Banbury Crossroads
Independent School

Student Suspension and Expulsion Policy Background: From time to time, students will be suspended or expelled from a class, from the school itself, or from riding on school transport as a result of unsatisfactory scholarship, conduct and/or cooperation. Although the school reserves the right to dismiss a student without cause, the following guidelines are necessary to exercise that right in a consistent manner. Policy Statement: Suspension means a temporary cessation or a temporary deprivation of the right to attend class or school, to travel on school transport, or on a bus chartered by the school. In practice, suspension may lead to a student studying at Banbury for a period of time, determined as a joint decision between administration, teachers, parents and the student. The period of time ends when new strategies for dealing with the problems encountered at school are generated and the resources for such are put into place. Expulsion means the turning out of a student from the school, and a deprivation of the privilege to attend the school with the intention of permanence. Legislation: School Act, Section 19 (1-8). Procedures: The teachers and the principal shall determine what constitutes behaviour that requires suspension: open opposition to authority wilful and aggressive disobedience habitual neglect of duty the use of improper or profane language, or other conduct injurious to the moral tone or well-being of the school. The Principal shall make decisions to suspend a student. Parents will be notified and required to pick up the student from school, or pay for taxi service to his/her Banbury. The terms of the suspension shall be determined in collaboration with the parents/guardians, through discussion and/or in writing. The duration of a suspension will be determined on a case by case basis, keeping in mind the educational needs of the student and the needs of the classroom. The Principal may re-instate a student at any time, should such a decision prove applicable. The crucial element is the resolution of the particular issues that led to the initial problems within the school. Professional intervention from community-based services may be deemed necessary before an suspension may be revoked. Following a suspension, students shall be placed upon probation. The length of the probation shall be determined by the Principal, in consultation with teacher(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s). The Principal may expel a student when such an action is warranted. This would only occur if resolution to suspension issues were not discovered, or if an emergency situation were to arise wherein the safety of other students and/or staff were in jeopardy. The move to expel a student would usually be initiated after numerous prior discussions with the student and his/her parents regarding the presenting problems. In acute circumstances where a threat to the safety and well-being of students and/or staff is involved, immediate action to expel the student may occur, with information being passed on to parents directly thereafter regarding our decision. Written notice may be provided to the parent(s) or guardian(s) about the reasons for the expulsion, if requested. A parent and student may appeal an expulsion to the Principal. An outside mediator may be utilized in the process of determining the suitability of the appeal. Any appeal conducted by the Principal or to a mediator shall be based on fairness for all parties involved. Professional psychological intervention from community-based services will be deemed necessary before an expulsion may be revoked. Should an expulsion be revoked, the situation reverts to that of a suspension, discussed above. If an expulsion is determined to be irrevocable, the school must ensure that the student has access to an education for the remainder of the school year. Options will be presented to the family, such as Banbury schooling, or having the student work at Banbury with the assistance of one of our teachers. Other alternatives would be investigating other institutions' availability to that student. With older students who have not completed their Grade 12 courses, work experience courses may be suggested and coordinated through the school.