Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. The school is committed to providing a safe, caring and friendly environment for all staff and students.
Definition of bullying
“Behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated over time that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally” (DfES 2007)
- Emotional – unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g.hiding books, threatening gestures)
- Physical – pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
- Racist – racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
- Sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
- Homophobic – focusing on the issue of sexuality
- Verbal – name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
- Cyber – all areas of the internet (e.g. email and internet chat room misuse), mobile phone threats by text messaging and calls, misuse of associated technology (e.g. camera and video facilities)
Objectives of this policy
- To prevent bullying happening in the first place by helping to create and support a culture of care and consideration for others.
- Raising awareness of bullying to staff, parents, carers and students that the school considers bullying to be unacceptable.
- To challenge and stop incidents of bullying both at school and whilst students travel to and from school.
Anti-bullying Strategies and Measures
- Use of “Vision Works”.
- PSHE classes to deliver aspects of self-esteem and tolerance.
- Use of the curriculum to discuss bullying and how to deal with it.
- Annual assembly on bullying and additional ones when thought to be needed.
- Information for parents/carers and students on the policy.
- Use of School Child Protection Officer.
- Posters and notice boards around school with information on/to reinforce the values of respect and kindness.
- In Primary, “circle times” are organised on a weekly basis.
- In Secondary, team building outings are organised every year for each Key Stage.
- Young I AMs workshops on emotional intelligence and mindfulness throughout Secondary School on a termly basis.
- Informative meetings for parents regarding the various aspects of bullying (physical, emotional, cyber-bullying…)
- Informative talks to staff as professional development.
- Celebration of key events related to the topic during the school year (expel: International anti-bullying day, International Day for Peace…)
Procedures in case of incident
- All members of staff must take any report of bullying seriously, be ready to listen to the pupil, deal sensitively and quickly with all incidents, record and refer them to SMT (especially those with Pastoral responsibilities).
- Members of staff should first listen to the pupil (and where possible take notes)
- The pupil should then be advised to talk to his/her Form Tutor.
- Form Tutors should use their own judgement as to whether deal with the issue themselves or refer to their line manager in Pastoral matters. In any case, their line manager in Pastoral matters should be informed of the incident within the day.
- A discreet investigation should follow (gentle conversation with both parties, at the same time or separately, as well as witnesses/third parties who may shed more light on the situation).
- Pupils involved in the incident should first receive a verbal warning.
- In the case of an incident occurring repeatedly, the Pastoral Coordinator or the Principal will liaise with the families of the pupils involved to inform them of the situation and of immediate sanctions, such as detention. It is crucial at this point for the member of staff to have sufficient proof that bullying is occurring.
- Only when all of the above has failed to solve the problem should the “bully” be either suspended or expelled.
- Over the following year, monitoring meetings will be organised with the relevant parties.