupil. Most such work (but not examination scripts) will be returned to the pupil when it is no longer required for purposes of assessment or display. The parents consent for themselves and (so far as they are entitled to do so) on behalf of the pupil, to our retaining such work at school premises until, in our professional judgment, it is appropriate to release the work to the pupil. Certain coursework may have to be retained for longer than other work in order to reduce the risk of cheating. We will take reasonable care to preserve the pupil's work undamaged but cannot accept liability for loss or damage caused to this or any other property of the pupil by factors outside the direct control of the Headmaster and staff.
46. School Trips: A variety of school trips will be provided for your child while a pupil here. The cost of some school trips will be charged as an extra item. Parents' prior consent will be sought for such trips. School trips abroad or those in the United Arab Emirates involving an overnight stay will be the subject of a separate agreement with parents. The cost of the trip will be payable in advance. The pupil is subject to school discipline in all respects whilst engaged on a school trip. All additional costs of special measures (such as medical costs, taxis, air fares, or professional advice) necessary to protect the pupil's safety and welfare, or to respond to breaches of discipline, will be added to the bill.
47. Continuity of Education: In certain circumstances beyond the control of the School, such as a period of national mourning, the School may have to close. In these circumstances, provision will be made to ensure continuity of education for pupils.