We want students to enjoy their time with us and feel supported in the boarding. The environment is designed to be a home from home that is welcoming, nurturing and fun. To help us create a harmonious and studious community we have three simple rules that we promote within boarding.

Out of Bounds

Boarding Huddles

We will hold a series of boarding huddles at times to celebrate, communicate and inform you of events, changes and developments to RIC Boarding Life. All updates will also appear on www.ricboarding.org.uk

It is also an opportunity for boarders to raise any issues with the boarding staff if they have not had a chance to do so beforehand.

Diversity and equality

Our boarding is an international community where students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and religions; we accept all faiths and promote none. This diversity is welcomed and respected. We therefore place great importance on treating everybody as they would wish to be treated and encourage our boarders to develop an awareness of and a tolerance for other people’s different views, beliefs and cultures. It is our aim that students feel happy and comfortable in their surroundings in order to facilitate their successful personal and academic development. With this in mind, we do not tolerate bullying and our anti-bullying policy is available here

If students have any concerns at all in this regard, they should tell their personal tutor or any member of the boarding staff.

Alcohol and Drugs

The bringing in and consumption of alcohol and controlled substances, including psychoactive substances and drug paraphernalia, is prohibited in boarding and the College. Students found in possession of these, or using illegal drugs or allowing others to do so in their room, will have the items confiscated, will be dealt with under the College’s disciplinary procedure and may be referred to the Police.

If the College has reason to believe that a student may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will be appropriately tested. Occasional random drugs testing will take place.

Smoking

Parents/Guardians and students should be aware that it is against the law to smoke in a public building and that the purchase of cigarettes (and e-cigarettes) in the United Kingdom by those aged under 18 is illegal. Smoking, including e-cigarettes and vaping, is not permitted anywhere within the College, in the boarding, within the grounds or immediately outside College buildings. Students are not to smoke at the front of any of the College buildings, nor congregate around the local bus stops, around residential areas or in the local car parks. Our neighbours and members of the public find this annoying and intimidating, so we expect all students to be considerate.

Boarders are strictly forbidden to smoke in their rooms – this puts not only themselves but all others that live in the building at risk. Anyone suspected or found smoking in their rooms will be dealt with according to the College disciplinary process. The smoke detector in each of the bedrooms must be kept uncovered at all times. Anyone covering the detector will be subject to the disciplinary procedure. Anyone found smoking in their rooms will also be subject to an additional cleaning charge.

Dress code

There is no College uniform and students dress casually. Whilst a student may have an individual style they should make sure that clothing is appropriate for a school environment - clean, inoffensive and not overly-revealing. A student wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change.

Food deliveries and takeaways

Students are encouraged to take their meals in the college canteens, and plenty of snacks are provided in the boarding house kitchens for boarders to access outside of meal times. Boarders are not allowed to order takeaway food to be delivered to the college during the week. Takeaways may be ordered on Friday or Saturday nights only, with agreement by boarding staff, and must be eaten in the common rooms or kitchens (not in bedrooms).

No takeaways will be permitted after curfew. Any deliveries on week nights, or after curfew, will be refused and the student who ordered it will be dealt with according to the College disciplinary process.

Boarding houses and relationships

Female accommodation is out of bounds to all male students and male accommodation is out of bounds to all female students.

We appreciate that relationships (regardless of the genders involved) do form in the college environment. However, we do expect all of our boarders to be mindful that public displays of affection can be awkward for those around them and to keep them to a minimum.

No sexual intimacy is allowed at the College. Students found in a compromising situation, where there is reason to suspect inappropriate physical or sexual contact, will be subject to the disciplinary procedure.

Visitors

Boarding students are allowed visitors to communal areas as long as they are a member of the college and are wearing their ID badge. All visitors must sign in on the Sign In App. Victoria Street must have permission before a visit as this location is off campus and not classified as a communal area. No visitors are allowed to residents rooms as all visitors must only be in communal / supervised areas of the college.