The National Centre for Circus Arts is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment where all users, visitors, students, and staff can train, learn, and work effectively. All users are expected to follow the guidelines outlined below.

1. Respect & Responsibility

• Treat all staff, students, visitors, fellow users, and the building with respect and consideration at all times.
• All National Centre users are asked to take responsibility for the cleanliness, tidiness and care of the equipment and studio spaces, changing rooms and other facilities.
• All users must behave responsibly at all times. Any inappropriate, aggressive, violent or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action.
• Discrimination, bullying, or harassment of any kind is not accepted and should be reported immediately to a staff member.

2. Safety & Communication

• Report any safety concerns relating to teaching, equipment or facilities to a member of staff. Urgent issues should be reported immediately to the duty manager.
• Users must report all accidents, regardless of their severity, to a member of staff, teacher or duty manager immediately.
• Users must report any loss of blood or bodily fluid while training to a member of staff immediately. The National Centre takes its responsibilities regarding blood-borne viruses very seriously.
• If you witness or are subject to bullying, discrimination, or unsafe behaviour, speak to a staff member in person or via email. For more details see our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion page.
• The National Centre takes its responsibility for ensuring all young or vulnerable users are kept safe very seriously and has a comprehensive safeguarding policy with which all staff are required to comply.
• Users must follow staff instructions at all times, including during emergency procedures.

3. Participation & Preparation

• Users must be registered, have paid any fees, and be signed in before participating in any activity. Unauthorised activity may lead to disciplinary action as outlined below.
• All users are required to comply with the Latecomer Policy and to participate in a suitable warm up prior to any course or class.
• Prior to participation in any activity any user who has a medical condition or injury must inform their class teacher or another member of staff. The National Centre reserves the right to refuse users entry to a class if it is believed that they are not in an appropriate physical condition to participate.
• Only use equipment you have been inducted on and follow staff guidance when doing so.

4. Clothing & Equipment Use

• Please ensure suitable clothing is worn for all classes. In general this means clean, close fitting training clothes.
• Remove all jewellery, facial and body piercings before training.
• Contact lenses are preferred to glasses during activity.
• Do not wear outdoor shoes on equipment or in training areas.
• Where instructed, users must utilise any personal protective equipment issued or provided by staff.
• Return all equipment to its proper place after use.

5. Use of Spaces

• Keep training and communal spaces clean and tidy.
• Food and drink are only allowed in designated areas. Only water in a sealed container is permitted in training spaces.
• Mobile phones must not be used in training areas. No filming or photography is allowed without prior permission.
• Practice outside of scheduled classes is only permitted if you are an authorised practice time member of the relevant programme.
• Practice at the National Centre is only available outside of formal classes and courses when an individual is an authorised practice time member of the programme they are affiliated to.

6. Substance Use

• Smoking is not allowed anywhere on National Centre premises, including the Courtyard.
• The use of illegal drugs or substances is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disciplinary action and exclusion from the premises.

7. Disciplinary Procedure

Breaches of the Code of Conduct may result in the following actions:

• A verbal or written warning,
• Immediate suspension from the building on a temporary basis,
• Referral to the Senior Management Team for further action.

In serious or repeated cases:

• Permanent exclusion or an extended period of exclusion may be invoked.
• Any incident which could be a possible criminal offence will be reported to the police.
• Appeals must be made in writing to the Chief Executives within 21 days. Appeals will be reviewed by a panel including the CEO and Chair of the Board. A response will be given within 21 days of the receipt of an appeal. The decision of the panel is final.

Disciplinary matters relating to National Centre HE students or staff members will be dealt with in accordance with existing disciplinary policies detailed in the student and staff handbooks respectively.

8. Children & Young People

• Children are only permitted in training spaces if attending a designated class or activity.
• Out of class, children under 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
• Children, who are participants, aged 12+ may wait in reception unsupervised but must behave appropriately. Any unacceptable behaviour may result in the parent being contacted or the child being asked to leave, and banned from waiting unaccompanied in the future.
• Staff may require proof of age if they are in any doubt about a young person waiting in reception alone.

This policy is to ensure the safety of children and young people in our building as well as the safety of class participants who may be distracted during a class or practice session.

9. Additional Codes

Please note that additional Codes of Conduct may apply to specific activities, in particular to students on the Higher Education programme, so please see specific areas of the website for more information.

Our Youth Code of Conduct is here to help make every session safe, supportive, and enjoyable – whether you’re 3 or 18. This isn’t about rules to hold you back—it’s a framework to lift you up! Contributions for this code have come from participants, teachers and staff across our youth programmes. It’s a shared promise to make every class experience fun, creative and welcoming. 

The Code applies to all Youth programmes with the National Centre for Circus Arts. We can all help make this a positive space by: 

1. Safety First 

• Follow instructions by teachers and National Centre staff.  
• Only enter circus spaces and use equipment when your teacher says it’s okay. 
• Spot a hazard, injury or something unsafe? Let a teacher or staff member know ASAP! 

2. Be Kind, Be Respectful 

• Treat everyone with kindness. 
• Keep your hands to yourself – respect the personal space and boundaries of others. Physical behaviours such as hitting, pushing, kicking, or biting are not acceptable. 
• Your words and actions mean something – bullying is not tolerated. 

3. Celebrate Each Other 

• Cheer on your fellow participants and their wins – it’s a team effort! 
• Be patient and wait for your turn – you’re in a shared space with shared equipment. 
• Remember that everyone learns and grows at their own pace. 

4. Show Commitment and Responsibility  

• Be on time and prepared to get stuck in for every session! 
• Make sure you’re in the right clothing for classes to achieve your best. 
• Own your actions and choices. You are part of a team, and what you do matters. 

5. Always Try Your Best 

• Give everything your best try. Even when it’s tricky, challenges will make you stronger! 
• Embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. 
• Keep growing, keep learning and working towards your goals. 

Together, we’re building an amazing young circus community that’s welcoming, uplifting and unique.

Youth Behavioural Management

We know that circus is exciting—but everyone needs to feel safe and respected. That’s why we follow clear steps when behaviour becomes unsafe or stops others from enjoying the session: 

Step 1:  Clear Reminders 

• Participants will be given clear and calm reminders about the behaviour we expect. 

Step 2: 

Time Out or Temporary Removal 

• If unsafe or disruptive behaviour continues, we may ask the participant to sit out briefly or be removed from the activity for a short time. 
• Physical behaviour such as hitting, kicking or biting will result in immediate removal from the activity for the remainder of the session.

Speak with Parent/ Carer 

• Parents/ carers will be informed that their participant has been observed for behaviour that does not align with the Code of Conduct. 
• Feedback from teachers will be shared, highlighting areas of concern. 
• Parents/ carers will be advised that repeat behaviour may result in the participant not being able to continue attending classes. 

Step 3: Warning and Written Notice 

• If behaviour does not improve, parents/ carers will be contacted again to discuss continued concerns. 
• Depending on the severity of the behaviour, either: 
• A formal warning, along with a copy of the Code of Conduct, will be sent to the family to reaffirm expectations. 
• Move straight to Step 4 and issue final warning. 

Step 4:  Final Warning 

• If behaviour does not improve again, a final warning will be sent to parents/ carers. 
• The seriousness of the situation and consequences of a repeated incident will be clearly communicated. 

Step 5:  Exiting the Programme 

• If behaviour continues despite prior warnings, the participant will no longer be allowed to continue the programme. 
• A note will be placed on their account to document the reason for removal. 

We understand that some participants may need more time or support, and we’ll always do our best to work with families while prioritising safety for all. We expect parents and carers to respect the observations and feedback of our staff, follow any instructions given, and support us in managing their child/ young person’s behaviour. 

In addition to the Youth Code of Conduct, the National Centre for Circus Arts has a site-wide Code of Conduct that applies to everyone in the building. You can read this in the first section of this page.