The Central School of English strives to create a rich learning environment in a space that is welcoming to people of all nationalities and personalities.

Key to achieving this ambition is the issue of respect – the respect that all of us in the school community – teachers, staff and students – have for each other.

Most problems that arise in this area can usually be dealt with successfully in an informal manner but on occasion, it may be necessary for the school to begin a more formal process – a disciplinary action.

Students too can begin a formal procedure if they feel they are not being treated with respect – a grievance procedure.

Disciplinary Action

Examples of reasons for disciplinary action would be:

When the safety or security of a member of the school community – staff, student or teacher – is threatened.

Physical or emotional abuse of a staff, student or teacher

Damage to school property

Consumption or possession of illicit drugs on school premises

Consumption of alcohol on school premises

Discrimination against a member of the school community

Any other matter that the School Director considers to be contrary to the well-being of the school and the people who work and study there.

(For a fuller guide to the behaviors expected within the school please see the Code of Conduct published in your student handbook)

The procedure for a disciplinary action

Stage 1: Student meets with the School Manager/School Director, who may be accompanied by another member of the management team.

A student will be asked to attend a meeting with the School Manager (or in her absence, the Director of Studies) at which the student will be told of the school’s concern with the behaviour and the possible consequences if repeated or continued.

The student may bring a friend to this meeting and is given a chance to respond.

If the student does not respond to the request for a meeting or fails to attend the meeting, the issue is automatically escalated to Stage 2 of the process.

After the meeting, the School Manager may consult with other staff members or anyone else involved in the issue and will communicate her decision on the matter to the student within 48 hours.

A decision might be – to take no action, issue a warning, or escalate the issue to Stage 2 of the process. In a serious matter, the School Manager may also suspend the student from classes until the disciplinary process is complete.

If the student does not accept the decision of the School Manager, the student can appeal the matter to Stage 2 of the process.

The appeal must be made within 48 hours of the decision of the School Manager being communicated to the student. Appeals must be made in writing by email to [email protected] or by completing an Appeal Form available at reception.

Stage 2: (Appeal) Student meets with the School Manager and the Director of the School

The student may bring a friend to this meeting and is given a further chance to explain the alleged behaviour.

A final decision will be taken on the matter by the Director of the School. There are no further appeals and at this stage, a student who does not accept the decisions of the school only has recourse to consumer protections provided under Irish law.

It should be noted that in the event of a very serious matter – such as an act of violence, a criminal offence or the abuse of another person, the disciplinary process may be bypassed altogether and the student immediately expelled from the school by the Director of the School.

Grievance Procedure

Students too may have grievances and while these too can often be resolved informally, a student can begin what is called a formal grievance procedure.

The process mirrors the process described above and is explained in detail in the school’s Complaints and Grievances Policy.

A student can initiate the Grievance Procedure by writing to the School Manager (Nikola Byrtusova: [email protected]) or by completing a Complaints and Grievances Form, available from reception.

A student can also request a meeting with the School Manager to explain the complaint in person.

If the complaint is about the School Manager the student should take the complaint directly to the School Director, Simon FitzGerald ([email protected])

Policy Owner: The person responsible for ensuring actions required by this policy are taken is: Simon FitzGerald (School Director) email: [email protected]