MERIT AND DEMERIT POLICY

Date of review of policy

September 2023
Date of next review
September 2024

Review members:

 Ms L van Vuuren – Head of Human Resources

 Mrs L Moyo – Head of Academics
 Mr J Smit – Executive Discipline Manager

1. SCHOOL RULES

The rules of the school must be adhered to:

 When a learner is on the school premises
 During extra mural activities and school functions
 When a learner represents the school
 When a learner appears in public in school unform.

2. DEMERIT SYSTEM

The main purpose of the Merit and Demerit system is to encourage learners to
behave in line with the People; Integrity; Perserverance; and Excellence (PIPE) values
of the school, thereby creating a culture of discipline and value-based education and
behaviour.

The system works as follows:

 Learners start with 0 points
 All Violations and Recognitions are logged on the conduct list (d6 Plus)
 Recognitions and Violations not logged on d6 Plus will not be considered
 Recognitions are given for positive behaviours for example: “Assisting Educator”
 Violations are given for misconduct and negative behaviour, for example:
“Homework not done”
 Violations are classified according to levels
o Level 1 transgressions (-1 to -49).
o Level 2 transgressions (-50): Inform parents via email or a phone call
and the learner must attend Detention.
o Level 3 transgressions (-100): Disciplinary Discussion with parents.
During this discussion certain decisions must be made in conjunction
with the parents e.g. Daily Conduct Assessment, Final Warning, etc.
and the learner must attend Detention.
o Level 4 transgressions (-200): Immediate Disciplinary Hearing.
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 o Level 5 transgressions (-300): Suspension until Disciplinary Hearing.

 If the learner has two Level 2 transgressions it automatically leads to a

Disciplinary Discussion
 If the learner has two Level 3 transgressions it leads directly to a Disciplinary
Hearing
 Recognitions and Violations are indicated separately on the Conduct Report of
the learner
 Some conducts are only for informative reasons for example “Informed parents
about concerns regarding academics”
 The learner must attend detention if the Violations exceed -49 (-50 or more)
 Once the learner has attended detention, “Detention attended” is automatically
added to the Violations column to reduce the negative marks
 Where a learner does not attend detention without a valid reason “Bunking
Detention” will be added as a Violation
 Should the Violations again exceed -49 (-50 or more), the learner must attend
detention for a second time
 If the Violations of the learner exceed -49 (-50 or more), for the third time during
the year, the learner must attend detention for a third time and the parent(s)
must be called in for a “Disciplinary Discussion”
 For certain serious Violations a Disciplinary Discussion or Disciplinary Hearing
may be held immediately
 Should the Violations of the learner exceed -49 (-50 or more), for the fourth time
during the year, a Disciplinary Hearing will be held after the learner attended
detention
 For certain serious Violations a Disciplinary Discussion or Disciplinary Hearing
may be held immediately. For certain transgressions a learner will be suspended
until a Disciplinary Hearing is held.
 The Disciplinary Chairperson will decide on the appropriate outcome and
sanction which could include, but is not limited to: Suspension, Conditional
Admission, Conditional Re-Admission, Counselling, Expulsion with Notice or
Immediate Expulsion
 If there are serious transgressions for example the possession of drugs, the
learner will be suspended until a disciplinary hearing is held. The outcome of a
serious transgression could be immediate expulsion.
 For certain transgressions, a learner will be suspended until the Disciplinary
Hearing and if the sanction is suspension for the learner, the days the learner
was suspended until the hearing will be subtracted from the total number of
days for which the learner is suspended
 Parents can at any time request a copy of the Code of Conduct Report of a
learner
 A summary of the Code of Conduct Report will be e-mailed to all parents once a
term
 Parents can appeal the outcome of a Disciplinary Hearing in writing within 7 days
of the outcome of the hearing. The grounds for appeal must be clearly indicated
The outcome of an appeal can be one of the following:
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 1. The Outcome is upheld
2. The Outcome is overturned
3. The Sanction can be changed.

3. RECOGNITIONS AND VIOLATIONS ARE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS:

Description Type Points

Academic good performance (Quarterly) 80%+ Recognition 30
Academic performance increased 10%+ (Quarterly) Recognition 20
Assault - causing serious bodily harm (Suspension until Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -300
Assignment result 80%+ Recognition 20
Assignment (Formal) Submitted Late Violation -10
Assignment (Formal) Submitted Early Recognition 10
Assist fellow learners Recognition 10
Assist educator/staff member Recognition 15
100% School Attendance (Quarterly) Recognition 20
Attention not paid in class Violation -5
Attended 3 Detentions (Disciplinary Discussion) Informative 0
Attended 4 Detentions (Disciplinary Hearing) Informative 0
Book(s) not with the learner during class Violation -5
Bunking class Violation -30
Bunking detention (Inform Parent) Violation -50
Bunking school (Inform Parent) Violation -50
Bullying (Disciplinary Discussion/Disciplinary Hearing if continuous behaviour) Violation -100
Classwork not done / incomplete Violation -10
Final Written Warning Informative 0
Confrontation / Physically Fighting (Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Disciplinary discussion held with parent(s) Informative 0
Disciplinary hearing held Informative 0
Discrimination (Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Academics discussed with learner Informative 0
Conduct and behaviour discussed with learner Informative 0
Dishonest (Inform Parents) Violation -50
Disregard exam/test procedures Violation -15
Disregard Instructions and Rules (Specify) Violation -15
Disobey Instructions (Foundation Phase – Specify) Violation -5
Disrepute the name of the school (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Exam/test results 80%+ Recognition 20
Extra effort with school work Recognition 15
Fraud (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Gambling Violation -25
Diligent Academic Work (Foundation Phase) Recognition 5
Highest mark in subject (Quarterly) Recognition 10
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Homework not done Violation -10
Honesty Recognition 20
Irregularity in exam(SAIC Discipline Hearing) Violation -200
Irregularity in Formal Test (SAIC Discipline Discussion) Violation -100
Intimidating / Threatening fellow learner(s) Violation -50
Intervention Attended Recognition 5
Late for class (5+ minutes) Violation -5
Late arrival at school Violation -5
Letters /test / homework not signed Informative 0
Management Recognition Merit Recognition 15
Parent informed about academic issues Informative 0
Parents informed about absenteeism Informative 0
Parents informed about conduct/behaviour Informative 0
Participate in school social activities Recognition 20
Participate in school sport activities Recognition 20
Participation in school culture activities Recognition 20
Participate in Extra Curricular activities Recognition 20
Petty theft - Value up to R100 (Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
PIPE values achieved monthly Recognition 20
Cell phone / Tablet used during school hours(Device confiscated) Violation -15
Positive Behaviour (Foundation Phase) Recognition 5
Positive drug test (1.Disciplinary Discussion/2.Hearing) Violation -100
Possession /distributing / using of drugs (Suspension until Hearing) Violation -300
Possession of inadmissible objects - Lighters, matches, medication etc. (Inform
Parents) Violation -50
Possession of cigarettes / Vape (Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Possession/Viewing of pornography (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Possession of a dangerous weapon (Knife, Brass Knuckles, Hammer, Knobkerrie
etc.) (Suspension until Hearing) Violation -300
Possession of an imitation firearm, airgun or BB gun (Hearing) Violation -200
Possession of a firearm (Suspension until Hearing) Violation -300
Possession / Using of alcohol (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Possession/Using of Intoxicating substances – Specify (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Intervention bunked Violation -30
Grooming incorrect Violation -10
School Uniform Incorrect Violation -10
School Rules discussed (Quarterly) Informative 0
Selling of goods and products on school property Violation -50
Sexual Intercourse (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Sexual Interaction-Mutual Kissing and fondling (Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Sexual Interaction-Unwanted Kissing and fondling (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Sexual Violence / Attempted Rape / explicit unwanted physical contact (Hearing) Violation -300
Smoking cigarettes / Vaping (Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
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 Suspension Completed Informative 0
Tampering with learner property (Inform parents and Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Tampering with staff property (Inform parents and Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Tampering with school property (Inform parents and Disciplinary Discussion) Violation -100
Textbook Lost Violation 0
Test/Assessment/Examination failed Informative 0
Theft/ Possession of stolen goods - Value above R100 (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Threaten any staff member verbally / written (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Top 10 Academic Performance (Quarterly) Recognition 10
Physically assaulting a staff member (Suspension until Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -300
Threaten anyone with a weapon or firearm (Suspension until Hearing) Violation -300
Unacceptable social behaviour – verbal / physical Violation -15
Unsafe behaviour / Causing unintentional injury / or accident (Specify) Violation -10
Vandalism (Disciplinary Hearing) Violation -200
Verbal warning given (Specify) Informative 0
Walking around outside class / Loitering Violation -10
Writing on any school property Violation -50

4. AMENDMENTS TO POLICY

The School reserves its right to deviate from this policy if it deems it necessary or
appropriate and to amend this policy from time to time in accordance with any changed
policy considerations of the School or legal developments.

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