Student Responsibilities
What We Expect From You, and What Happens If You Don't
When you enrol at TGDS, you're accepting a set of responsibilities. These aren't fine print — they're the rules that keep the community functional and your qualification meaningful. Here's exactly what we expect, in plain English, with the consequences of breaching each one.
Student Responsibilities
What We Expect From You, and What Happens If You Don't
When you enrol at TGDS, you're accepting a set of responsibilities. These aren't fine print — they're the rules that keep the community functional and your qualification meaningful. Here's exactly what we expect, in plain English, with the consequences of breaching each one.
Provide Accurate Information
Give us correct information about yourself. Keep it current.
- Give us correct contact details (email, phone, address)
- Notify us immediately if your details change
- Be honest on your enrolment form (age, prior learning, language proficiency)
Why it matters: We contact you about assessments, support, and important updates. Wrong details mean missed information that affects your progress — and if our records don’t match reality, your qualification paperwork may be invalid.
Consequences of false information: Warning, suspension, or — in cases of deliberate fraud — cancellation of enrolment without refund.
Communicate When You're Struggling
If you’re stuck, tell us. Early.
- Tell us if you’re having difficulties with staff, procedures, or training
- Ask for help early — don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed
- Use the forum, email, or phone to reach out
Why it matters: We can’t help if we don’t know. Students who ask for help early are far more likely to succeed than those who go silent and fall behind.
There’s no penalty for asking. There’s a penalty for disappearing.
Submit Your Own Work
Your work has to be yours. No exceptions.
- Never submit work that’s not yours — plagiarism is a serious breach
- Don’t claim work done by another person or copied from the internet
- AI tools are allowed for research and inspiration, but final work must be yours
- Disclose AI usage when required
Why it matters: Plagiarism undermines your learning and devalues the qualification. We’re here to teach you skills — you can’t learn if you’re submitting someone else’s work.
Consequences of plagiarism:
| Offence | Consequence |
|---|---|
| First | Warning + mandatory re-submission |
| Second | Fail the unit + formal warning on record |
| Third | Expulsion from course (no refund) |
Keep Backups of Your Work
Save your own work. Don’t rely on us to recover it.
- Save copies of all assessments before submitting
- Use cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) or external hard drives
- Don’t rely solely on The Schoolyard to store your work
Why it matters: Technical issues happen — file corruption, system glitches, accidental deletion. If you lose your work without a backup, you redo it from scratch. We can’t recover lost files.
Create a Positive Learning Environment
Contribute respectfully. Regardless of anyone’s background.
Contribute to learning in a harmonious and positive manner, regardless of gender identity, race or ethnicity, sexual preference, political affiliation, marital status, disability, or religious belief.
In plain English: Don’t be a jerk. Treat everyone with respect. Discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated — ever.
Consequences: Warning, suspension, or expulsion depending on severity. Zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment.
Follow Our Rules
Comply with our policies. They’re written to be followed, not fine print.
- Comply with TGDS policies (outlined in this Student Handbook and our Terms & Conditions)
- Be honest — don’t falsify work or information
- Communicate respectfully — no offensive language or behaviour
Consequences for breaching rules:
| Breach | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Minor | Warning and guidance |
| Serious | Suspension from forum or course |
| Repeated | Expulsion (no refund) |
Take Ownership of Your Learning
This is self-paced study, not self-directed study. You set your own schedule — but you’re still accountable for progress.
- Participate actively in modules and forum discussions
- Maintain progress — don’t let months go by without logging in
- Monitor your own progress by submitting assessments in a timely manner
- Set your own schedule and stick to it, leverage the calendar tool provided in your schoolyard
Why it matters: The flexibility to study at your own pace only works if you actually move forward. Enrolment has an end date. Unused time expires.
Respect Intellectual Property
Our course materials are for enrolled students. They stay that way.
- Don’t distribute course materials to unauthorised people (friends, family, social media)
- Respect our copyrights — content, videos, and templates are for enrolled students only
- Honour our publications — they’re our livelihood
Consequences: Warning, suspension, or expulsion — plus potential legal action for serious breaches. See our full Copyright & IP policy for specifics.
Respect Privacy & Confidentiality
Other students’ work is theirs. Their personal details are theirs. Treat both accordingly.
- Don’t share other students’ work or personal information publicly
- Respect staff privacy and confidentiality
- Keep forum discussions professional and appropriate
Why it matters: The forum works because students feel safe sharing in-progress work and personal context with their cohort. That safety depends on everyone respecting it.