Code of Conduct
v1.0
version date: 2022.06.21
11 Plus Prep School has compiled the following rules to ensure that orderly conduct is maintained during lesson time, and at any other time of contact between the parent/carer/student and the tutor of the student. These rules will help tutors to teach to the best of their ability and students to learn to their maximum potential.
We expect the following rules to be observed throughout all lessons and at any point of contact between the parent/carer/student and the tutor of the student. The parent/carer is responsible for conveying these rules to the student prior to their first lesson with us and at regular intervals.
If any student violates these rules, or if any parent/carer has been negligent in ensuring that their child (i.e., the student), or they themselves, abide by these rules, we reserve the right to remove the student from any further tuition at 11 Plus Prep School. In the event that a student is removed from their lesson/course, either temporarily or permanently, you (the payer of the student's fees) shall continue to be liable for the student's fees until the end of the half-term (or payment cycle).
Rule #1: The student must attend online lessons wearing headsets
Why do you have this rule? We have this rule so that noise disturbances from the student’s household environment, or outside environment, do not permeate the lesson and adversely affect the tutor or other children in the lesson. Unwanted noise (footsteps, voices, drilling in the street etc.) is disruptive to teaching and learning.
Headsets also allow the student to be heard consistently. (Conversely, in-built microphones offer variable sound quality, depending on how near or close the student is from their microphone).
If there is a medical reason that your child cannot wear headphones, please inform us.
Rule #2: Other household members may not be present with the student during lesson time
Why do you have this rule? Only the student who is enrolled on an 11+ Prep School course may be present during lesson time. Parents/carers or other household members may not interact with, or distract, the student during lesson time. Neither may parents/carers/household members remain off-camera to observe the student or listen to the lesson.
Parents/carers and household members who interact with the student(s), or who remain present without necessarily directly interacting with the student, affect the student’s focus on the lesson. They also distract the tutor and disrupt the learning of other students.
Parents/carers may ONLY stay for five minutes after a lesson has started to provide technical support to the student, should this be needed.
Exceptions will be made for parents of students who have special needs or medical conditions that require a parent/carer to be present. Please inform us if a parent/carer needs to be present.
Rule #3: Students may only have a plain/blurred background in Zoom
Why do you have this rule? 11 Plus Prep School hosts its lessons via Zoom. Zoom allows users to change their backgrounds. Students are expected to use either their natural background (i.e, their room) or a blurred version of their natural background (i.e., their room). They may not use any other background.
Zoom’s novelty backgrounds are appealing and fun, but the student who wastes time playing with different backgrounds is not engaging with the lesson. The student who plays with his/her backgrounds is also providing a visual distraction and temptation to other students.
Rule #4: Students may not use “filters” in Zoom
Why do you have this rule? As with Rule #3, Zoom has “filters” (e.g., hats, decorative borders etc.), which students must not use.
“Filters” are appealing and fun, but not appropriate to the lesson. The student who wastes time playing applying filters is not engaging with the lesson. The student who plays with filters is also providing a visual distraction and temptation to other students.
Rule #5: Students must use their real name in Zoom and may not change it
Why do you have this rule? It helps the tutor and other students to be able to identify the student by his/her correct name. A student who changes their display name causes a distraction and negatively affects other students’ focus on the lesson.
The only exception to this rule is if your child is using their parent’s/carer’s name. While we would prefer the student use his/her own name, we realise that the parent/carer may have to use the same Zoom account for work purposes and find that it is helpful to keep their own name on display.
Rule #6: Students may not send chat messages in Zoom without permission
Why do you have this rule? Students who send chat messages without permission, either to the tutor or to other students, disrupt the tutor’s teaching and other students’ learning.
Rule #7: Students may annotate only with the express permission of the tutor
Why do you have this rule? Students who annotate the screen without permission disrupt the tutor’s teaching and other students’ learning.
Rule #8: Students must always keep their camera on
Why do you have this rule? 11 Plus Prep School tutors need to confirm that a student is engaged with the lesson. We can do this better if the student’s camera is switched on.
There is also a safeguarding concern: if we can see the student, we have more certainty that they are safe and well during lesson time.
If there is a technical reason why the student cannot switch on their camera, or a reason why they must switch their camera off, they must inform the tutor.
In the event of technical issues, it is the parent’s/carer’s responsibility to ensure that these are resolved for future lessons.
Rule #9: Students must turn their microphones on/off as instructed by the tutor
Why do you have this rule? A student must not switch their microphone on/off without instruction from the tutor. A student who turns their microphone off without instruction often wastes time as the tutor must ask them to switch their microphone back on, e.g., to answer a question.
We may also reasonably suspect that a student who switches off their microphone without permission is doing this for forbidden purposes, e.g., interacting with other household members or watching YouTube videos (see rules #2 and #10).
Rule #10: Students must not surf the Internet during lesson time
Why do you have this rule? The student is in the lesson to learn, not to surf the Internet, watch YouTube videos etc. Any student who does this is affecting the tutor’s ability to teach and sets a bad example to other students.
Rule #11: The student must not interrupt the tutor or other students without good reason
Why do you have this rule? We strive to make the online classroom a convivial, friendly place for students. We are pleased when students interact in friendly ways with each other, and that they look forward to seeing each other in lesson time. Ultimately, students who are happy in lessons are going to learn more.
However, while we encourage students to be sociable and confident at speaking to both their peers and elders, students must exercise their common sense when speaking to other students or the tutor during lesson.
Interrupting the tutor (without good reason) causes unnecessary disruption to the lesson and other students’ learning.
Interrupting other students also causes unnecessary disruption to the lesson and other students’ learning.
Students are welcome to interrupt the tutor when they have a relevant question about what is being taught, or a valid insight that they want to share, or need to alert the tutor to a problem, a form distress or discomfort.
We cannot accurately or exhaustively give an itemised list of when it is permissible to speak out and when it is not; rather the student should exercise common sense and judge the appropriateness of speaking out at that moment.
Be assured that we will, wherever possible, reserve some time for children to interact socially with each other.
Rule #12 The student may not use bad language or blasphemy in the lesson
Why do you have this rule? Bad language and blasphemy are unpleasant and offensive. We are obliged to provide a safe and pleasant learning environment to all our students. Any student who uses bad language or blasphemy compromises the safety and pleasantness of the learning environment.
Rule #13 The student may not bully or verbally abuse other students in the lesson
Why do you have this rule? We are obliged to provide a safe and pleasant learning environment to all our students. Any student who bullies or verbally abuses compromises the safety and pleasantness of the learning environment.
Rule #14 Abuse of 11 Plus Prep School staff by a student or by the parent, or by any other representative of the student will not be tolerated
Why do you have this rule? We operate a zero-tolerance policy of abuse, hateful language and hateful conduct towards our staff. An act of abuse, the the use of hateful language or hateful conduct towards our staff by the student or the student's parent or other representative, shall result in the student being withdrawn with immediate effect from all tuition at 11 Plus Prep School. In the event that we terminate services to the student because of aforesaid abuse, you will be liable for tuition fees until the end of the current half-term.