SCHOOL RULES. The agreement between the parents and the Trust incorporates the school rules.

COMPLAINTS. In the unlikely event of parents wishing to complain about a school, their complaint should be made initially to the Headmistress. A copy of the Trust’s official complaints procedure can be obtained from the school.

PERMANENT EXCLUSION AND TEMPORARY SUSPENSION. The Headmistress has authority to suspend a pupil, or to exclude her permanently for due cause. Parents will be notified in writing of the reasons for suspension, and the consequences of a further misdemeanour or failure to improve. Expulsion will only be enforced in cases of most serious misconduct (for example, it is the policy of the Trust that any pupil who brings an illegal drug into school or is found with such a drug in her possession will be expelled). The Trust has a procedure for parents to appeal against expulsion, and details of this will be provided in the very rare cases where it is necessary.

MEDICALS. Parents of all NEW pupils should give to the school the medical questionnaire duly completed and signed, keeping a copy for reference.

No pupil who has been recently suffering from or in quarantine for any infectious or contagious illness will be allowed to attend school until permission has been given by her doctor. If during the term a pupil contracts or becomes exposed to any such illness, the Headmistress must be informed immediately. If a pupil contracts an infectious illness during the holidays and is declared by a doctor as clear of the quarantine period and fit to return to school, she should bring with her a note at the beginning of term, so that her medical record can be kept up to date.

ABSENCE. Pupils are not allowed, without permission from the Headmistress, to be absent for any cause other than illness or emergency. In the case of absence the pupil, on her return, must bring a note stating the cause of absence, and its length, giving dates. If a pupil is expected to be absent through illness for more than three days a letter giving the reason should be sent to the Headmistress, and the pupil should bring a note on her return to school.

When leave of absence is desired for some special reason, a letter must be sent to the Headmistress for her consideration well in advance of the day on which the pupil wishes to be absent. In order to avoid disruption to her education it is unlikely that permission will be given for a pupil to be taken on holiday during a school term.

If a girl feels ill whilst she is at school she must always see the School First Aider, who will decide whether to ask the parents to fetch her home or not. Girls should not phone asking their parents to collect them without reference to the School First Aider.

Pupils should endeavour to make routine appointments with dentists etc., during school holidays or out of school hours.

Parents are particularly asked to notify cause of absence by letter, not telephone, unless the circumstances are exceptional.

THE SCHOOL YEAR. Each school sets its own term dates to suit local circumstances, but the terms must total 176 full days.

TRANSFER

(a) From Year 6 (Junior Department) to Year 7 (Senior School) and from Year 11 to Sixth Form (except Kensington Preparatory School for Girls). Transfer is automatic unless in the opinion of the Head the pupil has not attained a sufficiently high standard of work to enable her to benefit from continuing her education at the school. If transfer is not considered desirable then:

• in the case of Year 6 pupils no less than one term’s written notice will be given by the Head to the parents.

• in the case of Year 11 pupils no less than one term’s written notice will be given by the Head to the parents of the standard to be attained in the GCSE (or equivalent) examination to qualify the pupil for entry to the Sixth Form.

(b) Between Trust Schools. If parents move to another area of the country where there is a Trust school priority over external applicants will be given to pupils transferring from another Trust school, subject to a satisfactory recommendation from the Head of the transferring school and, if deemed necessary, the achievement of a satisfactory standard in an entrance assessment or examination.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Trust takes its responsibilities for the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors extremely seriously but it is a fundamental principle of the law that all should take care for themselves and for others at all times.