Turku – Services for Children and Youth
Basic Education
Rules of Conduct for Turku International School
Rules are necessary for maintaining the functions of the school community, a peaceful working environment, and the safety and comfort of everyone at school. A peaceful working environment is an absolute prerequisite for successful schoolwork. Rules teach students responsibility, membership in society, and respectful interaction with other people.
A student must complete their tasks carefully and behave appropriately. A student must not bully or discriminate against others and must act in a way that does not endanger the safety or health of other students, the school community, or the learning environment (Basic Education Act §35).
The rules of conduct apply at all times during school hours, on school grounds, and in all activities described in the annual plan (Basic Education Act 29§, 35–36§).
Rules
- The entire school community acts in a friendly, encouraging, and respectful manner, following good manners and staff instructions.
- Everyone in the school has the right to work without disturbance. Students have the right to learn, and teachers have the right to teach.
- Inappropriate and disruptive behavior, as well as bullying, is prohibited. Everyone in the school has the right to physical and psychological integrity.
- The use and possession of tobacco, e-cigarettes, snuff, intoxicants, or drugs is prohibited during school hours, at school-organized events, and in activities described in the annual plan.
- Objects or substances intended or suitable for harming another person, and their possession, are prohibited during school hours. These may not be carried during the school commute either.
- The school and its grounds must be kept clean, and school property must not be damaged. Students are obliged to report any observed damage to school staff. The person causing the damage is required to report and compensate for it.
- The school has a designated recess area, and leaving it during the school day is prohibited. Recesses are spent outdoors unless otherwise agreed.
- Students may not use vehicles such as bicycles, electric scooters, or motor vehicles during the school day without staff permission. Moving between different school sites and teaching locations must follow given instructions and traffic rules.
- A student may be absent from school only due to illness or with separate permission from the class teacher, homeroom teacher, or principal. During the school day, a student may leave school only with permission from the nurse or teaching staff.
- The use of mobile phones, smartwatches, and other mobile devices is prohibited throughout the school day. Devices may be used for learning, health reasons, or as learning aids only with a teacher’s or principal’s permission and according to given instructions.
(Basic Education Act §29, subsection 4)
At Turku International School, mobile devices are stored in backpacks or lockers during the school day - Money, valuables, and the student’s personal belongings are the responsibility of the student and guardians, and the school does not compensate for money or lost or broken property.
- Buying or selling activities are not allowed during school hours in school premises, on school grounds, or at school-organized events. This restriction does not apply to activities of parent associations or the student council.
Violations of the rules result in disciplinary action according to Basic Education Act §36. The police handle criminal matters.
These are the rules of conduct for basic education schools in the City of Turku, effective from August 1, 2025. The rules guide the assessment of behavior. They are available on school websites and in school premises. The rules are reviewed annually with students and communicated to guardians. The rules are regularly updated.
Turku International School also follows additional rules and principles that support schoolwork and promote safety and comfort.