INFORMATION FOR PARENTS SESSION 2007-2008

The following pages, I hope, will provide you with full information on the subject of Dollar Academy. Each year, there are some changes in practice and this booklet is therefore updated annually. I intend to give you the central facts about the school year and information on diverse topics such as our entrance procedures, our results, our fees, our homework guidelines, and our Parents’ Association. I trust you will find the booklet useful, and I ask you to inform me of additional information which you would find helpful.

John Robertson
Rector

ADMISSIONS

SCHOOL ROLL
The school roll in session 2007-2008 is 1,235, comprising 206 in the Prep School, 177 in the Junior School, and 852 in the Senior School.

REGISTRATION AND ADMISSION
After you have visited the school and decided to apply for a place, you should complete the Application Form enclosed and forward the Registration Fee. Subject to satisfactory performance in the Entrance Examination, a place may be offered and you will be asked to pay a Fee Deposit which is normally retained on departure of a pupil to cover life membership of the Former Pupil Register. Anyone not wishing to become a member is asked to contact the Bursar’s Office at the time of departure. The Boarding element is refundable for a Boarder.

ENTRANCE POINTS
Entrance to Dollar Academy is made as flexible as possible. In the Senior School there are 130+ pupils in each year group. Of these, 30 or so will have arrived in Prep 1, 50 by Prep 4, 70+ by Junior I (P6) and 100 by Junior II (P7). There are small numbers entering annually in several year groups, as vacancies occur. The main entrance points are in Prep 1, Junior I (P6), Junior II (P7) and, to a much lesser extent, Form l (Senior School). Prospective parents will wish to note that, since the modern language and science teaching programmes begin in Junior I, (P6), there is considerable advantage in having children in the school by then. A proportion of each Senior School year group is made up of boarders, who are admitted at all ages from nine upwards. The school also admits a small number of weekly boarders (mainly pupils in Fife, Perthshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow) who can combine the benefits and facilities of a boarding school with weekends with their families.

PREP 1 TO PREP 3
You will be invited to bring your child for interview with Mrs Robertson or other members of the Prep School staff. This will normally take place in late January or early February.

PREP 4 AND 5
Entry is by similar interview and a short test, normally on the last Saturday in January each year (9.30am - 1.15pm). Boarders may be admitted to Prep 5 on the basis of a confidential report from their present schools.

JUNIOR I AND JUNIOR II
Entry is normally by the main Entrance Examination which takes place on the last Saturday in January each year (9.30am - 1.15pm). Arrangements are made for pupils who do not live locally to sit the Entrance Examination in their own schools. Pupils who become ten in the calendar year of their proposed entry to Junior I sit papers in English and Arithmetic and take a Verbal Reasoning Test. Pupils who become eleven take more advanced papers for entry into Junior II.

ADMISSIONS AT OTHER AGES
Pupils applying for entrance to Forms l and ll are generally asked to sit papers in English and Maths, and to take a Verbal Reasoning Test. Pupils for Form ll are also asked to sit a Modern Language Paper. For entrance to Forms lll, lV, V and Vl, pupils are assessed by public examination results, a report from the previous school, and, wherever possible, an interview.

FORM VI AWARDS
The Governors offer an award to those pupils entering Form VI who have obtained 5 or more A Band 1 passes in SQA Higher examinations at Dollar Academy.

The Governors have recommended that high standards be attached to these bursaries, and Dollar Academy pupils who have been awarded them will be re-assessed each year, as will their financial circumstances. The intention is, however, to provide significant support to a number of boys and girls throughout their senior school careers.

If you would like your child to be considered now or in the future for entry to the Academy, please return the application for enrolment form to the Registrar, along with a registration fee of £20. Cheques should be crossed and made payable to the Governors of Dollar Academy Trust.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS
Although the examinations are not basically pass/fail examinations, they tell us which pupils are sufficiently able to benefit from a Dollar Academy education. The examinations are held on the last Saturday in January each year. Intending day pupils sit the examination at the school, along with prospective boarders who can reach us. Applicants who live at a distance often take the examination in their own schools. The pattern of the examination is indicated below.

Junior l, Junior ll (P6 and P7), Form l

(a) Mathematics

(b) English:
Reading Candidates are required to complete a “cloze” reading passage from which a reading age will be established.
Writing We ask pupils to produce a piece of creative writing on a subject which will allow them to display their ability to handle language competently and accurately, using an appropriate and interesting range of vocabulary.

(c) Verbal Reasoning Test

JUNIOR II AND FORM I
The level expected in the English paper and the standard of the mathematical questions and of the interpretation are, of course, higher.

FORM II
Pupils take papers in Mathematics and English and a third appropriate subject, along with a Verbal Reasoning Test.

FORMS III, IV, V AND VI
Pupils are judged by school report and, where possible, by interview.

Children who are successful in the entrance tests and other assessment procedures will be placed in a suitable year group, and, where relevant, in the most appropriate teaching sets. Much time is spent on making such decisions, and parents are asked to respect the professional experience of those undertaking the assessment.

COMMUNICATIONS

It is likewise very important that you keep the school informed of changes in personal circumstances - address, emergency contact numbers, e-mail, medical details and so on.

Parents of boarders, when visiting the Academy, are invited to have a word with Houseparents. Parents should, however, enter the House only on the invitation of school staff.

MATTERS OF CONCERN
We welcome suggestions and comments from parents. Should there be any matters of concern we wish to know about them. The first point of contact in any matter concerning your son/daughter is the Head of Year or Houseparent in the case of boarders. If your concerns are specific to a particular area of the school, the person closely connected with the area should be contacted. In more serious cases the Assistant Rectors, Deputy Rector and Rector may be more appropriate.

CHILD PROTECTION
The school is committed to the principles of Child Protection. In this context, there may be occasions when a pupil’s confidentiality is respected and information is not shared or passed on to parents (although every effort will be made to encourage the pupil to discuss a sensitive issue with his or her parents). The Child Protection Co-ordinator is Mrs Robertson, with Mrs Archibald as her deputy.

DOLLAR ACADEMY PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION (DAPA)
The Parents’ Association raises funds for the school and keeps in touch with senior staff in the Academy over matters which are of general concern to parents. The Chair is Mr Peter Stanhope, the Secretary Dr Belinda Macdonald, and the Treasurer Mrs Alison Reid. The Association holds a number of functions each year. Throughout the year, information on Parents’ Association matters is communicated to parents.

REPORTING SYSTEM
You will be provided with reports during the school session. Pupils new to the Senior School will receive a brief mid-term report in the term in which they first arrive to provide comment on how they are settling in. Pupils from Prep 1 to Junior 2, and in Forms I, II and V, are sent a report at the end of first term. During second term, and following the Prelims, reports are provided for Forms lV, V and Vl, with boarders in other Year Groups also receiving reports. At the end of the academic session, reports are sent on all pupils from Prep 1 to Form lll, beside boarders, and a final report for Form VI leavers is compiled. Should you have any enquiries about reports, please contact the appropriate Assistant Rector.

PARENTS’ EVENINGS
In the Prep and Junior School, Parents’ Evenings are held for each class twice a year. Interviews are by appointment with members of staff. In the Senior School, each year group has its own Parents’ Evening, besides an extra Information Evening for Form I. Full details of Parents’ Evenings are given in the fortnight or so before the event, and the dates are listed in the calendar card each term. Appointments are made in advance by pupils. Parents are warmly encouraged to attend these meetings, offering as they do a vital means of communication. Children should not attend these meetings, so that parents and staff are able to speak more freely. Moreover, parents are asked not to bring their children to the school, as the corridors can become quite busy at certain times in the evening.

CALENDAR CARD
Each term, we publish a calendar card in which the main dates are listed. Pupils are provided with two copies of the card each, one for personal use and one to be taken home. In first term, the card is printed at some point during the first few weeks; we aim to have the second and third term cards available on the last day of the previous term.

WEBSITE
www.dollaracademy.org.uk Our website has undergone significant development in recent years; it is now updated on a weekly basis during term time, and all the latest news can be found there, besides an increasing range of information about the life and routines of the school, staff appointments and a full .pdf version of the school prospectus and magazine. In addition, all year groups will soon have dedicated space on the site. Parents are asked to check the website on a weekly basis.

We aim to publicise all major school events that involve parents, such as Parents’ Evenings, through the school website, although paper copies of all such information will continue to be available for any parent who requests the receipt of it in this form. The possibility of information going missing in “satchel post” is thus removed, and the expense of postings is also alleviated.

MAGAZINE
The Dollar Academy Magazine Fortunas (now combined with the Former Pupils’ Newsletter) is published termly and a copy is issued to each family with pupils at the Academy; it is also now fully accessible on the website. Further copies of the Magazine can be purchased at a cost of £5.

NEWSLETTER
While Fortunas is produced termly, the Rector sends regular Newsletters to all parents, Governors and friends of the school, approximately seven per year. The Newsletter also contains information from the Parents’ Association about forthcoming events.

ROUTINES

Pupils may enter school buildings from 8.35am and should take bags to period 1 classes before 8.40am. In the Senior School, there is Registration (8.40-8.55am) followed by a whole school Assembly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with extended Tutor group meetings on Tuesday and Thursday . In the Prep and Junior School, there is an Assembly each Thursday. Period 1 begins at 9.15am, and with a morning break of fifteen minutes and a lunch interval of fifty-five minutes, the school day ends at 3.25pm.

The teaching time is made up of five complete hours each day, and the Senior School follows a twenty-five period per week timetable. Prep 1 pupils will finish at 2.40pm until the October Break and thereafter at 3.15pm.

There are after-school activities every day and at weekends. Details of these are to be found in the Information on Extra Curricular Activities Booklet, published during the first weeks of the new academic session. 3.30 – 5.00pm is the usual time for an afternoon activity.

UNIFORM
All pupils are required to wear school uniform, details of which are provided in the Information for Pupils booklet. When pupils are attending school events, they should wear uniform, unless permission to wear other clothing is officially given.  

THRIFT SHOP
The Thrift Shop, which is situated in accommodation below the Prep School building, sells good quality “pre-owned” school uniform. It opens between 2.30 and 4pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, and also on the day before school begins in August and in April. We are extremely grateful for this service. Parents are asked to bring along good second-hand uniforms; a price is arranged from which, when goods are sold, 80% goes to the seller and 20% to the Thrift Shop. Recent donations from the Thrift Shop to the school have paid for equipment needed and utilised in academic departments, boarding houses, and extra curricular activities.

CHRISTMAS/EASTER
At the end of first and second terms, church services are held on the final morning of term, after a period of other school activities. Pupils are dismissed at 12.30pm, and you are asked to note this arrangement; bus times are adjusted accordingly.

SPORTS WEEKEND
The highlight of the Dollar Academy calendar comes in the week-end prior to the last week of session starting with the Prep School Sports on Thursday. Not only can parents experience the culmination of the athletic activities of the year, but there is opportunity also to see a major Art Exhibition, and other minor displays; the school is also open for viewing, and refreshments are available in the Marquee. There is a Sherry Party for Former Pupils and friends of the Academy, a Coffee Morning on the Saturday, a Pipe Band display prior to a family barbecue at Sunday lunch-time, dances, cricket, tennis and golf matches between pupils and former pupils; Boarding Houses also run other events including Sherry Parties for their own parents and pupils, and a Parent / Pupil Cricket match. More important than the individual events, is the atmosphere of the weekend as a whole. Present pupils and recent FPs mingle with present parents and many who have left Dollar long in the past. The community spirit on such an occasion is powerful.

TRAVEL

Pedestrians have priority at all times in the grounds.
No vehicles are permitted to enter or leave on school days from
8.35 - 9.00am and 3.25 - 3. 35pm.
The speed limit in the school grounds is 10mph.

TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE ACADEMY
Many of our pupils come from areas within a twenty mile radius of Dollar. The school negotiates closely with local bus companies, and the companies are most supportive. As a result, there are good services for all of our pupils, and we ensure that pupils travelling home can leave either directly at the end of school or at 5pm after extra-curricular activities are finished. If there are any problems concerning bus services, one of the Assistant Rectors, Dr Hendry, should be contacted in the first instance. Our pupils who travel to and from school by public transport are very much in the public eye and we ask that you be supportive in this area. Pupils in Prep 1 and 2 are not normally permitted on buses.

Seat belts should be worn on all buses. All of our minibuses have been fitted with seatbelts and drivers remind pupils to use them.

The school grounds are very busy during the school day, and parents are reminded that they should not drive into the grounds when the school is in session.

Likewise, parents are reminded that they should be sensitive to the needs of residents of Back Road and the roads surrounding the Junior School – and neither obstruct entrances to driveways nor park on the double yellow lines. The widened pavement provided outside the swimming pool has contributed significantly to the safety of pupils in this area.

TRAVEL IN BAD WEATHER
Dollar’s climate, if anything, tends towards rain. On occasions, however, we can be afflicted by snow-storms, like any other school in the Central belt. Our policy, however, is clear-cut. Because of the large number of boarders and day pupils from the Dollar area, the Academy will always remain open during normal school hours.

Should you feel anxious about weather conditions in your local area, you are at liberty to collect your son/daughter by arrangement. It is essential, however, that the School Office is informed before any child is taken out of school.

We make every effort to keep in touch with our local bus companies and the police in order to ensure as far as possible that the safety of the children is safeguarded. If you are sufficiently anxious about whether or not your children will be able to return home, you are advised to keep them off school that day. If, for any reason, your children are “stranded” in Dollar, we will ensure that they are provided with food, warmth and shelter for the night. Such circumstances, however, are extremely rare.

PUPILS’ CARS
A number of our senior pupils have passed their driving tests and have access to cars. We have firm guidelines on this matter, and it is important that pupils observe them closely. Firstly, any pupil who wishes to drive to and from school must have authorisation from the Assistant Rector in charge of Forms V and Vl, Mrs Hutchison. Secondly, pupils are not allowed to enter their vehicles at any time during the school day – all pupils’ cars must be parked in the senior pupils’ car park next to the Swimming Pool/ Dining Hall complex. Thirdly, we ask that pupils do not give lifts to others without prior written authorisation from both sets of parents. Boarders are not permitted to travel in other pupils’ cars.

The potential for danger in this matter is extremely high, and we therefore ask that responsibility be shown by all concerned. It is our recommendation that all pupils’ vehicles carry the green “L” marking to designate “New Driver”.

The Academy reserves the right to forbid pupils to travel to and from school by their own transport if they have shown by their actions that they are a danger to themselves and other road users; this has been enforced quite rigidly in past years.

FINANCIAL

SCHOOL FEES – SESSION 2006 – 2007  
The Governors have approved the following scale of annual fees with effect from the beginning of Session 2006 - 2007

Where more than two siblings are in attendance at the Academy concurrently, the Tuition fees for the third and subsequent siblings are reduced by half.

While it is intended that the above rates should remain the same throughout the academic session, the Governors reserve the right to alter the scale of fees from term to term in the light of circumstances.

FEES AND WITHDRAWALS
It is a condition of attendance that fees are payable in advance on or before the first day of the term for which they are due unless paid by the school’s Direct Debit scheme. (Direct Debits can be set up only through a UK bank account.) Payment by Eurocheque, cash or credit card cannot be accepted. Interest will be charged on outstanding balances at 2% per month. Fee accounts which have not been settled in full by the end of the term for which they are due will normally preclude a child from returning to the Academy at the commencement of the following term,

In the event of your having to withdraw your child from the school, a full term’s notice in writing to the Rector is required or payment of a term’s fees in lieu thereof. The same notice is required for withdrawal from Boarding.

You are reminded that the Rector reserves the right to require the removal of a pupil from Dollar Academy if, in his opinion, the pupil is not deriving benefit from being at the school, or indicates by his/her conduct that he/she does not accept the rules of the Academy.

INSURANCE AGAINST ABSENCE THROUGH ILLNESS
A School Fees Remission Scheme is available under which, for a modest (currently 1% of Fees) termly charge, you can insure against your children’s absence from school through illness. You are particularly requested to note that the Governors regret they cannot entertain requests for remission of school fees in cases of sickness where you have not taken advantage of this scheme, which is expressly designed to cover such an eventuality.

Anyone interested in the above scheme may obtain further information from The Bursar, 23 West Burnside, Dollar FK14 7DX; Telephone (01259) 740513, Fax (01259) 743602.

INSURANCE OF PERSONAL EFFECTS
The School Governors, as you will appreciate, cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or theft of, or damage to personal belongings. You are recommended to consult your own insurers on the subject of All Risks Cover for your children’s personal effects, especially valuables, while at school. This is the same for boarders, all of whom are provided with lockable cupboards in their Houses.

In the Prep and Junior School, each pupil has his or her own personal area - locker or desk. In the Senior School, lockers are available, and we recommend that pupils make use of this facility, providing their own padlocks. When pupils are involved in games or swimming, they are asked to give valuables to the member of staff in charge for safe-keeping. Every year, items go missing, and it would be helpful if you were to stress to your sons and daughters exactly how they might safeguard their property. All items of clothing should be clearly named.

You should specifically ensure that adequate insurance is in place to cover valuable items on loan from the Academy, such as musical instruments.

PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
The Governors have taken out Personal Accident cover for pupils which means that a pupil who suffers a permanent injury, resulting from an accident, will be entitled to compensation (up to a maximum of £800,000 in the event of Permanent Total Disablement). This cover exists throughout the entire year.

DOLLAR ACADEMY CLUB EDUCATION TRUST
The Trust is administered by representatives of the Governors, the FPs and the Academy, and is primarily intended for the development of a bursary fund. Further details of the Trust are available from the Bursar.

ACADEMIC

SUBJECT SELECTION
Form ll Interviews Each Form ll pupil, along with his/her parents, is invited into the Academy in February for interview with two senior members of staff on careers and subject choices. Appointments are made during the Form ll Parents’ Evening.

Forms lV, V and Vl At the end of their Standard Grade and Intermediate 2 year, all pupils are interviewed individually about subject choices for Higher courses.

In the two days prior to the beginning of each session, all pupils entering V and Vl are asked to attend interviews with Senior Staff and Heads of Departments in order to finalise subject choices for the coming session. At that meeting, pupils who wish to discuss their SQA results, and in particular the possibility of appeals being made, are asked to contact the relevant Head of Department. New pupils (FII – VI) have separate timetabling interviews.

At Dollar, pupils who have just taken Standard Grade, Intermediate 2 or GCSEs go on to take a maximum of five subjects for one year, at the end of which they take their Highers. They go on to do a final year, in which they can take further Highers, A Levels or the Scottish equivalent, Advanced Highers. I t is expected that pupils will receive at least 20 hours of taught lessons per week, and that they will take at least three examinable courses at Form V / VI level; a number of modules in addition to the core academic timetable are also available. The final two years are, in any case, a two year course which prepares pupils for universities not only all over the UK but also for abroad.

CLASS SIZE, TEACHER/PUPIL RATIO
Over the past four years, we have increased the number of teachers in the Academy, and this has allowed us to reduce class size throughout. At present, our staff-pupil ratio throughout the whole 5-18 school is 1:10.4. The average class size in the Junior and Prep Schools is twenty two; in Forms l to II is twenty one; in Forms II to IV is eighteen; and the classes in Forms V and VI vary according to subject.

SUPPORT FOR LEARNING
Where issues arise with learning, the Support for Learning Department is pleased to provide help , and it liaises also with other departments. Scribes and readers have been used in recent years and are likely to be recommended in the future. The extra costs involved for any outside support services will be put on the bill, after consultation in each case.

ABSENCES – ILLNESSES OR OTHER
If a pupil is unable to attend school, you are asked to contact the School Office. On return, the pupil should bring a signed note explaining the absence and pass it to the Form Tutor or class teacher. An explanatory note should also be sent to the School Nurse, in the case of a return after a serious illness or with some disability.

You are asked to ensure that all pupils keep term dates. Requests for time out of school should be sent to the Rector. If you have queries about brief absence from a boarding house, please contact the Houseparent directly. Form Tutors will authorise absences for dental appointments and so on, on receipt of a letter. Visits for University Open Days should be requested at least a week in advance; forms for this can be obtained from the School Office.

BOOKS
Textbooks are provided by the School. All pupils, however, should obtain for themselves a hymn book; dictionaries as required for the various languages studied; and, where appropriate, a bible and an atlas. In the Junior School the Heinemann English Dictionary, Good News Illustrated Bible and the Oxford Practical Atlas are required. Senior pupils in some subjects will be asked to buy copies of past SQA papers for their own use. Prep and Junior School pupils should purchase a copy of Junior Praise. At each age group, advice will be given on calculators. If books on loan are not returned at the end of the year, the full cost of replacement will be charged to the end of term account.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
The use of I C T facilities and the Internet are extensively available in the school , albeit under supervision . It is a condition of availability that use should be responsible, and that there should be no introduction of nor accessing of unsuitable material. All users, including staff, are asked to sign an agreement covering the proper use of the facilities. Parents will be asked to countersign pupils’ signatures. Boarders are provided with further access to the school network within their Boarding Houses.

The use of personal computing and other electronic equipment is permitted, subject to the provisions of the ICT Users’ Agreement; this includes the possession and use of DVDs and videos. It should be remembered, furthermore, that expensive equipment such as laptops should be fully insured by boarders’ families before it is brought into school. Failure to follow the guidelines may result in the confiscation of equipment.

Parents should be aware of the proliferation of unregulated websites on which young people are enabled to maintain personal profiles, giving detailed information about themselves, and having the opportunity to express opinions on a wide range of subjects. It would be helpful were parents to discuss with their children the dangers of such public displays, and the potential for difficulties, particularly where links with the school may be identifiable.

TUTORING
Should there be any concern about the progress of pupils, the first line of action is to contact the relevant Head of Department. To engage tutors without consulting teaching staff may not be always constructive. Certainly, tutoring input can be valuable, and it may ultimately be recommended, but, unchecked, it can also lead to problems of imbalance and, at worst, to malpractice in SQA examinations. 

EDUCATIONAL VISITS
Throughout the course of the year, pupils have the opportunity to go on a number of outings and visits of an educational nature. The English Department runs regular theatre visits for the Senior school; in the Prep and Junior school there are many opportunities taken to widen the children’s experience by means of theatre visits, trips to the zoo, to museums and so on.

The school also has for many years encouraged skiing, locally on the dry slopes at Tillicoultry, and at Hillend on each weekend throughout the winter, and by means of skiing trips abroad for parties of interested pupils under the direct supervision of our expert and enthusiastic staff.

Our programme of visits, needless to say, reflects the interests and expertise of the Academy staff. We undertake expeditions to locations as diverse as Malaysia for Biology and sub-aqua, and the Highlands for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. There are many other such ventures which are part of our rich extra-curricular programme.

In each case parents will be provided with full details of the trips and you are asked to return a slip giving permission for your son/daughter to take part. You will also be asked to give contact numbers that are current for the time of the trip.

GUIDANCE ON HOMEWORK
Throughout the school, pupils are given homework according to their level of abilities and their requirements in each subject. During the past few years, the style of teaching and of external examining has altered quite distinctly, and it is no longer possible to provide a homework timetable in which time is rigidly allocated to year groups and subjects.

Importantly, our pupils are expected to complete tasks by given dates, to revise thoroughly in preparation for examinations, and to read as widely as possible around the subjects which they are taking. Time spent on reading is as important as time spent on writing; the skilful organisation of notes is of as great significance as the mastering of individual skills. There is a significant amount of material to be learnt in some subjects. Whatever else, we expect that all pupils in the school should have enough work to occupy their evenings, and any child, who indicates otherwise, misunderstands. The school Booklist is one ready source of ideas to help occupy the time profitably.

PREP SCHOOL HOMEWORK
In the early stages of the Prep School, assistance to young readers at home is welcomed. As the children increase in confidence, they will be provided with a range of written exercises to supplement work which is done in class.

JUNIOR SCHOOL HOMEWORK
This develops, in the Junior School, into project work, consolidation, and practice in a range of activities. Individual children will, naturally, take different times to complete their homework. The principles of good practice are, however, being laid down, and we ask that parents help to embed these at the earliest opportunity. Sometimes, in Junior School, the enthusiasm of the pupils is such that they will spend enormous stretches of time on homework activities. For the most part, the class teacher will give clear guidance on tasks set, the amount of time to be spent, and dates of submission.

SENIOR SCHOOL HOMEWORK
In the Senior School, we offer as a rough guide the following table:
Forms l and ll an hour and a half per night
Form lll approximately two hours per night
Form lV approximately two and a half hours per night
Forms V and Vl as much time as is required to complete the work in the range of examination subjects.

These guidelines are intended to offer a recommendation, but it is difficult to make a definitive statement on the topic of homework. Some subjects lend themselves more readily than others to home assignments, but pupils are made aware by their teachers that preparation and learning take a variety of forms.

In the early stages of the Senior School, it is important that pupils come to terms with the range of subjects on offer, and spend an adequate amount of time going over notes taken and in clearing up matters of difficulty which have arisen during the day of study. Some departments provide regular homework on a day-to-day basis; some subjects give a week or so for a topic to be completed; some might ask pupils to plan a long-term project over the course of at least a month. Each pupil is provided with a homework diary and you should ensure that your children take careful note of homework to be completed, and make use of the diary to help them stage their tasks.

PLANNING STUDIES
The Standard Grade and Intermediate 2 work in Forms lll and lV demands course work in some subjects. Those departments which require material to be submitted for examination purposes at particular points in the year will provide clear advice to pupils on deadlines for rough drafts and so on. It is important, that pupils, at this vital time, learn the virtues of planning and forecasting - and do not simply indulge in last minute panic assault on various subjects. Homework in Forms lll and lV is not as regular, but is more intensive, and subject teachers will be pleased to advise pupils on how best the major task can be accomplished.

In Forms V and Vl our pupils have a very full schedule with Higher examinations at the end of Form V as the major means of ensuring entrance to further education. Many pupils require some assistance at home, first to ensure that a sensible proportion of time is given to each subject and, secondly, to ensure that regular patterns of work, backed up by well-organised notes, are rapidly established. The amount of work involved in Form Vl varies enormously: some pupils have extensive reading to be accomplished, while others will be undertaking project work in the Sciences. There is more opportunity for independent study in Form Vl during school time than there is up to then in the school.

Should you have any anxieties about homework, you should contact the Assistant Rector responsible for the year groups in the Senior School - Mrs Robertson for Form l , Dr Hendry for Forms ll, I ll and lV, and Mrs Hutchison for Forms V and Vl.

ABSENCE FROM CLASS
If your son or daughter is absent from a class, it is his/her responsibility to find out what homework was assigned, and to complete it prior to the next lesson. If your son or daughter is likely to be off school for some time, please contact the Head of Year to request details of work to be undertaken.

THE DOLLAR ACADEMY CURRICULUM

Throughout the school, full descriptions of courses are available and, should you require further details on any aspect of our curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate Head of School, or consult the departmental pages on the website. The exact format for this academic year will be established after choices are finalised for the new session. The principles in operation will remain the same. The hours spent each week on each subject are indicated in the table below.

PREP 1 – JUNIOR II

(PREP 1, 2 & 3 English includes Creative Writing, Discussion, Drama, Handwriting, Library, Listening Centre, Phonics, Reading, Spelling.)

FORM I & FORM II

FORMS III and FORM IV
All pupils study the following subjects for the stated number of hours.
English (3.5 - FIII, 4 - FIV) Mathematics (3.5 - FIII, 4 - FIV) ICT (1.0 - FIII & FIV)
PE/Games (1.0 - FIII & FIV) Personal & Social Education (1.0 - FIII only)

In addition five other subjects (all 3 hours) are chosen from the following list:

It is possible for some pupils to take Sciences / Business subjects in a compressed form to allow for the choice of one further subject.

FORM V Pupils study up to five (5 hour) courses at Higher Level (or Intermediate 2 courses):

FORM VI Pupils study at least three A Level/Higher/Advanced Higher courses (5 hours each), plus Intermediate 2 courses in combination:

SHORT COURSES are currently available to Forms V and VI in the following subjects:

(Form VI short courses are subject to revision at the start of each school session.)

SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY: RESULTS 1993 - 2005

Further details on individual subjects are readily available on the website.

BEYOND DOLLAR

CAREERS ADVICE
The school has a sophisticated network of careers education. A large number of staff are involved in providing advice - particularly Form Tutors, Heads of Year, and Senior Staff. In Form ll, all pupils are given a KUDOS computer-aided careers course, and the subject choices for Form lll are informed by the guidance given during this course. The school also takes advantage of the resources and expertise of a professional careers adviser, Mrs Isobel Willox, who is available for individual appointments on Tuesday mornings in the Academy. The process continues for a number of our young Former Pupils, and those involved in the careers side of the school willingly give of their time in consultation and in counselling.

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Each year, the school is involved in processing a large number of applications. Pupils are given individual advice, and you are most welcome to attend the UCAS Evenings which are held in September and June each year. During the former evening, a University Schools Liaison Officer gives a presentation on the most up-to-date information on applications; at the latter, representatives of a large number of Universities are available for consultation.

CAREERS CONVENTION
Once every two years, in conjunction with the Parents’ Association, we mount an evening careers convention to which all pupils from Forms ll to Vl are invited. Around one hundred experts in a range of careers attend in order to provide pupils with information and insights. The next Convention is scheduled for March 2008.

INDUSTRY LINKS / WORK EXPERIENCE
Over the past few years, we have developed links with local and national industries in a coherent and organised manner. Many senior pupils each year go on work experience, usually in June, and other forms of industrial contact are securely in place. Mrs Robertson, who chairs the Industry Links Committee, will be pleased to hear from outside agencies which wish to provide supportive links for our pupils.

A number of professions give particular weight to the work experience that pupils have gained in advance of the submission of their UCAS applications – in particular, medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and veterinary science. Parents would be well advised to ensure that, if their children are interested in these career areas, they have gained sufficient experience in the appropriate areas, by volunteering to help in caring organisations; by shadowing professionals; by work placements; or by relevant part-time paid employment. Mrs Robertson, Mr Daniel or Mrs Hutchison will be pleased to advise in these areas.

INTERNATIONAL LINKS
For a number of years we have been involved in international exchanges, most notably in the area of Modern Languages.  We have forged a strong relationship with Fellbach, near Stuttgart in Germany, and parties of up to fifty pupils and staff have visited Germany and Dollar as a result of this initiative, which now includes two ‑week work placements for senior pupils.  A similar French link with the Institution St Grégoire in Tours has now been in existence for five years: pupils in Form III can take part an exchange programme, while Sixth Formers carry out work placements in an initiative that involves Dollar’s Twin Town, la Ville aux Dames.  We have also established parallel Spanish programmes with the Instituto de Educación Secundaria Luís de Lucena in Gualdalajara, just south of Madrid.  Furthermore, our involvement in the Pan-European “Comenius” project has given Dollar pupils valuable contact with Spanish and Italian school students.   The more recent “desk‑to‑desk” intiative sees individual Dollar pupils and their European counterparts swap families, friends, homes, school timetables, and, essentially, lives for three weeks.  

Our younger linguists are not neglected in all of this.  Every Easter, non-reciprocal seven-day home visits to Germany, France and Spain are offered to pupils from Junior 2 to Form II.  A feature of these trips is our use of “helpers”, responsible senior linguists from our Higher and Advanced Higher classes who assist in the running of the venture and demonstrate to the younger pupils the possibilities and benefits of fluent language acquisition.

Our programme of links and visits extends beyond Europe, and beyond the purely linguistic.  Annual Biology trips to Malaysia are now part of the Dollar calendar card.  Our Rugby players (on three occasions) and our Pipe Band have enjoyed successful tours to Japan, and our ties with Japan are further strengthened by the exchange with young people from the village of Kunohe, North Island.  Recent rugby tours to Canada, the History tour of Northern European battle grounds and a Modern Studies visit to the United States are further examples of the travel opportunities available to Dollar pupils.  At the time of writing, the Classics Department is planning a visit to Italy, with a trip to Morocco on offer in the Geography Department .

Such opportunities do not cease when pupils leave school.  Next session we will again be sending school leavers on gap-year teaching posts to Germany and France.  This brings the total number of pupils undertaking this enterprise to twenty-five in the past nine years, a statistic which underlines Dollar’s strong commitment to the international dimension.  The school also offers a number of travel awards and scholarships for the purpose of travel-related study; details of these are available on request.

DESTINATION OF LEAVERS
Each year the Rector provides for the information of Governors and staff a report on the destination of leavers.

While most of our leavers go on to university in Scotland, around 15% each year leave for study in Universities throughout the world. In recent years, our pupils have studied in the University of Queensland, The University of Nova Scotia, and at University in Zambia, as well as universities south of the border, such as Oxford, Cambridge, UMIST, Manchester, Imperial College, London, Newcastle and Durham. Should you wish a statistical breakdown of these details, you are invited to contact the school office.

A number of pupils leave for “GAP year” activities, and among recent leavers, Dollar pupils have worked on projects in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Guyana, South Africa, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda and China. Pupils have attended High Schools in North America after completion of their last year at Dollar through English Speaking Union scholarships.  

FORMER PUPILS’ CLUBS
Many former pupils of Dollar keep in contact with the school, and their involvement is much appreciated by Governors and staff. A number of large capital projects have been inspired by the generous contributions of former pupils. The Former Pupils have seven permanent regional clubs: The Highland, The North of Scotland, The Dollar, The Edinburgh, The Glasgow, The North of England and The London. There are many other informal networks of Dollar Former Pupils around the world: the Academy encourages a sense of community, and the loyalty of so many Former Pupils is central to our success.

The FP Newsletter, now combined with the school magazine as the publication Fortunas, is sent thrice yearly to Former Pupils, and it provides an ideal vehicle for communication throughout our community.

THE CAPTAIN JOHN McNABB SOCIETY
The Captain John McNabb Society was formed in 2002 specifically for those who wish to leave a legacy in their wills to Dollar Academy, and the Society presently has over seventy members. The new Maguire Building could not have been built without a very generous bequest from a Former Pupil, Mr Brian Maguire.

THE 1802 FOUNDATION
The 1802 Foundation was created for those who wish to donate gifts to the Academy that will be used to enhance the present facilities. The funds generously donated by parents, Former Pupils and friends of Dollar Academy during this session will be used to help equip the new Maguire Building. Funds from previous years have been used to help upgrade laboratories in the Dewar Building.

BOARDING

BEGINNING AND END OF TERM
Whilst it is understood that sometimes overseas travel can make it difficult to keep to term dates, it is expected that parents will make every effort to ensure that their children are in school during the published official opening times. Dates are published well in advance.

FINANCIAL
Parents of boarders are asked to note the arrangements for the payment of sundry bills detailed in the Information for Pupils booklet. The principle is that senior pupils are expected to pay directly for their dance tickets, theatre visits, photographs, kilt hire and so on by cash or cheque from their own accounts, rather than by additions to the fee account.  

CLOTHING
Boarders’ parents are asked to ensure that all clothing is clearly, indelibly named and that clothes can safely be dried in a tumble drier. Extra name tapes should be supplied.

SECURITY
Parents of boarders are recommended to consult their own insurers on the subject of All Risks Coverfor their children’s personal effects, especially valuables, while at school. Boarders are also provided with lockable cupboards in their Houses.  

LEAVE OUT
Boarders may have permission to stay with friends during weekends provided that the “two letter rule” is followed in all cases. This rule requires the following:

1. that the parents of the pupil taking a weekend out must write authorising the visit,
2. that the parents of the host must write specifically accepting responsibility for the pupil for the duration of the stay.

In each case, the letters should specify:

1. the location,
2. the timing and
3. the mode of transport involved during the visit.

The letters should be with Houseparents in good time, normally by the Thursday preceding the weekend in question.

GUARDIANS
Every overseas boarder should have a UK-based guardian who can be contacted in case of emergency. The boarder should be able to visit the guardian (especially in the periods when the school and the boarding house is closed, such during as the October break). Ideally, the guardian should be able to offer support to the boarder, and some further opportunity to have a family life away from home.

COMMUNICATION
Boarders have ready access to e-mail, “Skype” and telephone facilities in their Houses.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

CLUBS, SOCIETIES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
There is an extensive range of activities available to pupils in Dollar, briefly listed at the back of this booklet. Full details are published in the Information on Extra-Curricular Activities booklet at the start of each session, once they staffing and timings have been settled. Clearly, details can change from term to term, and parents are advised to check with the relevant members of staff for the most up to date information.

We feel that it is particularly important that our pupils become involved, and you should not hesitate to recommend to your son or daughter that the enrichment offered by the extra-curricular life in the school is valuable. Many pupils manage to juggle a fair number of activities, and there are many opportunities available.

One point, however, should be stressed. When pupils join one of these activities, commitment becomes necessary. It is not fair to the others in the group, or to the member of staff responsible, if loyalty and continuous support are not given. Some activities in the Senior School are deliberately designed to encourage pupils who are not extensively committed elsewhere: therefore, in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, priority is given to pupils who are not particularly involved in other activities.

PRODUCTIONS
In first term, there have for some years been twin traditions of a Sixth Form play and performances from the Junior Drama Club; the Music Department mounts a major Christmas Concert; and there is a Prep School production at Christmas. The Music Department produces a Choral Project, and the Senior School a full-length play and, for many years, a major Summer musical production. The Junior School stages a musical in third term for all Junior ll and a performance in second term in which all Junior l take part. The later timing for external examinations may necessitate some amendments to this programme. Details will be provided when available.

CHARITIES
Each session, a new Charities Committee of pupils is elected to organise the many charitable drives which take place in the Dollar year.  The Committee is responsible for the running of a number of dances and discos throughout the course of each session.  In 2005-2006 the beneficiaries of these activities were Huntington’s Association, Merlin, Children in Need, The Pakistan Appeal and Hope and Homes. The Committee is also very much involved in the administration of the Sponsored Walk which takes place in the local hills once every two years.  Enormous sums of money are raised and local and national charities have been supported. The Sponsored Walk in September 2005 raised nearly £55,000 for Play Alloa, CHAS, Shelter, the St. Andrews Clinics for Children and Water Aid.  The next Sponsored Walk will be in September 2007.

The experience offered to so many pupils as a result of the work of this Committee is of immense value.  Significantly, our links with our local community are very powerful - each year, we mount a campaign around Christmas time. The Committee has run Coffee Mornings for the older people who live in Dollar, preceded by a personal visit and invite. Such is the involvement of our young people with local residents that they volunteer to give assistance, often in unremarkable ways, throughout the course of the year. 

COLOURS AWARDS
Staff responsible for activities propose pupils for Colours to a committee, chaired by the Deputy Rector. The Colours Committee discusses the proposals and then makes recommendations to the Rector, who takes the final decision. The awards are for school activities and denote achievement in and commitment to Dollar Academy. Failure to live up to these standards may lead to removal of the award.

For Sporting awards, Half Colours entitle the holder to the ship blazer badge, and Full Colours to the addition of white braid to the blazer.

For Cultural Colours, Half Colours entitle the holder to the blue blazer badge, and Full Colours to the addition of blue braid to the blazer.

The Colours tie is available to holders of both Full Sporting or Cultural colours, but not Half Colours.

Pupils who are awarded both Sporting and Cultural Colours are entitled to wear a combination of insignia and braid.

The ship blazer badge is available for purchase from the School Office, while the other items can be purchased from R R Henderson Ltd of Bridge St, Dollar or in Stirling (for contact details, see the section on Uniform.)

The criteria are as follows:

FULL SPORTING COLOURS
A pupil judged worthy of Full Sporting Colours –

1) Demonstrates excellence in the skills associated with the sport, measured by district, national or international standards, where appropriate.
2) Has represented the school at 1 st team level for at least a season, where appropriate.
3) Has made a very notable personal contribution to the success of the team.
4) Has had very good attendance at practices and matches.
5) Has maintained a fully positive and helpful attitude throughout the season.
6) Is in Form V (or about to enter Form V) or Form VI.

HALF SPORTING COLOURS
A pupil judged worthy of Half Sporting Colours –

1) Demonstrates very good skills in playing the sport.
2) Has represented the school at 1 st team level for at least a season, where appropriate (or exceptionally at 2 nd team level).
3) Has made a notable personal contribution to the success of the team.
4) Has had good attendance at practices and matches.
5) Has maintained a fully positive and helpful attitude throughout the season.
6) Is in Form V (or about to enter Form V) or Form VI.

1) Demonstrates excellence in the skills associated with the activity, measured by the highest school standards, or by district, national or international standards.
2) Has been involved in major school competitions or performances for at least a year.
3) Has made a very notable personal contribution to the success of the activity.
4) Has had very good attendance at practices and performances.
5) Has maintained a fully positive and helpful attitude throughout the activity
6) Is in Form V (or about to enter Form V) or Form VI.

HALF CULTURAL COLOURS
A pupil judged worthy of Half Cultural Colours –

1) Demonstrates very good skills in the activity.
2) Has been involved in major school competitions or performances for at least a year.
3) Has made a notable personal contribution to the success of the activity.
4) Has had good attendance at practices and performances.
5) Has maintained a fully positive and helpful attitude throughout the activity.
6) Is in Form V (or about to enter Form V) or Form VI.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

MEDICAL CENTRE
Mrs J Dunnet, the school nurse, assisted by Mrs J Robson and Mrs S Page, is based in the Medical Centre, Mylne House, 3 Academy Place – telephone 740599. Surgery times are 11.15–11.30 and 1.00–1.25, and at other times as required, with a teacher’s permission. In any emergency we can call on Dollar Health Centre, and Stirling Royal Infirmary is within easy reach. Boarders (and those day pupils registered there) can receive emergency dental treatment from the dentist in Dollar, Mr R G Watson. A small stock of medication (e.g. Calpol, Paracetamol, Milk of Magnesia) is kept in the Medical Centre and dispensed, when required, by the Nurse. Pupils are therefore encouraged not to carry such medication at school.

In the Prep and Junior School any medication to be taken during the school day should be handed to the teacher in its original packaging with appropriate instructions signed by a parent or guardian. It will then be administered by the Nurse.

In the Senior School, medication for the day should be discussed with Nurse Dunnet. Medicines for occasional use (such as for migraine) can be kept at the Medical Centre. Boarders should hand medicines to their Houseparents.

MEDICAL PROGRAMME
Each Thursday afternoon of session routine medical examinations are carried out by the School Doctor or Nurse. All pupils new to Dollar are seen during their first academic session. As part of the routine medicals, all of Prep 1, Prep 3 and Junior ll pupils are seen ; BCG vaccinations are offered to FII pupils; and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio boosters are provided for Form lV. Members of the CCF Shooting Section, and other pupils in the school involved in shooting, are offered regular hearing tests. In addition, our Medical Team expect to see all pupils with a condition highlighted on the “Short Medical form”. Wherever possible, pupils with asthma are encouraged to participate in normal sporting activities. The gym shorts (available from the Thrift Shop) have zip pockets to allow an inhaler to be carried.

The information provided by you on medical matters, while treated confidentially, is made available to all members of staff who are likely to come into contact with these pupils. It is particularly important that we be informed of any matter which could affect your child’s progress in Dollar. When a child returns from serious illness, or with some disability, temporary or otherwise, the relevant information should be passed to Nurse Dunnet.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Parents are asked not to send their children to school if they are suffering from an infectious illness. The school should be informed if a pupil has been suffering from such a condition during a holiday, or has been in an area of the world where such illnesses are endemic.

MEDICAL INFORMATION
Every year parents are asked to complete a short proforma with details of their children’s health, for return to the School Office. This should be completed whether or not there has been a change in circumstances: it is our best way of ensuring that we have up to date information in order to look after your children effectively when they are in our hands.

RETURN AFTER INJURY
Any pupil who has been off school wih an injury requiring crutches or plaster should, on return, report to the Medical Centre before registration so that we can assess the ability to move around the school buildings and negotiate stairs. If there are likely to be problems in this area, parents are asked to contact the school in advance to resolve the matter.

PHOTOGRAPHY
We would ask that photographs not be taken during dramatic or musical performances, since this can distract performers, and other members of the audience may feel it to be intrusive. We appreciate, however, that at outdoor sporting events it has been customary for parents to take photographs, and we have no desire to curtail this.

In line with our wish to be sensitive in the use of photography, you and your children will be consulted as to the possible use of photographs of them for publication.

MEALS
A substantial and nutritious three -course meal is available in the Dining Hall daily. There is a choice of various hot dishes and of salads. The cost per meal is £2.20, payable at the servery. Some pupils prefer to bring packed lunches and space is made available for these to be eaten, both in classrooms and the Dining Hall. Snacks, rolls, chocolate and drinks (both hot and cold) are sold in the Dining Hall Tuck Shop to Senior School pupils only, and there is a wide variety of foods available. Some pupils opt to go home for lunch, and others purchase their food locally in Dollar. We ask, however, that food should not be consumed in and around the town of Dollar itself.

DOGS IN SCHOOL GROUNDS
You are reminded that dogs should be kept on leads in school grounds, and should not be allowed to foul any school area.

SECURITY ON SITE
CCTV cameras are in operation on the site to enhance the safety and security of pupils, staff and property.

ALCOHOL
Under supervision and in controlled social environments such as the Sixth Form Dinner, Burns Night, Boarders’ socials and the like, senior pupils may be offered limited quantities of wine, beer or lager. The aim is help pupils learn to operate in the adult world with a degree of experience, self-control and confidence. Soft drinks and food will always be available on these occasions, and the dispensing is directly controlled by members of staff.

What is not accepted at Dollar is the unsupervised consumption of alcohol by pupils. Parents are asked to support this policy by ensuring that they do not supply their children with alcohol during term time in such a way that it might come into a school context, whether physically into school property, or into groups of Dollar pupils containing boarders for whom the school has a continuing responsibility. Day pupils among groups of boarders will be held liable to the same rules that bind the boarding pupils.

ACCESS - POLICY STATEMENT

Admission to Dollar Academy is dependent upon a prospective pupil meeting the Academy’s entrance criteria. There is competition for places in Dollar, and admission is dependent on level of prior attainment, perceived academic potential, and interest shown in participating in the varied extra-curricular opportunities on offer in the Academy. The Academy wishes to feel reasonably sure that it will be able to educate and develop prospective pupils to the best of their potential, and to try to ensure that everyone admitted to Dollar will be able to make the most of all that the Academy has on offer throughout their experience in the Academy. The aim at the outset is to assist each child to grow in self-confidence, self-respect, and self-motivation – and the environment here is designed to foster such developments throughout the child’s time in Dollar. We recognise that the developmental process will vary individually, and that greater support will be required for some boys and girls than for others. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm for continuing, lifelong learning should be embedded by the time a child completes a course of study in Dollar.

The Academy’s policy is to apply these criteria, for instance, regardless of any disability of which it is aware, and subject to its obligation to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that any disabled pupil or prospective pupil is not disadvantaged in curricular study, nor in extra-curricular activities where appropriate. At the time of application, parents are required to draw to the attention of the Rector any factors which they would wish to be taken into account. In assessing its ability to provide education for any pupil, the Academy may take such advice, and require such assessments as it regards as being appropriate. The Academy will both be sensitive to requests for confidentiality, and proactive where required in communicating information to staff on a “need-to-know” basis.

The Academy and its boarding houses cover a wide area – almost 70 acres. Many of its buildings are listed, more than one storey high, and not provisioned with lifts. These buildings have been built during the 188 year history of the Academy. The senior school is departmentally organised, and each department is allocated to particular, purpose-built areas, on the important basis of having all departmental-specific equipment in individually centralised locations. Pupils therefore require to be able to move about the campus, and to negotiate stairs for those departments on upper floors. Boarding facilities are similar. Any pupil with impaired mobility would experience difficulty as a result of the layout of the houses, and it would not be possible for access to be gained to all areas of the Academy. These matters cannot be remedied in any substantial way other than by making major alterations to the school’s structure. Even the development of long-term plans will go only some of the way towards improving the position. Importantly, some of the recent buildings and the new Maguire building incorporate full disabled access. On a short-term basis, it is possible to assist pupils with restricted mobility, and there have been a number of children assisted in such circumstances.

The complex nature of the school’s layout, including the presence of numerous stairwells, may also render the school impractical for the education of pupils with serious visual impairment, although accommodation can be made in certain cases to improve lighting, seating arrangements, and to provide highly visible direction and guidance signs. The issues of fire evacuation as well as general movement around the campus and access to the full Dollar curriculum are borne in mind in making judgements on entry. Pupils with seriously impaired hearing would also be subject to independent assessment. Digital amplification is appropriate in individual cases; it would not be practical to provide induction loops in all areas of the school.

In dealing with all aspects of access, staff will be given appropriate and relevant instruction, and guidance on dealing with particular cases will be provided at formal in-service sessions. The Academy is pleased to engage with parents and with external bodies in assessing how best to support individual children.

All issues relating to Access are reviewed in the first instance by the Senior Staff Group (Rector, Deputy Rector, Head of Prep and Junior School, and Assistant Rectors) in liaison with the Bursar, and issues are referred on a regular basis to the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of Dollar Academy.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK ACT- POLICY STATEMENT

The Governors of Dollar Academy Trust aim to take due care of employees, pupils, visitors and others who may from time to time be affected by its activities.

The Trust regards co-operation on health and safety as an integral part of every individual’s duties. The Trust will regularly remind staff, employees and pupils of their individual and collective responsibilities for the health and safety of themselves and others. To enable individuals to discharge these responsibilities properly, the Trust aims to provide an appropriate level of resource and specialist support.

The Trust aims to provide for, maintain and grant access to safe and healthy:

• living and working environments
• systems of work
• plant and equipment
• information, instruction, training and supervision

This Policy will be implemented through a Health and Safety Manual, of which it forms part.

The Manual sets out:

• how the Trust aims to meet its legal obligations. The Trust intends to comply with statutory standards, but aims to achieve best practice wherever possible.
• the basic safety rules for all staff, employees, pupils and others.

• the allocation of specific duties for the discharge of health and safety responsibilities. To this end, duties of care and responsibility apply throughout the management process, which aims to plan, organise, control, monitor and review preventive and protective measures.

• the conduct of risk assessment, which is the core of the risk management process. Individual risk assessments are documented separately.

This Policy, and the Manual, will be reviewed:

• annually,
• when changes are made to legislation, the organisation or standards
• when equipment is introduced or operating procedures changed
• when the assessment of risk alters

GUIDANCE

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL EDUCATION
The PSE programme is essentially about life skills; the aim is to help our pupils develop these skills, both in personal and social terms. The programme is designed to meet the needs of the pupils as they grow and mature into responsible young adults. Areas explored include personal development, both physical and emotional; religious and ethical issues; relationships with others; and problems that may be encountered when growing up - with a focus on strategies for dealing with them. Respect for self and others is central to PSE. Topics such as smoking, alcohol and drugs are fully covered. There is an on-going sex education programme which provides information about sexual matters within a wider moral context.

All pupils take part in the programme that runs through Prep and Junior Schools and continues (one hour per week) in Forms I, II and III, with increasing use being made of specialists from both within and outside the school as the programme progresses. Topics may be revisited in Forms IV and V.

In Form VI, PSE focuses on course and career options and university applications and takes the form of one-to-one discussions with specialist members of staff, guidance meetings, and talks from outside speakers. Pupils are also encouraged to study ‘survival skills’ units such as cookery and car maintenance over the course of the session. After the examinations, Form VI seminars take place that cover many broader aspects of PSE and prepare pupils for the world beyond school. If you wish to discuss the content of the PSE course in detail you should feel free to contact the school .

DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
While Dollar Academy was originally a Church of Scotland foundation, pupils of all faiths are welcomed, and special arrangements are made for religious observance in particular cases. In Senior School, RE is part of the Personal and Social Education programme which is on offer to all pupils. RE is of a general nature and is thus an integral part of the educational experience of all pupils.

The daily Assembly has, at its core, a hymn, a reading and a prayer. While there is a deliberate attempt made to alert our pupils to spiritual matters in a wider sense , the Assembly is primarily Christian in focus. Should any parent wish to discuss the religious content in the curriculum or in Assemblies, he or she is most welcome to contact Mr Daniel, Deputy Rector, or Mrs Robertson, Head of the Prep and Junior School.

SIXTH FORM
In Dollar, we regard it as important that all senior pupils should be encouraged to take responsibility both for themselves and for the development of others. All Sixth Formers are invited to become prefects, and each is given a specific set of responsibilities. Each year, a Head Girl and Head Boy are elected, along with two Deputies for each. Our senior pupils are vital to the administration of the school, and the quality of each Form Vl affects the tone of the school as a whole. The support of Personal Tutors is also added in Form Vl. An Information Booklet for Form VI Pupils is published separately.

DISCIPLINE
Our pupils are expected to maintain high standards, in the school, on school visits, and in the local community. We stress to all pupils that membership of our community carries with it responsibility. On occasions, however, in Dollar as in any school, some pupils make mistakes and are subject to our code of discipline. While it is difficult to provide a clear outline of our approach in this matter, the following maintains as standard practice.

In the Senior School, a pupil who is causing difficulty in a classroom because of failure to work, or misbehaviour, can be given a punishment exercise by the subject teacher. If an immediate improvement is not noted, the matter will be referred to the appropriate Head of Department or to the Head of Year who might wish to take further measures. The pupil might then be placed on timetable report - where every period is signed for and homework has to be monitored daily by parents; the pupil might be detained after the end of school. We see extra-curricular activities as part of the full curriculum, and arrangements are made for such detentions to take place on a day which is free of other commitments. At least twenty-four hours notice is given for such a detention.

When more serious problems occur, or repeated breaches of acceptable practice take place, the matter will be brought to the attention of Senior Staff in the school. These members of staff will then, after careful consideration, impose whatever punishment is appropriate, and in line with current school practice. That might be early morning detention at 8.00am (for which a parental signature is required), community service, weekend or holiday supervised activity, and in serious cases, suspension or expulsion.

Where an 8.00am detention is awarded, flexibility is possible in agreeing on a day when the detention is to be served to allow for the convenience of travelling; the nature of the punishment will not, however, be altered.

It should be noted that a pupil who remains in the company of another pupil / other pupils while school rules are being broken is likely to be regarded as guilty by association. Pupils have a duty to avoid situations where rules are being broken.

Day pupils in the company of boarders at weekends will regarded as bound by the same rules that apply to the boarders.

Should a pupil damage school property through his/her own fault, the school will inform parents, and charges consequent upon such action will be put on the bill.

DELIBERATE CAUSING OF DISTRESS TO OTHERS & “BULLYING”
Dollar Academy is fully committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all pupils. The deliberate causing of distress, either mental or physical, to another individual, is totally unacceptable and anyone found behaving in such a way will be subject to the school’s disciplinary procedures. Pupils are told that any instance of this type should be reported to members of staff immediately. It will be noted that we avoid using the word “bullying”, preferring instead to be precise about the exact means of causing distress, and then taking specific, appropriate action in each case.

In the Senior School, the appropriate Head of Year will be alerted and the relevant Assistant Rector informed who may involve the Deputy Rector. The Form Tutor and, where appropriate, Houseparents will be kept informed. Once a matter has been dealt with satisfactorily and seems to be resolved, staff will keep the situation in view in order to monitor progress quietly and discreetly.

ILLEGAL DRUGS
Dolla