SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

A.       Preamble

Tower House School is committed to providing an environment for the delivery of quality teaching and learning by:

• Promoting the rights and safety of all learners and teachers and parents.
• Ensuring learners’ responsibility for their own actions and behaviors.
• Prohibiting all forms of unfair discrimination and intolerance.
• Eliminating disruptive and offensive conduct.

The Code of Conduct spells out the rules regarding learner behavior at the School and describes the disciplinary system to be implemented by the School concerning transgressions by learners. The Code of Conduct applies to all learners while they are on the School premises or when they are away from the School representing it or attending a School function.

B.       School Rules

For an individual to enjoy the privileges of a community, club or institution, he or she must abide by the rules and norms of that body. When a child enters Tower House School, he automatically becomes a member of our community. Rules and regulations exist to encourage the highest possible standards of behavior and to enable the THS community to run as smoothly as possible. Underpinning any system of rules and regulations must be common sense, decency and concern for the well-being of others. Tower House School’s pupils are expected to recognize the need to behave in a way which graces the School, wherever they are.

1.       General Principles

• The basic rule is that no-one may disrupt school life.
• The ethos and traditions of the school should be upheld at all times.
• Discipline is important. Self-discipline is preferred, but if anyone is incapable thereof, the school must provide the necessary procedures to enforce discipline.
• Respect must be shown for the needs and interests of others. Regular communication and consultation between learners and educators is essential. This will ensure the necessary dissemination of information and make for harmonious relationships.
• It is the collective responsibility of all to ensure that all school facilities are adequately and properly cared for.
• No form of intimidation, political or otherwise is allowed. 
• No learner has the right at any time to behave in a manner that will disrupt the learning activity of other learners, or will cause another learner physical or emotional harm.
• Learners are expected to abide by the School rules with regard to appearance and behavior when representing the School both during School hours and after School hours, at School and away from School. Learners may not say or do anything that will discredit themselves or the School.

2.       School and Class Attendance

Parents/guardians, learners and teachers are jointly responsible for ensuring that all learners attend School.

• The class teacher must keep an accurate register of learner attendance
• The class teacher must keep copies of all communication to parents when absence from the classroom is reported.
• All learners are to arrive at School before the official starting time. Learners who are late for School will be marked absent as registers are completed at the beginning of each School day. School starts at 12:00.
• Absence from a class, without the permission of the relevant class teacher, is prohibited.
• Any boy who is absent from School must hand an absentee note from a parent/guardian to the school office.
• Should a boy be absent from School for a period of three (3) days or longer for illness, this leave of absence must be supported by a letter from a registered medical practitioner/gurdian.
• Any absence from a formal examination, test or task for illness must be supported by a letter from a registered medical practitioner/guardian.
• No learner may leave the School during School hours without a letter from a parent/ guardian requesting the release of their child and the permission of the Principal/Class teacher.

3.         School Uniform and General Appearance

Learners are expected to wear the official School uniform and appear neat and tidy (according to the dress criteria below) at all times.

• No additions or alterations to the uniform that are not in accordance with the regulations will be allowed.
• No earrings, jewellery, accessories, coloured contact lenses or visible tattoos are allowed.
• The hair regulations are as follows:

Hair length

• Can't touch eyebrows (If pulled down)
• Hair can't touch ears (over ears) or go over the collar
• May not be longer than 5cm (if pushed up)
• Hair may be two levels; however, it must fade in.
• Sideburns may not extend further than mid-ear.

Style

• No line in hair (cut lines)
• No colours in hair
• No excessive levels in hair (gradual fade)
• Hair must be neat at all times
• No form of hair spiking
• Face should be shaven at all times.
• Only learners who have applied in writing with a supporting written request from their parents/ guardians and received the necessary permission from the School Governing Body, may deviate from official School uniform for religious and cultural reasons.
• No Badges to be worn on the uniform other than those approved by the school.
• The dress criteria are as follows:

2. Summer: …………………………………………………………………………..
3. Winter: ……………………………………………………………………………The school blazer must be worn and must be buttoned at all times.

3. Ties: Only a School tie, an Academic tie, a Prefects' tie,  a Sports tie or a Cultural tie may be worn. The length of the tie must be such that it must end just above the belt.

4. Jerseys (for sports):

5. Scarves: ............................................................................................

f.    No alterations may be made to school uniform.  This includes but is not limited to making the bottom of the trouser legs narrower.

9. School shoes – conservative black school shoes (lace-up only).  No boots or slip-ons.  No suede or fabric shoes.  “If you cannot polish them, do not buy them”. Shoes with pointed toes are not permitted.

Code of Conduct For Teachers/employees

As an teacher/employee you are expected to carry out your duties in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures adopted by the Managing Committee at the School. You are expected to uphold the following principles:

·Selflessness:-your decisions must be taken in terms of the values and mission of the School, and not in order to gain financial or other material benefits.

 ·Integrity:-you must not place yourself in a situation where your position is compromised.

 ·Objectivity:-all decisions must be made on merit alone.

 ·Accountability:-you must accept accountability for your decisions and actions.

·Openness:-you should be as open as possible about all your decisions and actions.

 ·Honesty:-you should declare any private interests relating to your duties and take lawful steps to resolve any conflicts to ensure that public interest is protected.

 ·Leadership:-you must support and promote these principles by example.

 ·Conduct: -you must avoid bringing the employer into disrepute(e.g.by the use of social networks or the internet).

 ·Respect: -you must treat others with respect.

The profession of teaching is a vocation that calls for high personal standards of ethics, responsibility and accountability. A teacher has to lead by example and his / her conduct in a school environment has great impact on students. As responsible, educated adults, teachers need to shoulder certain norms.

Keeping this in mind it is expected that No teacher shall…

1. Knowingly or willfully neglect his/her duties.
2. Discriminate against any student on the ground of caste, creed, language, and place of origin, social and cultural background.
3. Indulge in, or encourage, any form of malpractice connected with examination or any other school activity.
4. Make any neglect in correcting class-work or home work done by students.
5. While being present in the school, excusing him/herself from the class which he/ she are required to attend.
6. During the period of your service, you cannot join any college or pursue any course of studies without the prior approval of the Head of Institution.
7. Remain absent from the school without sanction of leave or without previous permission of the head of the school. You cannot leave the country without prior sanction from the competent authority.
8. Leave cannot be claimed as a matter of right. When the exigencies of school service so require leave of any kind may be refused or revoked by the management.
9. Accept any remuneration related job from any source other than the school or give private tuition to any student or other person or engage him/her in any business.
10. Enter into any monetary transactions with any student or parent; nor shall she exploit her influence for personal ends.
11. All teachers are responsible for maintaining their Class Attendance Register, Plan Book, Daily Diary and Examination Registers. For any loss of the same, the accountability rests solely in the hands of the respective teachers.
12. All teachers are requested to get their Plan Book signed every fortnight and Daily Diary every week.
13. All the teachers are strictly forbidden from inflicting any corporal punishment to any student irrespective of any compelling circumstances whatsoever they may be. Incidents of this nature will be viewed seriously by the school administration.
14. Teachers, especially those who are using their private mode of transport are required to leave from the school only after the departure of all students.
15. Mobile phones are strictly not permissible in the Classrooms, Labs and Corridors.