Anti-Bullying Policy
What is the policy about?
A definition of bullying and the prevention of and dealing with bullying.
Why is the policy required?
To establish expectations and norms.
To provide clear in formation for parents, staff and pupils.
Who is responsible for implementing the policy?
The Head, Senior Management Team and staff.
Where is the policy implemented?
Throughout the schools.
When is the policy implemented
?
Whenever the school is responsible for the conduct and welfare of its pupils.
How is the policy implemented?
See details in the policy.
Monitoring and Success Criteria
Number of reported incidents.
Response to questionnaires.
Definition of Bullying:
“Behaviour which can be defined as the repeated attack, physical, psychological, social or verbal, by those in a position of power, which is formally or situation defined, on those who are powerless to resist, with the intention of causing distress for their own gain or gratification.”
Bullying can take different forms, but the three main types are:
PHYSICAL
Hitting, kicking, taking or hiding belongings including money.
VERBAL
Name-calling, teasing, insulting, writing unkind notes.
INDIRECT
Spreading nasty stories about someone, exclusion from social groups, being made the subject of malicious rumours, sending malicious e-mails or text messages on mobile phones.
We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere, in which pupils and parents feel that they can report incidents bullying confident that they will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. Pupils are expected to report bullying incidents to a teacher and parents should let the school know immediately if they believe their child is being bullied.
The Aims of the Policy:
- To enable pupils to understand clearly what constitutes bullying throughout the curriculum and day to day life at school by raising awareness.
- To enable pupils to understand that bullying, whether it is physical, verbal or indirect will not be tolerated by the whole school community.
- To enable parents to feel confident that bullying will be firmly dealt with by the school.
- To promote a non-violent ethos in the school.
- To raise staff awareness of the presence of bullying.
- To establish guidelines for action where bullying is evident.
PROCEDURES
Raising Awareness of Bullying
- Application of School Values throughout the divisions of the school.
- Through the curriculum, PSHE lessons, Assemblies, work with Form Tutors and School Council, Anti- Bullying Alliance initiatives.
- Staff training.
- Peer training and mentoring.
Following a report of Bullying
- If a member of staff believes that bullying is taking place, they should allow the victim to talk whilst reassuring the pupil that the school will deal with it sensitively but firmly.
- The member of staff must refer any incidents of bullying to the Form Tutor using ‘Communication Notes’.
- The Form Tutor liaises with Assistant Head and decides on action to be taken.
- Talks with victim.
- Asks victim to write down their version of events.
- Calms feeling.
- Talks with alleged bully.
- Informs the parents of both parties.
- Tries to resolve the problem through counselling.
- If allegation is proven and serious, Assistant Head may take disciplinary action.
- Can provide support for the victim via their Form Tutor, peer mentoring or external agencies.
- Assistant Head liaises with Form Tutor to monitor the situation, checking that further bullying is not occurring.
- Assistant Head records incident and action taken.
Guidance on advice to victim and protagonist
To the victim
- revenge is not appropriate.
- involving other pupils, friends may not help.
- report future fears, incidents to an appropriate adult.
- reconciliation or avoidance should be considered.
To the protagonist
- behaviour is unacceptable.
- is recognised as designed to cause distress.
- serious sanctions may follow.
- reconciliation or avoidance should be considered.
To the parents
- do keep the school and staff informed by asking their child to tell the teacher or inform the school as soon as possible.
- reassure that the school does its best to resolve all cases.
- parents who are made aware that their child is bullying other children are asked to explain that what he/she is doing is wrong and makes other children unhappy.
Sanctions
- Parents informed.
- Pupil withdrawn from social contact at lunch/break times.
- Detention.
- Exclusion from lessons.
- Temporary exclusion.
- Permanent exclusion.
The school will endeavour to maintain counselling even when sanctions have been applied.
This policy has been formulated using the following:
DfES ‘Don’t Suffer in Silence’
Ofsted report on Good Practice.
Pro Social Behaviour Leaflet (Senior Schools)
A range of materials from Anti-Bullying Alliance
A range of publications by Margaret Goldthorpe (Golden Rules)
PSHE Texts from Senior Schools.
Assistant Head (J.Rayer) is to attend an update seminar on Monday 19 November
JTW Amended September 2007
