Boarding School Punishment

Corporal punishment is now illegal in all schools.

Schools adopt various sanctions against children who break the school rules. The most common punishments are as follows:

Detention: the child is required to do supervised academic work or community service for periods of 30 minutes or more during time when they would otherwise be free e.g. during the lunch hour (after the meal) or after the school day has finished. This is normally used for infringements such as lack of effort in class or minor misbehaviour.

Internal suspension: the child attends all lessons but in their free time must undertake community service and miss any extra-curricular activities such as sport. The child may also have to report to the Head at specified times. This may last for a week and is used for a serious breach of school rules (e.g. the possession or consumption of alcohol) or persistent bad behaviour.

Suspension: the child may be asked to leave the school for a short period. In the case of a child from overseas they will be required to stay with their guardian family. This is not a holiday, and may disrupt the child's academic work and is used for a very serious breach of school rules such as bullying.

Expulsion: in extreme cases such as the possession of illegal drugs or sexual relationships, a child may be asked to leave the school altogether. There is no refund of school fees.