Anti Bullying Policy 2011

Anti-Bullying Policy

Statement of Intent

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

What Is Bullying and Where Does it Occur?

Bullying is any behaviour which is deliberately intended to hurt, threaten or frighten another person or group of people. It is usually unprovoked and is often repeated and can continue for a long period of time. It usually reflects an imbalance and abuse of power. Bullying behaviours are aggressive although they may not always seem so.

Bullying can be:

Emotional being 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 because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing

Bullying occurs:

Mainly outdoors but also in classrooms, corridors and toilets.
It can happen when pupils are not fully supervised and this could mean when travelling to and from school.

Signs and Symptoms

A pupil may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

is frightened of walking to or from school
doesn't want to go on the school / public bus
begs to be driven to school
changes their usual routine
is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)
begins truanting
becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
starts stammering
attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
feels ill in the morning
begins to do poorly in school work
comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
has possessions go "missing"
asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
has dinner or other monies continually "lost"
has unexplained cuts or bruises
comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)
becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
is bullying other children or siblings
stops eating
is frightened to say what's wrong
gives improbable excuses for any of the above

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated

Principles of this policy

Everyone has the right to be treated with respect
The promotion of positive behaviour can prevent bullying
Bullying is morally wrong, it represses learning and depresses standards
Bullying hurts and no one deserves to be a victim of bullying
Efforts need to be made to prevent buying rather than relying on a reactive approach when bullying occurs

Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving

Schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying
Bully’s need to be dealt with using appropriate disciplinary procedures
In all incidents of bullying parents should be involved

Objectives of this Policy

All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
All governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
As a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported and that bullying will not be tolerated

Prevention

The school will attempt to prevent and reduce bullying by:

Having a clear Code of Conduct that is understood by all
Addressing the issue of bullying within the curriculum through PSHE and subjects like English, Drama, Dance, English and Humanities
Training all staff in recognising the signs of bullying and how to respond to it
Ensuring that this policy is discussed with new staff during induction and that adequate training is given to them
Including assertiveness training for pupils through the PSHE programme
Senior staff and pastoral utilising assemblies to develop an anti-bullying ethos
Providing adequate supervision at breaks and lunchtimes
Training and supporting lunchtime supervisors in managing pupil behaviour and particularly in recognising and dealing with potential and actual incidences of bullying.
By giving younger pupils access to buddies in whom they feel for at ease in confiding any occurrences of bullying behaviour

Procedures

Pupils will be encouraged to report incidences of bullying to staff or other pupils who will report it on their behalf
The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying will be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly.
All incidences of bullying will be recorded
Parents will be kept informed of all incidents of bullying and their support enlisted
In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour

Outcomes

The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place in line with the sanctions in the School’s Behaviour Management Policy
In serious cases, fixed term or permanent exclusion will be considered
If possible, the pupils will be reconciled
Where appropriate, victims of bullying will have some assertiveness training.
After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

Reviewed by Governing Body June 2011