We challenge things we think wrong and are open to challenge from others
We are accountable for failure as well as success, and do not allocate blame
We demonstrate and promote honesty, and are true to ourselves
We achieve our goals by consistently working toward them
We go above and beyond the call of duty
M Moral Integrity A Ambition
We’re ambitious when we set goals for ourselves
We seek help and support before giving up and identify lessons in setbacks
We encourage all to develop maximum potential and support others to achieve
We embrace opportunities, challenge, and seek to develop our skills and talents
We identify opportunities for School Development
Responsibility
We do what we say we will
We are punctual and prompt in all that we do
We use our resources responsibly, developing and caring for our environment
We act before being asked and consistently deliver on expectations
We prepare thoroughly for all tasks
We are accountable for our actions
We encourage autonomy in all and seek leadership
We acknowledge and seek to resolve problems
We pioneer better ways of doing things
RKindness
We are open and approachable to all, no matter their gender, faith, race or background
We welcome and listen to the opinions of others and look to engage and involve a diverse range of views in the community
We attend to and include newcomers and those needing help, and actively build relationships
We support each other and stand up for fellow colleagues and pupils
We acknowledge individual needs within our diverse and inclusive community
KWe speak positively of the School community, and are positive in responding to questions
School Map
Acting Principal:
Address:
Contact Information
Deputy Head, Academic:
Deputy Head, Pastoral:
Head’s PA:
School Receptionist:
Telephone Number:
Pupil Absence
Houses Medical Centre
Main Reception
School Calendar:
SOCS Calendar:
Mr A Pearson
Durham School
Quarryheads Lane
Durham DH1 4SZ
Mr A Pearson
Ms H Thompson
Mrs E Mussell
Mrs A Halligan
0191 731 9270, option 1
“ option 5
“ option 6 san@dcsf.org.uk
“ option 7
https://schoolcalendar.dcsf.org.uk
https://schoolsport.dcsf.org.uk
We value contact with our parents. Please feel free to email members of your child’s House or teaching staff.
The Foundation’s Parental Communication Policy is available to view on our website, https://www.dcsf.org.uk/aboutdcsf/policies.
All circular correspondence from school to parents will be made by email. We aim to keep the number of emails to a minimum and publish the Friday Flyer each week which contains information from the week, upcoming events and operational information for the week ahead.
School information can be found on the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation website and SOCS calendar, https://www.socscms.com/SOCS/
Pastoral Academic
Lodge House (Day House)
Mrs N Fordyce (Act.)
Mrs T Black (Act.)
MacLeod House (Day House)
Mrs L Myers-Bruin
Mrs F Gowland
Pimlico House (Girls’ Boarding)
The Caffinites (Boys ’Day House)
Poole House (Boys’ Boarding House)
School House (Boys’ Boarding House)
Head of Years 7 and 8
Head of Year 9
Head of Years 10 and 11
Head of Sixth Form
Mrs L Hinde
Mrs L Pollard
n.fordyce@dcsf.org.uk
t.black@dcsf.org.uk
l.myers-bruin@dcsf.org.uk
f.gowland@dcsf.org.uk
l.hinde@dcsf.org.uk
l.pollard@dcsf.org.uk
Mr A McMillan
Mr S Thompson
Mr J Jenkinson
Mr T Madigan
Mr M Younger
Mr E Bryant
Mr M Burke
Mrs E Melville
Mrs C Scott-Warburton
Mr C Hope
a.mcmillan@dcsf.org.uk
s.thompson@dcsf.org.uk
j.jenkinson@dcsf.org.uk
t.madigan@dcsf.org.uk
m.younger@dcsf.org.uk
e.bryant@dcsf.org.uk
m.burke@dcsf.org.uk
e.melville@dcsf.org.uk
c.warburton@dcsf.org.uk
c.hope@dcsf.org.uk
The School Day
Day Houses Open
Breakfast is served in Big School (for a small charge, unless a boarder)
Roll Call
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
4 Lunch
Period 6 Period 5
End of Lessons
After School Activities
Dinner (for a small charge, unless a boarder)
Day Houses close
A formal roll call is held every day at 8.30am and every pupil must attend to confirm they have arrived on the school site for the day. Registration will take place during periods 1 to 6 by the academic staff. Those pupils with a study period at these times should report to the designated area at the Sixth Form Centre. Roll calls happen at House Meetings and other stated times.
The school is an Anglican foundation and all pupils are expected to attend Chapel on a Monday and Wednesday morning and on a Friday afternoon. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, pupils are expected to go to their Tutor classrooms following registration in the House.
Absence and Illness
In the event of illness, parents are asked to phone the Housemaster/mistress or the Pupil Absence line, 0191 7319270 extension - 313303 . During the working day, unwell pupils should report to the Medical Centre or House Matron’s office in the first instance. Matrons or nurses will assess the extent of any illness - pupils should not call home prior to this. Should a pupil be too unwell to remain at school, the Matron or nurse will make contact with home to arrange collection and to authorise leave from the school site. Please do not send your child into school if they are ill.
Sickness and/or diarrhoea
It is school policy that a child should remain at home for 48 hours after the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea.
Medicines
If medication is prescribed by your doctor and needs to be administered during the school day (for example an antibiotic), it should always be handed in to the Medical Centre along with the medication permission form (or emailed to SAN@dcsf.org.uk)
Access
Pimlico, Poole, and School House are open 24/7 due to them being home to boarders. Lodge, MacLeod, and Caffinites open at 7.45am and close promptly at 6.30pm. The main entrance to all Houses is protected by a digital lock. Pupils will be given the code and they should not share that code with anyone outside of the House. The door codes change often to maximise the safety of our pupils. Day pupils are able to be on site from 7.45am to 6.30pm. Day pupils must sign out at the end of every school day so that the House staff know you have left the site.
Appearance and Hairstyles
A single pair of small stud-type earrings (gold, silver or small pearl) in the earlobe are permitted. Other visible piercings are not permitted. Bracelets, including charity bracelets, may not be worn: the only exception to this is for medical alert bracelets. Necklaces may not be worn. Make-up, including fake tan and nail polish are not permitted. For PE, Games and other activities, all jewellery must be removed for safety reasons. Only DCSF pin badges or School awards badges may be worn on lapels. Hair should be styled to be free of the face. The use of gel to produce spiky or unconventional styles will not be accepted. Hair should be entirely a natural colour.
Year 7-11 pupils are required to tie long hair (shoulder-length or longer) back neatly throughout the school day. Sixth Form pupils need to tie long hair up in PE, Games and Science laboratories. DCSF champions the right of pupils to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of Black pupils’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. Afro-textured hair may therefore be worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. However, the above rules on tying up long hair and on hair colour must be followed. Any head wraps or scarves worn by Black pupils must be navy blue or black.
Requests for exceptions to the above rules on religious grounds should be made by parents/carers to the Headmaster
Behaviour
Rules
The School publishes an extensive list of rules and regulations which are given to pupils at the start of the academic year. All pupils are expected to demonstrate high standards of personal behaviour both within and outside of the School and Houses. Close definition of such behaviour is unnecessary; all pupils ultimately know how to behave. As a guideline, all pupils should be truthful, polite, respectful, kind, tolerant and avoid violence. All Durham School pupils should aim to live by the MARK values.
Manners
Good manners are universally accepted as an important aspect of life but may easily be forgotten. At the very least, all pupils are expected to treat others with consideration, to respond politely to requests from all staff and visitors, and to hold doors open for others.
Uniform & Appearance
The school publishes an outline of the school uniform in the prep diary.
Rewards
Good behaviour and contributions to the life of the school are constantly acknowledged informally. In addition, achievement is acknowledged in School and House assemblies through academic Lauds. Form prizes are available for the greatest contribution to the house in each year group and these are presented at the House BBQ at the end of the Summer term.
Sanctions
All sanctions are recorded by the relevant teacher in iSAMS, and weekly reviews of pupil behaviour are conducted by Housemasters/-mistresses who determine the hierarchy of disciplinary sanctions:
• Verbal reprimand and/or warning;
• Minor chore if appropriate (tidying of a mess created by the pupil, or written exercise which encourages the pupil to reflect on behaviour);
• Detention, in ascending scale of a lunchtime, departmental, Wednesday evening, 4.30-5.30pm, Principal (Saturday); •Gating within the School bounds; • Suspension, either internal or external;
• Permanent exclusion.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking
On occasion, Sixth Form pupils may be invited to consume alcohol at formal school functions and under the care of a member of staff. Drugs and smoking, including e-cigarettes, are strictly forbidden and any breaches will be dealt with severely. Occasionally things go wrong and it is important to acknowledge that actions have consequences. The School Behaviour Policy can be found on our website, https://www.dcsf.org.uk/about-dcsf/policies
Bullying
The School defines bullying as involving repeated and regular action on the part of the bully to humiliate, exert power, or hurt the victim. While bullying is often thought of as a deliberate act of cruelty, it may also be the consequence of thoughtlessness or what the perpetrator perceives as ‘banter’. Whatever form it takes, bullying is unacceptable and has no place in the School or House communities.
If a pupil or other member of the House is being bullied, please report this immediately to the Housemaster, House staff or any other adult. If a pupil feels alone and does not know what they can do to solve the problem, there are various people to whom they can turn.
House staff: the Housemaster’s door is always open
Any member of teaching staff
Matron
School Monitors
Father Simon, School Chaplain
Mrs Abbott, Senior Mental Health Lead
School Nurses in the Medical Centre
Ms Thompson, Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Some national and confidential agencies offer support lines:
Childline 0800 11 11
Samaritans 08457 90 90 90
Cars and Parking
Year 13 pupils may drive to school but only once they have completed the appropriate forms and received permission from the Housemaster and the Deputy Head (Pastoral). School rules make clear that abuse of this privilege may result in the permission to drive being rescinded. Pupils should also note that specific parking areas are allocated to Year 13 students and should be adhered to. If a pupil wishes to travel as a passenger in a pupil’s car, both sets of parents must provide written permission to the Housemaster/Mistress in advance.
Visiting the School
When parking at our site, you may be required to register at reception or charges may apply. For more details, please see our Parent Hub: https://www.dcsf.org.uk/our-community/parent-hub
Co-curricular Clubs
We offer a large and varied list of co-curricular clubs and activities. A list is issued at the beginning of the term (with clubs commencing there after) for pupils to sign up. We encourage all pupils to make the most of all of these opportunities.
Cathedral Choristers
The Cathedral Choristers are all educated at the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation as day pupils or weekly boarders (boarding at Barrington House, Chorister School). Every year we look for girls and boys aged 8 - 12, to join the ranks, who initially start as probationers (trainee choristers). If you would like to find out more about this, please contact Admissions who will liaise with the Master of Choristers to arrange an informal voice trial.
Curriculum, Reports, and Parents’ Evening
Durham School follows the National Curriculum, enhancing it with high quality teaching. Yearly overviews of curriculum coverage are published at the beginning of each academic year.
Academic information regarding Assessment and Reporting is published at the beginning of each academic year and parents are invited to Academic Information Evenings in the Autumn term.
Parents’ evenings are held twice a year to give you the opportunity of meeting with your child’s teacher and discuss his/her progress. We are, of course, available to discuss any issues that may arise at other times.
Equipment
On the first day of the year your child will be given a copy of their timetable, and you will see on which days they have Games.
All textbooks are provided by and owned by the School, and it is essential that they are carefully looked after. You may be charged for replacement of books which are damaged or lost.
Laptops - to fully engage with our digital curriculum, all pupils are required to bring a suitable laptop to school each day. While Apple devices are accepted, we recommend Windows laptops for compatibility with classroom teaching. Full specification details can be found in your admissions information pack.
Fire Evacuation and Emergency Invacuation
Evacuation routines in case of fire are clearly marked in the school and Houses. There are termly fire and invacuation drills.
First Aid in School
We have many members of staff who are qualified in First Aid and we also have the nursing staff at the Medical Center. If your child is taken ill or suffers a minor injury during school time, he/she will be attended to in the first instance by a First Aider. You will be informed of the incident either by telephone or letter. If the injury is such that your child needs further intervention, you will be contacted and asked to collect him/her for the necessary treatment.
In an emergency situation, our First Aiders will assess the problem and either contact the Medical Centre, call the emergency services or take the pupil straight to A&E at the University Hospital in Durham. In such an event, you will be immediately informed of the situation and a member of staff will stay with your child until you or your representative can reach hospital.
Games
All pupils must participate in Games; Year 12 and 13 pupils can be a little bit more flexible and swap one Games session for a study period, but pupils should recognise the value of exercise. At the start of each term, pupils will have a choice of what they would like to take as a Games option and their attendance will be monitored.
Pupils may be excused from Games if they have a medical reason and only once they have received an Off-Games slip from the Medical Centre or the Senior Housemaster. Pupils must attend the designated supervised off-games classroom, which is timetabled and presented on House noticeboards. Only the Housemaster and the Medical Center can excuse a pupil from Games; non attendance without a valid reason will be dealt with as an unauthorised absence
Holidays During Term Time
We do not encourage children to be away from school for holidays. Absences during term time should be requested in writing to the Principal and Housemaster/mistress via email. Important note: unless due to exceptional circumstances, holidays in term time will be recorded as unauthorised absence.
Missed Lessons
Should a pupil miss a lesson for a legitimate reason, it is their responsibility to catch up on work missed. Planned missed lessons should be communicated in advance with a teacher, so that missed class work and homework can be set. If a pupil is too unwell to attend school, we would rather they rest and recover at home, then complete work on their return. Requesting work for a sick pupil is rarely a good idea and as such is discouraged.
Late Arrival to School
Pupils that arrive in school after roll call must report to the main reception to be registered on iSAMS.
Signing Out
At the end of each day, day pupils are required to sign out to indicate that they have left the building; this is a health and safety requirement. Boarders must attend the 6.30pm roll call.
Houses
The House system is one of Durham School’s greatest strengths. It provides pupils with a home from home during the day and allows us to deliver outstanding individual care. Pupils from different age groups can socialise, and older pupils take pride in encouraging the younger children. Each House choses a charity to represent, and holds a range of events in order to raise money during the year.
There are six houses; three each for boys and girls.
Lodge House
Girls day house. Lodge is the newest of the girls houses, formed in September 2024 and named after Miss Millie Lodge, the first female member of teaching staff.
MacLeod House
Girls day house. MacLeod was formed in September 2005 and was named after Mr Norman MacLeod, a much loved and respected form Housemaster.
Pimlico House
Girls day and boarding house. Pimlico; founded in 1985 when girls were first admitted to Durham School, enjoys unique and breathtaking views of Durham Cathedral and the riverbanks, and is a cosy, homely haven for boarders and day pupils.
The Caffinites
Boys day house. Caffinites sandstone building dates back to 1913-14, and owes it names to Benjamin Caffin, Second master of the school.
Poole House
Boys day and boarding house. Poole dates back to 1924 and is named after Robert Henry John Poole, a former pupil and Second Master of the school.
School House
Boys day and boarding house. Situated right in the heart of the school, School House is the oldest of the three boys houses, and is affectionately knows as ‘Bungites’ after a previous Head and Housemaster, whose nickname was ‘Bung’.
Houses
House Competitions
The school arranges a variety of Inter-House Competitions, ranging from Drama and Music, to Sporting activities. All pupils are encouraged to join in with the activities as House points are also awarded on participation.
House Council
Pupils have the chance to become a member of the House Council where they can have a say on what happens in the house. The House Council is made up from representatives from each year group and they have the opportunity to air their concerns or new ideas.
House Colours
Each house has a House Colours system where pupils are recognised for consistent excellence in a wide range of activities; these activities may be academic, dramatic, musical or sporting, or may contribute to the community at large through voluntary work.
House Meetings
Alongside roll call, extended House Meetings take place on Friday mornings. These meetings will be taken by the Housemaster, House staff and Monitors. Attendance is compulsory and pupils are expected to arrive punctually.
Locker Rooms and Studies
Each pupil is allocated their own personal space in the House. The boarders have their bedrooms and the day pupils have their studies; where the pupils have access to a desk and a lockable cupboard. It is the responsibility of the pupil to ensure that these spaces are kept tidy and that they ensure our cleaning staff are able to do their job easily. In the event that property in the bedrooms or studies becomes damaged or mistreated, the pupils will be removed from that space and have to stay in the Common Room. Any costs incurred will be passed to the pupils responsible, should that damage be considered beyond wear and tear.
Each pupil is asked to bring a padlock to school at the start of term and to ensure that their belongings are safely locked away. It is advised that the pupil carries only the equipment required for the upcoming two lessons and keeps the rest locked in the study.
Valuable items are brought into the house at the pupil’s own risk. Such valuables would include mobile phones, earphones, laptops, watches, bank cards, and cash and should be locked away. Phones and laptops can be used but only with permission from a member of staff. Mobile phones should not be used whilst moving around the school site.
Learning Support
We have an experienced SEND team who provide learning support and interventions for a wide range of needs. In most cases, our SENDCo will be in contact with you personally but if you have any questions regarding academic progress or provision, an appointment can be made with our Special Educational Needs Coordinator.
Please direct any questions to: c.bennett@dcsf.org.uk
Matrons and Housekeepers
Each House has a Matron who provides a maternal figurehead to the pupils, offering practical support, as well as emotional throughout the day. They are invaluable to our school community.
High standards of hygiene are maintained by our Housekeepers. They work incredibly hard and they should be treated with the utmost respect as the job they do is vitally important. We work hard to make their lives easier, by keeping rooms tidy and equipment safely stored in lockers.
Meal Times
All pupils must attend lunch, and for a small charge day pupils may also attend breakfast (priced from £2.50 card only) and dinner. Random checks on attendance will take place from time to time as part of our pastoral care plan. Refreshments such as toast and juice are available free of charge in the House at morning break. In addition our catering team offer hot snacks which are available from the canteen from 11am - 11.25am, prices start from £0.80 (cash only)
The Orangery
A range of drinks and snacks are available to parents and Sixth Form students from 3.00pm (from 4.20pm for all other year groups) each day, Saturday mornings when there is a home fixture on the Playground, and The Friends of DCSF meet there each Friday morning from 8.30 - 9.30am.
Internet Policy
The Internet is an essential part of life in the 21st Century and vital for education, business, and social contact. However, it can be misused, and for that reason children are not permitted access to chatrooms, or similar social networking sites, whilst at school. We provide regular training about online safety for staff, parents, and pupils.
Mobile Phone Policy
Pupils are not allowed access to mobile phones during the school day, they must be handed in to the House each morning and collected at the end of the school day. If pupils are late arriving to school, then they must hand their mobile phone in to the school reception upon arrival, and collect from there at the end of the day.
Photography/Social Media
We request that photographs which parents may take at school events are of their children only and are for their own private use. Any photographs which include other children must not be uploaded to any internet site including social networking sites. Photos during any performances at the Cathedral are not permitted due to their photography policy.
Jewellery
A single pair of small stud-type earrings (gold, silver or small pearl) in the earlobe are permitted. Other visible piercings are not permitted. Bracelets, including charity bracelets, may not be worn; the only exception to this is for medical alert bracelets. Necklaces may not be worn. For PE, Games and other activities, all jewellery must be removed for safety reasons.
Music Lessons
The Music Department are delighted to offer individual instrumental lessons alongside class and co-curricular music. We fully support all of our pupils with their musical development. If you are interested in your child learning a musical instrument, please contact Mr S Bowler (s.bowler@dcsf.org.uk), Director of Music.
Transport
We offer a variety of routes, both to and from school each day which is available for children in Years 3 - 13. For further information please email: transport@dcsf.org.uk or visit https://www.dcsf.org.uk/admissions/transport
Prep/Home Learning
In Years 7 - 13, we recommend the following as guidance on the maximum time children should spend on their prep each evening:
Years 7-8: 30 minutes
Years 9: 40 minutes
Years 10-11: 60 minutes
You will also receive a Prep/home learning timetable from your Head of Year.
Prep Diary
The prep diary is a valuable tool and will help pupils keep up with their work, plan work, set goals and help Tutors monitor progress. A prep diary is issued at the start of each academic year. Pupils should not deface their prep diary and it will be checked regularly in tutor periods.
Prep diaries also function as an informal means of communication between teachers and parents; as such, parents are asked to sign the prep diary once each week.
Parent App and Communications
We are currently updating our parent app and communication systems. We will share any updates with you as soon as they are available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sports
SOCS Calendar can be found at: https://schoolsport.dcsf.org.uk
School Calendar can be found at: https://schoolcalendar.dcsf.org.uk
• You can filter the sections of the calendar you wish to see by clicking filter and select the sections that are relevant to you.
• The school calendar can be synched to your personal calendar on your phone, tablet or computer.
• If you click onto a sports fixture displayed on the calendar, go to details and click onto the blue person icon to see the team sheet and fixture details.
• The sports map shows all our sports facility locations. If the opposition provide us with the detailed facility information for away fixtures, this will also be displayed otherwise the school details will be included.
Note:
• Every effort is made to ensure the calendar is accurate and up to date.
• Sports fixture arrangements can often change at last minute depending on the weather, traffic, a competition taking longer than expected or other variables that are out of our control.
Swimming
Swimming is compulsory in Years 7 and 8. They swim once a fortnight as part of PE. From Year 9, swimming is a Games option that pupils may choose. There is also a Swim Club which trains after school on Monday.
Boarders have a designated swimming night every Wednesday evening after their prep session. Depending on their age, there is also a swimming pool at Freemans Quay which is a short walk away in Durham city where older boarders can swim at weekends.
Uniform
School uniform should be ordered on-line from our chosen suppliers: Uniform: www.schoolblazer.com
Sports kit: www.graysteamsports.com
Sixth Form
Our Sixth Form enjoy the opportunity to wear suits as they progress through their final years at school. There is the option to buy suits independently or to choose from options on the Schoolblazer online shop. Suits can be a plain material or have a subtle check or pinstripe. Suits should be tailored and the jacket must match the trousers or skirt. Suits should be navy, black, or dark grey.
Sports Kit
Please ensure all school uniform and sports kit is clearly named.
Pupils may arrive in Games kit only if it is timetabled for either lesson 1 or 2, otherwise it should be brought to school to change in to during the morning or lunch break (whichever if appropriate to their lesson) Games kit should not be worn for lunch in Big School (dining hall) may only be worn on Games days, or in the event of specific permission due to a fixture.
For more details on uniform, please visit: www.dcsf.org.uk/admissions/uniform
Valuables
Please do not allow your child to bring any valuable items to the School at any time. You should ensure that all property is adequately insured. All property is kept at the School entirely at the owner’s risk.
School Areas Guide
We understand that memorising all areas of our school grounds can be a challenge, especially as some have unique or unfamiliar names.
To help you find your way around, we’ve put together this simple guide to some of the key locations:
Big School - Dining Hall/Main Hall
The Vallance - Sixth Form Centre
The Budworth - Sports Centre
The Playground - Main sports pitch at the front of the grounds (as seen below)
Top Ground - Sports pitch at the back of the grounds
The Astro - All-weather pitch behind Chapel Master’s Green - Green in front of Chapel
A virtual map can be found on our website, https://tinyurl.com/DurhamCSF
Social Media
To stay up to date with daily life at Durham School, from student achievements to everyday moments that make our community special, we invite you to follow us on social media.
It’s the best way to see what makes our students Confident for Life.
Most of our content is shared on Instagram, unless otherwise stated. You can find us here:
