Disciplinary Code

Grace College expects a high standard of performance and behaviour from its pupils aiming to dissuade pupils from offending rules and to channel him/her in a more positive direction.  However, at times it will be necessary for formal disciplinary action to be taken against pupils. The Grace College Disciplinary Code regulates this facet of the corporate school life. The Headmaster will have powers to delegate some of these actions to the Deputy or other senior teachers.  The Headmaster and Governing Body, acting in accordance with the South African Schools' Act No. 84 of 1996, may order the suspension of a pupil. Ratification of such an order by a formal disciplinary hearing will result in that pupil's expulsion.

1.1 Principles of the Code
1.1.1 Disciplinary action will be taken at the appropriate level of management.
1.1.2 Disciplinary action should be implemented in a fair, just, prompt and consistent manner.
1.1.3 Acceptable pupil performance and conduct should be maintained in the course of day-to-day supervision. As far as possible, problems should be addressed informally, speedily and as close to the source of the problem as possible. Formal disciplinary action should be taken in cases of serious or repeated unacceptable performance or conduct.
1.1.4 The school has the right to take further action against any pupil should his or her conduct after school hours, even if not in school uniform, in any way bring the school into disrepute.
1.1.5 Formal disciplinary action may result in a verbal warning, removal of privileges, detention, written warning, suspension or expulsion. The underlying philosophy of this code is that a range of punishments should be explored.
1.1.6 A record of formal disciplinary action in respect of each pupil will be maintained by the school.
1.1.7 In serious cases, parents/guardians will be informed of disciplinary action taken against their son/daughter and the reasons therefore.
1.2 Discipline System
1.2.1 Schedule 1 (minor) offences:
Punishment for these offences includes exclusion from class for a period of time (with work set), break detention, or Friday detention from 2:15 to 3:45 pm.  Detentions take priority over all other activities.  These offences are usually dealt with on a cumulative basis, but if such behaviour is repetitious, despite frequent warnings, a detention may be awarded immediately.  An accumulation of three Friday detentions in a term will earn the pupil a Suspension Mark.  Minor infractions include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Talking in class or assembly
b. Eating/chewing/gum chewing in class
c. Throwing objects
d. Refusal to participate in classroom activities
e. Failure to bring appropriate material to the classroom
f. Failure to return required school forms, e.g. reply slips /absentee notes
g. Littering
h. Late arrival, or leaving school grounds when not permitted to do so
i. Sleeping in class
j. Damaging textbooks
k. Violating the dress or grooming policy of the school
1.2.2 Schedule 2 (serious) offences:
Punishment for these offences will be the immediate awarding of one or more Friday detentions.  A senior staff member moderates all such punishments to ensure that consistency of discipline is maintained in the school.  It needs to be understood that any further infringement may lead to Suspension Marks being awarded by the Headmaster.  Should a pupil fail to attend his/her detention without excusing himself/herself, a Suspension Mark will automatically be awarded.  Inconvenience with lifts is regretted, but the pupil needs to be aware of the consequences before his/her misdemeanour results in a detention.  Serious offences include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Disruption of class or school
b. Insolence; abusive, aggressive behaviour or language toward teachers, other pupils or visitors
c. Throwing objects which could cause injury
d. Forging signatures
e. Engaging in misconduct on school buses or other transport
f. Failing to do set tasks in class or at home
g. Damaging library or school-provided books
h. Swearing, profanity, vulgar language, obscene gestures or blasphemy
i. Coloured hair, or hair of unacceptable length.  (The pupil will not be permitted to represent the school in any capacity.)
1.2.3 Schedule 3 (very serious) offences and Suspension Mark allocation:
Punishment for these offences will immediately includes Suspension Marks, ranging from ONE to FIVE depending on the severity of the offence.  Parents will always be notified in writing should their child be awarded a Suspension Mark.  When FIVE Suspension Marks have been awarded, a letter of Final Warning will be sent to the parents, noting that any further misdemeanour could result in suspension or expulsion.  Parental support for the school's Disciplinary System is necessary and appreciated, as we work together for the well-being of your child and others in the school.  This support will inevitably result in Grace College being a school with which we will all be proud to be associated.
The following offences will result in the awarding of Suspension Marks:
a. Fighting, i.e. serious involvement in aggressive physical fighting in the school grounds or while in school uniform. (1 - 3 suspension marks)
b. Bullying, depending on severity (1-4 suspension marks)
c. Smoking or evidence of smoking (1-3 suspension marks)
d. Drinking or being in possession of alcohol at school or at a school function (3-5 suspension marks).  This offence could result in immediate expulsion.
e. In possession or caught using drugs (Suspension or immediate expulsion and referral to SAPS - see Drug Policy.)
f. Theft (1-5 suspension marks)
g. Vandalism, including deliberate damage to other people's property (3-5 suspension marks)
h. Committing a violation of the laws of the State (3-5 suspension marks and referral to SAPS)
i. Cheating in tests/exams, plagiarism or copying another pupil's work (1-3 suspension marks)
j. Gross insolence to staff or gross defiance (1-3 suspension marks)
k. Repeated or deliberate disruptive behaviour in the classroom (1-3 suspension marks)
l. Forging letters from a parent or guardian (2 suspension marks)
m. Inappropriate amorous behaviour on school property or in school uniform (1-3 suspension marks)
n. Being truant: bunking school, an assembly or a planned activity
o. Possession of pornographic material on school premises or at school activities, or indulging in obscene or graphic written or verbal communication (1-3 suspension marks)
p. Rape or attempted rape, on or off school premises, in or out of school uniform (Immediate suspension/expulsion and referral to SAPS)
q. Sexual abuse or assault, on or off school premises, depending on severity (3-5 suspension marks, or immediate suspension/expulsion)
r. Bringing to school, or being in possession of any form of weapon (3-5 suspension marks).  This offence could result in immediate suspension/expulsion.
s. Bringing the good name of the school into disrepute (1-3 suspension marks)
1.3 CUMULATIVE NATURE OF OFFENCES AND CONSEQUENCES
This Code of Conduct recognises that it is vital that pupils are taught to monitor their own behaviour so that it remains within the stated goals and rules of Grace College. It is therefore not acceptable that a pupil continues indefinitely with misdemeanours. A cumulative approach is therefore built into this code.
1.3.1 Detention
If a pupil has been awarded three Friday detention classes within a term, a Suspension Mark will be awarded and a letter indicating the nature of the offence will be sent home to the parent.
1.3.2 Suspension
The Headmaster may suspend pupils by sending them home for a period of time at his discretion. This action can be viewed as the equivalent of a suspension from the school. Only the Headmaster, or the Deputy in his absence, shall be allowed to suspend a pupil.
1.3.3 Expulsion
Any Schedule 3 offence may lead to expulsion from Grace College. No verbal warning to the pupil or written warning to the parent is necessarily required before such an expulsion takes place.
1.4 JUDGING EACH CASE ON ITS MERITS
Although this code clearly shows that certain types of behaviour will in all probability lead to certain types of action being taken by this school against the pupil, the Code also recognises that each case, particularly involving a possible suspension or expulsion should be judged on the basis of merit.  It is recognised that each case involves different circumstances and every effort is made to deal fairly with the individual with due recognition being given to the fact that each case is a separate entity.
1.5 THE RIGHT OF PUPILS AND PARENTS TO "DUE PROCESS"
Punishments other than suspension and expulsion
Every pupil in this school has the right to be treated fairly at all times by those in authority. It is thus necessary to provide channels for pupils and parents to seek recourse where they feel unfairly or unjustly treated by those in authority at the school.  Pupils may appeal to the Headmaster or Deputy against punishment if they feel they have been unfairly punished. They may also lodge a complaint to the Headmaster or his Deputy if they feel they are being unjustly treated by those in authority. The procedure to follow in such cases is as follows:
1.5.1 The pupil must first try to solve the problem with the teacher or student leader concerned.
1.5.2 Should this not lead to an amicable conclusion, then the pupil may appeal directly to the Headmaster or Deputy. Decisions by the Headmaster or Deputy, after investigation, are binding on teachers, student leaders and the complainant.  Parents are encouraged to allow their children the freedom to solve their own problems with the authorities in the school. However, where a parent feels that his or her child, for whatever reason, cannot do this, then they are requested to contact the Headmaster or Deputy directly.  Pupils and parents must appreciate that the right to appeal or lodge a complaint must not be used to contest every legitimate action taken by the authorities in this school.
Suspension and expulsion
The power of the Headmaster to suspend or expel a pupil unilaterally is curtailed by this Disciplinary Code. The Headmaster, or in his absence, the Deputy, will chair a disciplinary hearing for offences which are categorised as Schedule 3 offences.
Disciplinary Hearings
a. A Disciplinary Committee shall consist of the Headmaster plus one other person appointed by him.
b. The Deputy, or another person designated by the Headmaster, will lead the investigation, formulate the charge and present the evidence at the hearing.
c. A teacher chosen by the pupil shall act for the pupil at the hearing.
d. Parents of the pupil may be present, but will only be allowed to participate in the proceedings when the Headmaster has to decide on suspension/expulsion. If a parent was not present at the hearing and after hearing evidence, the Headmaster is considering suspension or expulsion, parents must be given an opportunity to make representations before a final decision is taken. Furthermore, the parents’ unavailability at short notice will not be allowed to undermine point (f) below.
e. All hearings must, wherever possible, occur within 48 hours of the school becoming aware of the alleged offence
f. If a decision is made to suspend or expel a pupil, such a decision must immediately be communicated to the pupil's parents and the Chairman of the Governing Body.
g. Parents are entitled to discuss the suspension/expulsion with the Headmaster.
h. If parents are not happy with the decision, they are entitled to appeal against it
i. The appeal, which must include the reasons for the appeal, must be addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Body within 48 hours of the parents being informed in writing of the suspension or expulsion.
j. The Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee must appoint a maximum of three Governing Body members to act as councillors to hear the appeal.
k. At the appeal, the parents of the pupil will be entitled to represent their child. Alternatively, the teacher of their choice will be entitled to represent the pupil. No legal representation will be allowed, unless the Headmaster permits it. (It must be borne in mind that legal representation at this level may help prevent litigation.)
l. After considering the grounds for appeal, the Appeal Committee must decide whether the Headmaster "applied his mind" to the case and whether his decision was procedurally fair.
m. The decision of the Appeal Committee shall be final. The Committee has the power to make any decision which it deems appropriate including, but not limited to, revising the original decision or overturning the decision entirely.
Protection of witnesses
The Committee shall do all in its power to afford witnesses complete protection.
Voluntary removal of pupils from the school
Should a pupil be facing possible suspension or expulsion and the parents prefer to remove him/her from the school voluntarily, the matter shall be considered closed by all parties. All fees, however, up to and including the term in which the pupil was removed must be paid in full by the parents.