Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

Responsibility of Board of Governors and principal for disciplineN.I.

3.—(1) The scheme of management for every grant-aided school shall provide for it to be the duty of the Board of Governors to ensure that policies designed to promote good behaviour and discipline on the part of [F1pupils attending the school] are pursued at the school.

(2) In particular the scheme of management shall require the Board of Governors—

(a)to make, and from time to time review, a written statement of general principles to which the principal is to have regard in determining any measures under paragraph (3)(a);

(b)before making or revising that statement—

(i)to consult (in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate) the principal and[F2 the registered pupils at the school and the parents of those pupils]; and

(ii)to consider any guidance given by the Department, [F3the Authority] F4... and (in the case of a Catholic maintained school) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools; and

(c)where it considers it desirable that any particular measures should be determined by the principal under paragraph (3)(a) or that he should have regard to any particular matters—

(i)to notify him of those measures or matters; and

(ii)to give him such guidance as it considers appropriate.

(3) The scheme of management for every grant-aided school shall provide for it to be the duty of the principal—

(a)to determine measures (which may include the making of rules and provision for enforcing them) to be taken with a view to—

(i)promoting, among pupils, self-discipline and proper regard for authority;

(ii)encouraging good behaviour and respect for others on the part of pupils F5...;

(iii)securing that the standard of behaviour of pupils is acceptable; and

(iv)otherwise regulating the conduct of pupils;

[F2(aa)before determining such measures, to consult the registered pupils at the school and the parents of those pupils;]

(b)in determining such measures—

(i)to act in accordance with the current statement made by the Board of Governors under paragraph (2)(a); and

(ii)to have regard to any notification or guidance given to him under paragraph (2)(c);

(c)to prepare a written statement of such measures and to secure that—

(i)a copy of that statement is given (free of charge) to the parents of all registered pupils at the school; and

(ii)copies of the statement are available for inspection (at all reasonable times and free of charge) at the school.

(4) The scheme of management for every grant-aided school shall provide for the standard of behaviour which is to be regarded as acceptable at the school to be determined by the principal so far as it is not determined by the Board of Governors.

(5) This Article does not apply to a school established in a hospital.