A school has introduced an incredibly extreme rule book which bans pupils from smirking when being told off, looking out of the window, walking slowly or saying slang words and ‘dunno’.
The 40 rules brought in by one of Huddersfield’s most historic and well-known secondary schools - King James’s School in Almondbury - are in a new book under three different categories including Manners, Uniform and Behaviour.
Bosses at the school have then split the Behaviour category into three other sections - general, lessons and out of lessons.
The school, which received a royal charter in 1608, has now been slammed for introducing the rules with one former pupil saying they are a breach on human rights.
Some of the rules are straightforward such as a ban on ‘Intimate behaviour in corridors’ or a warning against ‘Pushing in the dining room queue’ but others show an imaginative flair and unintentionally comic aspect which must have taken many hours of meticulous planning to dream up.
These include: “Saying ‘dunno, yeah, huh’ when asked questions”, ‘Answering in a silly voice’, ‘Deliberately walking slowly/causing blockages’ and perhaps, best of all, ‘Smirking/smiling/screwing face up/raising eyebrows/looking at others when told off’.
Pupils are also banned from looking out of the window when they should be looking at the white board.
Morgan Burton, a former student at King James’s, said: “
It clearly removes students rights for self expression and free speech creating a narrative whereby the administration of a government-funded school is implementing its own beliefs which contradict the most basic of human rights.
“I just thought this might be a good write up to give some exposure to the inappropriate rule setting taking place here.”
King James’s was contacted for comment but has declined to respond.
On the school website principal Ian Rimmer says: “Our ethos demands the best from everyone through the promotion of the key values of resilience, respect, responsibility, honesty and courtesy.”
Here are the 40 rules:
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOURS
At King James’s School, we consider excellent behaviour to be a fundamental requirement for success. We take pride in preparing our students socially as well as academically. To this end, the following behaviours are considered unacceptable at King Jame’s School and will be challenged by all staff:
Uniform:
1, Not wearing school jumper or tie correctly
2, Wearing incorrect school shoes
3, Wearing hoods up/hats inside school
4, Wearing incorrect trousers/skirts
5, Wearing make-up/incorrect piercings
6, Using earphones, or visible wires/mobiles out in lessons
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Manners:
7, Not replying when you greet them
8, Not holding doors open for other people
9, Not saying please/thank you or in a sarcastic way
10, Thanking other people in an inappropriate way
11, Entering a classroom without knocking
12, Smirking/smiling/screwing face up/raising eyebrows/looking at others when told off
13, Shrugging shoulders
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Response:
14, Saying ‘why?’ when questioned about behaviour
15, Saying ‘dunno, yeah, huh’ when asked a question
16, Saying ‘okay’ when told off
17, Rolling eyes
18, Rude tone of voice
19, Answering in a silly voice
20, Not looking directly at staff when talking to them/paying attention to when spoken to
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Behaviour out of lessons:
21, Loud/boisterous behaviour in corridors
22, Pushing/charging around in corridor
23, On corridor during lesson time without pass/note in planner
24, Deliberately walking slowly/ causing blockages
25, Unnecessary accompanying of friends in corridors during lessons/registrations
26, Pushing in the dining room queue
27, Intimate behaviour in corridors
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Behaviour in lessons:
28, Looking out of window instead of the board
29, Interrupting staff or peers
30, Getting out of seat without permission
31, Turning around when told not to
32, Swinging on chairs
33, Slouching
34, Tapping on tables, window ledges/walls
35, Drinking liquids other than water in lessons
36, Eating/chewing gum in lessons
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General Behaviour:
37, Making funny noises/whistling
38, Using rude, abusive, derogatory language
39, Using slang
40, Swearing