Charterhouse

Aims

Charterhouse aims to be an academically-focused, all-round school. Although our priorities are primarily academic, that does not mean achieving only qualifications by passing examinations. We aim too to stimulate independent enquiry and intellectual curiosity, to enrich spiritual awareness, to match physical fitness with love of the arts, and to promote individuality together with a sense of duty to friends and society.

Admission Criteria

Registration consists of filling in a form and paying a small Registration Fee. A report will be requested from the prospective pupil's current school. As long as this is satisfactory, entry for boys at 13+ will be guaranteed subject to acceptance through Common Entrance. For boys and girls at 16+, places are awarded on the basis of a selective examination and interview.

Management Team

The Headmaster has a Management Team to assist him with the day-to-day running of the School. This is currently composed of the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, Assistant Headmaster (Academic), Assistant Headmaster (Pastoral), Assistant Headmaster (External Relations), Head of Girls, Bursar, Head of Pupil Development and the Senior Housemaster.

Organisation of Boarding

The House forms the home away from home for all pupils. There are eleven boarding Houses, each offering a unique sense of identity to boys and girls at all stages of the School. The four old Houses differ only in date and character from the seven new ones. Each House enjoys a degree of autonomy and individuality. House spirit is encouraged by inter-House competitions in a wide variety of activities, both sporting and cultural.

While girls have studies in the Houses, and are as much involved in the House and the School as the boys during the daytime, they have separate sleeping accommodation in halls of residence.

Sixth Form House

Fletcherites, a co-educational sixth form House, opened in September 2010. Six girl boarders joined in September 2012 and a similar number of boy boarders will join in September 2013. It is envisaged that in time Fletcherites will have similar numbers of boarders and day pupils.

Housemasters, Assistant Housemasters, Matrons and Tutors

All Housemasters are fully residential and have the support of a residential Matron and a team of Tutors including an Assistant Housemaster. Each Tutor also has a small number of pupils with whom he or she meets at least once a week to provide the help and encouragement that enables every pupil to make the most of the opportunities that Charterhouse has to offer.

Housemasters are assisted by an Assistant Housemaster and Tutors. They share responsibility for discipline with the Assistant Headmaster (Pastoral) and ultimately the Headmaster. Discipline, however, is more cooperative than adversarial in spirit.

Additional Support Services for Pupils

In addition to a pupil's Housemaster, Tutor and Matron, pupils are free to approach other adults who are involved in pupils' welfare. These include:

• the Chaplains
• the School Medical Officer
• the nursing staff in the Hunt Health Centre
• the School Counsellors
• Master of the Yearlings (for pupils in Year 9)
• Master of the Removes (for pupils in Year 10)
• Master of the Fifths (for pupils in Year 11)
• Head of Girls (for girls in Years 12 and 13)
• The Peer Support Scheme (started in January 2011)

Spiritual and Moral Development

The spiritual life of the School centres on Chapel. There are two full-time Chaplains and a part-time Roman Catholic Chaplain. A short service for the whole School is held at 8.30 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The main School service on Sunday is usually held at 7.00 pm and takes the form of either Evensong or Sung Eucharist. Roman Catholic pupils may attend Mass in Founder's Chapel at this time. Twice a term, the main School service is Matins at 10.45 am. Voluntary services of Holy Communion are held thrice weekly. A confirmation service is held annually and pupils are prepared for this by the Chaplains. There is also a Christian Union which meets one evening each week and is regularly attended by around 30 pupils. Special arrangements will be made at parents' request for pupils of other faiths.

The moral development of the pupils is fostered not only through Chapel, but also through the ethos and rules of the School. Housemasters, Tutors, Matrons, Chaplains and the PHSE programme all play a significant role.

Social and Cultural Development

Pupils' social and cultural development is fostered through a wide range of extra-curricular activities including sport, music, drama and other evening and weekend activities. A pupil's social life centres on the House (plus the Halls of Residence for girls) as well as around such places as Club and the Queen's Sports Centre. Under School pupils must attend a stated number of plays and concerts within the School each Quarter. There are also opportunities to attend cultural events outside the School.

Rules and Policies for Pupils

The School Rules are published each Quarter in the Calendar. Any changes are indicated by bold type.

There are also policies relating to the following areas which are displayed on notice boards in all Houses:

• Honesty in Academic Work
• Care and Discipline
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Drugs
• Bullying
• Information Technology
• Mobile Phones
• Use of bicycles
• General conduct and use of grounds
• Boys' uniform
• Girls' uniform
• Use of the Queen's Sports Centre
• Returning to School after Exeats, Holidays etc.
• Grass
• Behaviour in Godalming
• School Punishment
• Armoury Run
• Out of Bounds
• Days in House
• Lost and found property procedures
• Childline poster
• Counselling
• Chaplaincy Pastoral Scheme
• Medication from Home
• Library Notice
• Peer Support Scheme

Child Protection Policy

The School has a Child Protection Policy and a Designated Child Protection Officer. All staff are regularly trained in child protection issues.

Links with Parents

Links with parents are fostered through:

• Annual Parents' Briefings for each year group (2 meetings for Year 9 parents)
• Termly report on each pupil's academic progress
• Termly Headmaster's letter to parents
• School Calendar - sent termly to all parents
• School Events Calendar - sent termly to all parents
• Twice-termly drinks reception for parents following the Sunday morning Chapel service
• Parents' attendance at matches, plays, concerts and Sunday Chapel - all of which is actively encouraged
• Parents' attendance at House events such as House concerts and Year Group social evenings
• Leavers' Lunch for all Year 13 parents at the end of Cricket Quarter

Complaints Procedures

If a pupil has a complaint it may be addressed to the Head of House, Head of School, Head Girl, Tutor, Matron, Housemaster, School Medical Officer, Master of the Under School, Assistant Headmaster Pastoral or Deputy Headmaster. If matters cannot be resolved by them, or if circumstances dictate a direct reference to him, the Headmaster can be consulted, who is the senior staff member responsible for the complaints procedure.

Alternatively, the complaint can be referred to a member of the Independent Panel. Names and contact details are available from the Headmaster's Office.

Parents or pupils may also contact The Children’s Rights Director, Roger Morgan, on 0800 5280731 or Child Line on 0800 1111 or the local authority designated officer on 01372 833321 or ISI on 020-7710-9900 (E: concerns@isi.net).

Alternatively, the complaint can be referred to a member of the Independent Panel. Names and contact details are available from the Headmaster's Office.

In the case of Child Protection issues, Mr JM Richardson or Mrs MH Swift should be consulted.

Parent Complaints (Review Procedure)

This procedure is for use by parents of pupils of the School in circumstances in which they have a legitimate complaint or concern regarding their own or their child’s treatment and which does not fall within the scope of other procedures.

The School will make written records of all complaints, the date on which they were received, any meetings or interviews held in relation to the complaints, and whether they were resolved at the formal stages or proceeded to a review hearing.

Equal Opportunities Policy

Within the School, there is no inappropriate discrimination on grounds of gender, disability, race, religion, cultural background, linguistic background, sexual orientation or academic or sporting ability. These factors are taken into account in the care of boarders, so that care is sensitive to different needs.

School documents (for example, the School’s policies on Promoting Good Behaviour and Bullying) demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities and avoidance of inappropriate discrimination of all forms.

No identifiable minority groups within the school population are excluded or suffer from discrimination. Minority groups amongst boarders are supported appropriately and helped to integrate.

The School supports those boarders, with individually agreed welfare plans, who for any reason do not ‘fit in’ to the School, House or pupil body.

Appropriate provision or exemption is made, where feasible and desired, for boarders with special dietary, dress or religious observance requirements or needs because of religious or cultural background.

Culturally sensitive and appropriate support is provided for boarders for whom English is not their first language, in boarding as well as through the curriculum.

Disability Policy

The School has a Disability Policy. In accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act (1995), Charterhouse will seek to treat those with disabilities as favourably as those without disabilities. It will make reasonable adjustments, wherever practical, including the relocation of certain classes and activities to ground floor accessible rooms to avoid putting those with disability at a disadvantage.

Links with the Community and Public Benefit

The School has a Director of Public Benefit who works with the Management Team to coordinate and develop programmes bringing public benefit to the community around Charterhouse, and beyond. Links with the community are fostered through the First Year Specialists' (Year 12) Monday Activity programme, Charterhouse-in-Southwark, the Queen's Sports Centre as well as links with a number of local Schools, and through teacher training, revision courses and summer schools. Outside organisations are welcome to use the School's facilities and this is coordinated by the School's Lettings Manager.

Please use this link to access the Schools Competition Act Settlement Trust website.