Introduction.

Prevention is better than cure. However it is a fact of life that a small minority of pupils fail to follow the code of behaviour. It may be necessary, therefore, for individual teachers or the school authorities to apply sanctions for breaches of the rules of the school. For more serious offences or repeated misconduct, a student may be referred to his/her form teacher or have her/his name entered in the school's Book of Offences. The school’s disciplinary committee examines the book on a weekly basis, and keeps a file on each student presented to them.

Where it is deemed appropriate a student may be referred for consultation with the school’s Guidance Counsellor, Chaplain or other such appropriate person and/or parents/guardians contacted.

Form Teacher.

The first time a pupil's name appears in the Book of Offences he/she is seen by the form teacher who discusses the matter with the student. Appropriate warnings, advice and encouragement will he given and the pupil may he put on report for a week. This means that after every class the pupil must receive a written comment from the teacher on his/her conduct during the lesson.

At the end of the week the completed card is checked by the form teacher. If it is satisfactory the pupil is complimented and the card is filed. If not the offender must appear before the school disciplinary committee for interview. Appropriate action will be decided along the lines mentioned below.

If the first offence is deemed by the form teacher to be particularly serious, the matter will he referred immediately to the Disciplinary Committee who will interview the pupil in question and decide on the action to be taken.

School Disciplinary Committee.

Any pupil whose name is entered in the Book of 0ffences for a second, third or subsequent offence will have the matter dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee, who will interview the offender, listen to anything he/she might have to say and decide on the action to be taken.

Examples of minor misbehaviours:

* Talking in class.

* Talking out of turn.

* Scribbling.

* Out of seat without permission.

* Harmless horseplay.

* Unruliness on corridors.

Examples of more serious misbehaviours:

* Any minor misbehaviour that persists.

* Giving cheek to a teacher.

* Being insolent to a teacher.

* Refusing to do class work.

* Constant and deliberate interruptions to lessons.

* Deliberate lying.

* Pertinent refusal to do homework.

* Name calling and objectionable comments.

* Throwing objects.

Other examples of serious offences are:

Disrespect towards the teaching and non-teaching members of the staff, and visitors to the school.

Truancy, regular poor attendance and unpunctuality.

Disrupting class, by repeatedly speaking out of turn and without permission, or by any other means.

Boisterous behaviour such as pushing, shoving or shouting in the corridors, social areas, toilets and in the general precincts of the school or wherever school activities are in progress such as the gymnasium, swimming pool, playing fields, buses etc.

Threatened or actual assault (to pupil or teacher).

Damage to schoo1 property.

Theft.

Failure to co-operate with school prefects when they are acting in the course of their duty.

Possession or use of any prohibited substances.

This list is not exhaustive.

Our aim is to create a calm, ordered and work orientated atmosphere in a caring, supportive and mutually respectful environment. In general where pupils do not observe the Code of Behaviour we would hope that reprimand by their teachers or a sanction of some description will encourage pupils not to repeat the offence. Form teachers will provide support and encouragement to pupils whose behaviour or work rate is not satisfactory.

If such meetings with the student and / or sanctions fail to produce an improvement the form teacher will then contact the parents to inform them of the situation and to seek their co-operation. Instances of serious misbehaviour or repeated breaches of the Code of Behaviour may be referred to the Principal or Deputy Principal who will then arrange to meet with parents/guardians.

In cases of serious breaches of the Code or where there are repeated breaches of the Code, suspension will be an option. The principal will have the power to suspend a pupil for a period of up to five days and shall report any such suspension to the Board of Management at its next meeting.

Except in cases of serious misbehaviour suspension will usually only occur after other sanctions have been tried and failed and after the involvement of relevant support personnel from within the school and formal notification and meeting with parents/guardians.

Periods of suspension greater than five days may only be imposed by the Board of Management. Following a suspension parents/guardians/pupils may be required to enter into a contract of good behaviour or to other conditions, which may be specified, prior to the pupil returning to school.

Information regarding the right of appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act will be provided to parents/guardians/pupil with formal notification of suspension, if applicable.

In the case of suspension for a period of six days or more the parents/guardians or the pupil, if over eighteen, may if they wish appeal the suspension to the Board of Management. The appeal must be made in writing to the Secretary of the Board and should state the grounds on which the appeal is being made. However, the school may insist that the student remain at home until the appeal has been heard.

The Board will endeavour to hear any such appeal as quickly as possible.

If such an appeal is successful the Board may agree to an alternative sanction or to the lifting of the suspension or to the removal of the suspension from the students file.

Exclusion is the ultimate sanction imposed by the school and will be exercised by the Board of Management in cases of extreme indiscipline.

In advance of any hearing which could result in an exclusion the school will investigate the matter in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

Except in exceptional circumstances exclusion will only occur after the principal has