Key information menu
Read and download our School policies
Like any school we have a range of policies that ensure everyone involved in school activities adheres to the appropriate standards expected of us. This page contains the relevant policies and downloads.
Admissions Policy
You can find our admissions policies below – we review the school policy annually and may make changes if we feel this would be in the best interests of the school and our community.
Each academic year has its own policy document, with details about how to apply for a place in school from the start of Year 7 through to Year 11.
These are our determined policies below. If you have any comments regarding the policies, you can contact us at the school or schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Anti-bullying
Attendance
Students should have a good record of attendance. Only school can authorise an absence.
When a student returns to school after an absence, a letter should be given to the
Tutor explaining the reasons for the absence. There may be occasions where medical evidence to support an extended period of absence or frequent absences is required. Absence letters should be sent to the Attendance Officer via the collection box in the Attendance Office.
- Each term we are going to track student’s attendance very closely.
- We will aim to have all students reaching a minimum of 95% attendance each term (they cannot miss more than 3 days during the term). To encourage this, we will have a prize draw each term for all those achieve this on THN.
- We will also have a prize draw for all the students who manage to achieve 100% attendance each term (missing no sessions at all during the term) on THN.
Students who truant will automatically receive an after school detention.
Why good attendance is important:
- 1 School year at 90% attendance – 4 whole weeks of school missed.
- 90% Attendance – ½ day missed every week
- 90% Attendance every year during secondary school = ½ school year missed.
- Research shows that 17 missed school days in a year will result in at least one whole GCSE grade drop in achievement.
Top tips
- Medical appointments are ideally after school.
- If a medical appointment is in the school day, try not to take the whole day. Try and get registered in school at AM registration before going for your appointment, and/or come back in the afternoon for PM registration to gain your registration mark.
Punctuality
There is no movement time allowed between lessons, therefore students need to ensure that they get to their next lesson as quickly as possible, without running.
Staff should endeavour to allow students to pack up on time at the end of each lesson. Students should not take it upon themselves to begin packing away without the teacher’s permission. Students should expect to be dismissed in an orderly manner.
Students should never be dismissed before the end of the lesson – this causes a nuisance to other classes still in progress and can result in students trying to get to the Refectory before break or lunchtime has officially started.
- This year we are having a big push for lessons starting on second bell (this is clearly noted by the bell for registration/lesson 3/lesson 5). If you are not there by the second bell, you are late.
- Lateness will be picked up and sanctions put in place.
IMPORTANT: Please read carefully the information below.
WARNING: If you allow your child to miss school in term time for an avoidable reason without obtaining the prior approval of the school, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice (£60/ £120) per parent per child, or made the subject of court proceedings under section 444Education Act 1996.
As a parent/carer, you can demonstrate your commitment to your child’s education by not allowing your child to miss school for anything other than an exceptional and unavoidable reason.
Behaviour
Careers CEIAG Policy
Careers PAL Policy
Charging and remission
Complaints
Electronic mobile devices
Equality & Diversity
Equality Objectives
The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). For schools, this means that it is unlawful to discriminate against students or treat them less favourably because of their gender; race; disability; religion or belief; gender reassignment; sexual orientation; pregnancy or maternity.
The Equality Act says that schools and other public bodies must:
- Encourage good relations and ensure everyone has equality of opportunity.
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
- Help make sure everyone has an equal chance to make the most of their lives and talents.
In line with our duties under the Equality Act, we assess our existing practices in relation to equality and consider objectives to help us improve further.
These objectives are:
Objective 1 Reduce prejudice-related bullying and the use of derogatory language
Objective 2 Improve knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable children to appreciate and value differences and diversity, for example increasing understanding between children from different faith communities.
Objective 3 Arrange an equality committee, involving staff, parents/guardians and our community to contribute to policy-making and review.
Further details on our rationale, evidence and action plan can be viewed in our Equality Duty Review document.
More information can be found in the Equalities Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Financial Transparency
| Range | Number |
| In the band £100,000 to £110,000 | 0 |
| In the band £110,001 to £120,000 | 0 |
| In the band £120,001 to £130,000 | 0 |
Freedom of information
Health and safety
Homework
Job Applicants
Medical
Should a student be injured at school the First Aid staff will provide initial care and if required, access medical treatment, informing Parents / Carers of their actions.
If your son / daughter is unwell, please do not send them to school in the hope that they will feel better. Anyone suffering from vomiting should remain at home, returning to school when they have not vomited for 48 hours and have eaten.
If your child needs to attend a medical or similar appointment during school he /she must obtain and carry an absence permit. This permit can be obtained from the Attendance Office by means of a note from parents.
Medicines
If medicines, prescribed by a doctor, need to be administered during school hours, please contact the First Aider and fill out a ‘Parental Consent Form’. Any prescribed medicine should be lodged and kept securely with the First Aider. We encourage all students who use inhalers to control their asthma to lodge a spare with our First Aider, in case of emergencies.
Music Development Plan Summary
Online safety
Acceptable-use Policy – STUDENTS
Online Safety
It is the responsibility of all staff at Tiverton High School to encourage and promote the safe and responsible use of new technologies for teaching and learning. Acceptable-use guidelines for promoting responsible use of the Internet with key points and successful strategies are available to all staff.
Internet access for students and staff is filtered through the use of our Internet Service Provider (South West Grid For Learning). The SWGfL system allows for detailed analysis at individual level of all Internet activity. This filtering is supported by a system that can be set to block specific Internet addresses as and when appropriate.
Electronic messaging via computers on the school network between students is monitored and abuse is automatically flagged and brought to the Network Manager’s attention. This information is then disseminated to Senior Leaders, Heads of House and tutors as appropriate. Any evidence of bullying using new technologies is treated according to the school’s bullying policy and action taken accordingly.
Cyber-bullying between students that happens outside of school systems is primarily the responsibility of the individuals involved and the services (e.g. Social Network site) in question. Although the school will of course support parents and students who are the victims of such bullying in any way it can, the ultimate responsibility remains with the individuals and their parents. We would encourage victims to involve other agencies (e.g. Police, the Social Network company in question etc.) in such instances and will assist in making those connections when necessary.
Any evidence of cyber-abuse of Tiverton High School staff (e.g. via mobile phone or via the Internet) will be treated with extreme seriousness and other agencies (e.g. Police) will be involved as appropriate. The use of mobile phones and other mobile communications devices for learning within THS is encouraged. Abuse of these technologies will be taken seriously however, and evidence of bullying via mobile phone, for example, will be dealt with according to the school code and the whole school bullying policy.
Guidelines for Internet-use
General
Students are responsible for good behaviour on the Internet and are expected to observe the school code just as they are in a classroom or around the school environment.
The Internet is primarily provided for students to conduct research, publish work and communicate with other learners about teaching and learning topics. Parent’s/carer’s permission for Internet use is presumed to have been given unless explicitly communicated to the school otherwise. Access to all learning resources is a privilege that requires responsibility.
Individual users of the Internet are responsible for their behaviour and communications over the local school network and the Internet. Users must comply with school standards and honour the school code.
Network management and other senior members of staff may monitor and review files and communications to ensure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on servers (within school, on the Internet or on storage media) are always private.
During school, teachers will guide students towards appropriate learning materials. Outside of school, families bear responsibility for such guidance as they must also exercise with
information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other media.
The following are not permitted within the school environment through any medium:
• Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures.
• Using obscene language.
• Harassing, insulting or attacking others.
• Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks.
• Violating copyright laws.
• Using others’ passwords or accounts.
• ‘Hacking’ into others’ folders, work or files for any reason.
In addition, and in accordance with the SWGfL acceptable use policy, users will not:
Visit Internet sites, make, post, download, upload or pass on, material, remarks, proposals or
comments that contain or relate to:
• Pornography (including child pornography)
• Promoting discrimination of any kind
• Promoting racial or religious hatred
• Promoting illegal acts
• Any other information which may be offensive to other members of the school
community.
Incidents which appear to involve deliberate access to Web sites, newsgroups and online
groups that contain the following material will be reported to the police:
• Images of child abuse (images of children, apparently under 16 years old) involved in sexual activity or posed to be sexually provocative
• Adult material that potentially breaches the Obscene Publications Act in the UK
• Criminally racist material in the UK.
Sanctions
• You may not use the Internet if your parents have asked that access not be given.
• You must have a supervising teacher or member of staff with you when using the Internet.
• Do not disclose any password or login name to anyone, other than the persons responsible for running and maintaining the system.
• Do not upload/send personal details, for example addresses, telephone/fax numbers or photographs of anyone (staff or students) at the school.
• Use of names of students, or photographs of students, will require parents to have been informed about such use.
• Do not download, use or upload any material that is copyright. Always seek permission from the owner before using any material from the Internet. If in doubt ask your teacher, or do not use the material.
• Under no circumstances should you view, upload or download any material which is likely to be unsuitable for children. This applies to any material of a violent, dangerous or inappropriate context. If you are unsure ask the teacher or classroom supervisor.
• Always respect the privacy of other users.
• Be polite and appreciate that other users might have different views than your own.
• The use of strong language, swearing or aggressive behaviour is not allowed. Do not state anything that could be interpreted as libel.
• Ensure that you have followed the correct procedures for using the Internet.
• Report any incident that breaches these rules to the school Network Manager.
In addition, all users of the Internet from within the school system (all students and all
staff) are deemed to have agreed to the South West Grid for Learning’s acceptable use
policy. This is available as a separate document.