Nottingham Girls’ Academy follows the guidance from the DFE:

Items that are banned in the Academy are:

• Knives, bladed articles, or any other weapons;
• any article that the member of staff reasonably suspects has been, or is likely to be used:

            o to commit an offence, or

            o to cause personal injury to, or damage to property of; any person (including the pupil).

•  Alcohol
• Illegal Drugs
• Excessive dosage of medications
• Stolen items
• Tobacco and cigarettes
• Fireworks
• Pornographic images
• Items likely to be used to commit an offence
• Any item banned by the Academy rules which have been identified.

This list is not exhaustive, but also includes any other item deemed an offensive weapon or that a person under 16 years should not be carrying. Staff have the right to confiscate these items if seen. Refusal to cooperate with confiscation is a serious act of defiance that warrants a significant sanction. Confiscated phones will be handed to the main office. They will be returned at the end of the day or given to parents.

Where there are more serious concerns, the Principal, and/or other member of staff authorised by the Principal (usually in twos), may follow the guidance below from the DfE: “School staff can search a pupil for any item banned under the school rules, if the pupil agrees. Principal’s and staff authorised by them have a statutory power to search pupils or their possessions, without consent, where they suspect the pupil has certain prohibited items. The items that can be searched for under this power are knives and weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, and stolen items. School staff can seize any banned or prohibited item found as a result of a search or which they consider harmful or detrimental to school discipline.”