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Information for families

Welcome to Durham Cathedral Schools FoundationWe are delighted to welcome you and your family to Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation.

Starting at a new School is an exciting time, but we know there can be a great deal of practical information to take in. This page brings together the key resources you will need before your child joins us, including guidance on uniform, transport, clubs and activities, wraparound care, the Parent Portal and important School contacts.

Please see the information and resources below for further guidance to help you prepare for your child’s first day and settle into life at the Foundation. We encourage you to explore the sections to find the information most relevant to your family.

Our aim is to make your family’s transition as smooth and reassuring as possible. Throughout your child’s journey, they will be known, supported and encouraged within a warm, values-led community shaped by Moral Integrity, Ambition, Responsibility and Kindness.

We very much look forward to welcoming you into School and to working in partnership with your family.

DCSF Prospectus

The Transport team

Contact

 

Transport@dcsf.org.uk

iSAMS Parent Portal

The iSAMS Parent Portal is a platform designed to enhance communication between the school and our parents. It allows parents to access essential information about their children, including:

  • Attendance
  • Exam entries and timetables
  • Assessment and written reports
  • Fee statements
  • Communication history and more

HOW TO SET UP YOUR PARENT PORTAL

Accessing your child’s reports

  • On the tabs at the top of the parent portal, select Pupil Information
  • Choose Pupil Reports
  • Choose between Assessment Reports or Reports tab
  • Pupil reports take place at different points of the year, but a grade card or written report (or a mix for pupils in Y1-6) will be released to you regularly.

Visit the Parent Portal

School Gateway

Making an online trip or sundry payment

  • Paying for trips and visits
  • Art packs and other products
  • Clothing/hoodies
  • Multiple children appearing in one place
  • Tracking purchases and payments
  • The mobile app
  • Desktop web version
  • Invitations
  • Using registered email address and mobile number

Access the SchoolComms/Schoolgateway system

On the homepage, click on the payments button to see what options are available to you.

Add items to your basket and check out! done!

Visit the School Gateway

SOCS – Viewing the Sports Calendar

  • Here you can view:
  • Sports and Fixtures
  • Co-curricular Activities
  • After-school Clubs
  • School Transport
  • Music
  • School Calender
  • You can access team sheets to view your child’s involvement
  • Team sheets require a password; you can find it on the iSAMS Parent Portal homepage.

View the Sports Calendar 

View the SOCS login page

Durham School and Chorister School Co-Curricular

Co-curricular activities at Durham School are managed through SOCS. Pupils choose and book their own activities, rather than parents selecting activities on their behalf.

At Chorister School, parents select and book activities for their child through SOCS.

Parents can use the same SOCS login to view the activities their child has booked. Pupils will be advised when the booking window opens, which is expected to be at the start of term.

Viewing Co-Curricular Activities and Clubs

  • All pupils have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of activities.
  • SOCS Parent access will show you what your child has signed up for or for Chorister School pupils, what afterschool clubs and collection arrangements you can choose from.
  • Does your child take music or LAMDA classes? Check on when lessons are schedule here too.

Walking Bus and EYFS Shuttle

Parents use SOCS to book:

    • The afternoon walking bus
    • The EYFS morning shuttle
    • The EYFS afternoon shuttle

The morning walking bus from the White Gates does not require an online booking. A manual register is taken when pupils arrive.

The September booking arrangements have not yet been set up. Families will be contacted when the SOCS booking window opens.

Morning options:

EYFS shuttle 8am from Bow

Return options:

EYFS Shuttle Bus at 4:10pm

Walking Bus 4.15pm

Walking Bus 5.15pm

Chorister School Transport Information

After School Care (ASC) charges

EYFS – Year 2

8.00 – 3.20pm  school day

3.20 – 4.10  free if waiting for older sibling, or attending club (unless it’s a club that charges)

3.30 – 4.30  £3/hour or part of the hour

4.30 – 5.00  £3/hour or part of the hour – inclusive of snack and drink

5.00 – 6.00 £4/hour or part of the hour

Year 3 – Year 6

8am – 4.10pm  school day

4.20 – 5.15  clubs/supervised prep is free (unless it’s a club that charges eg karate)

5.15 – 6.00   £10 charge inclusive of snack

Chorister School

Pick up and Drop off Permits and Bailey Access Charge

We are pleased to let you know that parents of children at Chorister School can now apply for a free Pick Up and Drop Off Permit, allowing you to park for up to 45 minutes each morning and afternoon on selected streets around Durham City while dropping off or collecting your child.

 

These permits are provided free of charge. Please note, however, that they do not grant access to the Road User Charge zone on the Bailey, and the normal restrictions for that area continue to apply.

 

To apply for your free Pick Up and Drop Off Permit, please complete the online form HERE

 

For families with children in Year 3 and below, there is also the option to apply for a Bailey Access Permit, which provides access to the Bailey at the reduced annual cost of £250. Applications can be made  here 

You will need to apply for this permit no later than Thursday 27 August 2026 for them to be in place for the start of term.

Both permit schemes are subject to a number of terms and conditions imposed by Durham County Council. Please read these carefully before applying, as it is your responsibility to comply with the relevant parking and access restrictions. Failure to do so could result in a Penalty Charge Notice from a parking enforcement officer or a charge issued through the Bailey’s ANPR system.

These schemes sit alongside our extensive walking bus provision and other initiatives designed to make the school run easier, reduce congestion and help ease the pressures of your daily commute.

We hope these options will make travelling to and from Chorister School a little easier for many of our families.

Music Lessons

Music Lessons

Individual music lessons are also shown within SOCS. Parents do not book these lessons directly through the system. Once a lesson has been arranged, the visiting music teacher will add the pupil, and parents will then be able to view the lesson details using their usual SOCS login.

Families interested in arranging music lessons should contact the School for guidance on the current registration process – Email us.

Instrumental Lessons Information, Terms and Conditions

House Information - Durham School

Start of term

The School organises an Induction Programme for all new pupils. There is an opportunity for you and your parents to meet your tutor and Housemistress, as well as look around the School. New pupils are paired with a buddy in their year group so that they can quickly find their way around the School. The School produces a termly calendar, which is published digitally on the School website. This calendar lists all events and fixtures, and pupils are encouraged to check it daily.

Access

Pimlico, Poole and School House are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as they are home to boarders.

MacLeod, Lodge and The Caffinites open at 7.45am and close promptly at 6.30pm. The main entrance to each House is protected by a digital lock. Pupils are given the code and must not share it with anyone outside the House. The door codes are changed regularly to maximise pupil safety. Day pupils may be on site from 7.45am to 6.30pm.

Day pupils must sign out at the end of each School day so that House staff know they have left the site.

Locker Rooms & Studies

Each pupil is allocated their own personal space within the House. Boarders have their bedrooms and day pupils have their studies, both of which provide access to a desk and a lockable cupboard. It is the responsibility of each pupil to ensure that these spaces are kept tidy so that our cleaning staff are able to do their job effectively.

If property in bedrooms or studies becomes damaged or mistreated, pupils may be removed from that space and required to use the Common Room instead. Any costs incurred will be charged to the pupils responsible where the damage is considered to be beyond reasonable wear and tear.

Security

Pupils are asked to bring a padlock to School at the start of term and to ensure that their belongings are safely locked away. Pupils are advised to carry only the equipment required for the next two lessons and to keep the rest locked in their study. Valuable items brought into the House are at the pupils’ own risk. These may include mobile phones, earphones, laptops, watches, bank cards and cash, and should always be locked away when not in use. Phones and laptops may be used only with permission from a member of staff. Mobile phones should not be used while moving around the School site.

Safety

Each half term, there will be a fire drill. Pupils are expected to know where their meeting point is and to leave the building quickly but sensibly.

 

House Competitions

The School arranges a variety of Inter-House Competitions, ranging from Drama and Music, to Sporting activities. All pupils are encouraged to take part in the activities as House points are also awarded for participation.

House Council

Pupils have the opportunity to become members of the House Council, where they can have a say in what happens in the House. The House Council is made up of representatives from each year group, who have the opportunity to raise concerns and share new ideas.

House Colours

Each House has a House Colours system through which pupils are recognised for consistent excellence across a wide range of activities. These may be academic, dramatic, musical or sporting in nature, or may reflect a contribution to the wider community through voluntary work.

During the School Day - Durham School

Registration & Roll Call

A formal roll call is held each day at 8.30am, and every pupil must attend to confirm that they have arrived on the School site for the day. Registration takes place during Periods 1 to 6 and is completed by academic staff. Pupils who have a study period at these times should report to the designated area in the Sixth Form Centre. Roll calls also take place at House meetings and at other stated times.

The School is an Anglican foundation, and all pupils are expected to attend Chapel on Monday and Wednesday mornings and on Friday afternoon. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, pupils are expected to go to their tutor classrooms following registration in the House.

House Meetings

Alongside roll call, extended House meetings take place on Friday mornings. These meetings are led by the Housemistress, House staff and Monitors. Attendance is compulsory and pupils are expected to arrive punctually.

Games

All pupils must participate in Games. Senior pupils have a little more flexibility and may swap their Games session for a study period, but pupils should recognise the value of exercise. At the start of each term, pupils are given a choice of Games option, and their attendance is monitored.

Pupils may be excused from Games only if they have a medical reason and have received an Off-Games slip from the Medical Centre or the Senior Housemistress. Pupils must attend the designated supervised off-games classroom, as set out on House noticeboards and in the timetable. Only the Housemistress and the Medical Centre can excuse a pupil from Games; non-attendance without a valid reason will be treated as an unauthorised absence.

Absence and Illness

In the event of illness, parents are asked to telephone the Housemistress or the Student Absence line. During the working day, unwell pupils should report to the Medical Centre or the House Matron’s office in the first instance. Matrons or nurses will assess the extent of any illness, and pupils should not call home before this has taken place. Should a pupil be too unwell to remain at School, the Matron or nurse will contact home to arrange collection and authorise leave from the School site.

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.

Cars

Sixth Form pupils may drive to School, but only once they have completed the appropriate forms and received permission from the Housemistress and the Deputy Head (Pastoral). School rules make it clear that abuse of this privilege may result in permission to drive being withdrawn. Pupils should also note that specific parking bays are allocated to them and must be used accordingly. If a pupil wishes to travel as a passenger in another pupil’s car, both sets of parents must provide written permission to the House staff in advance.

Behaviour - Durham School

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 House. 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.

Durham School Rules

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.

Prep Diaries

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.

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 House or School community.

If a pupil or other member of the House is being bullied, please report this immediately to the Housemistress, 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.

1. House staff: the Housemistress’s door is always open

2. Any member of teaching staff

3. Matron

4. School Monitors

5. Father Simon, School Chaplain

6. Mrs Abbott, Senior Mental Health Lead

7. School Nurses in the Medical Centre

8. Ms Thompson, Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Some national and confidential agencies offer support lines:

Childline 0800 11 11

Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

Social Media

Social Links

Main School Channels

@durhamschool1414 – Instagram

Durham School – Facebook

Arts

@durhamvisualarts

 

Sports

@durhamschsport

@dsbc1847

Alumni

@old_dunelmians

Facebook

Old Dunelmians

Friends of DCSF

LinkedIn

Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation

Durham School

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