Anti-bullying policy

 

This policy has been developed in concordance with the DCSF document Bullying: Don’t Suffer in Silence http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/DfES%200064%20200MIG479.pdf

 

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?

Bullying is use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person.  Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

 

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
  • Cyber

All areas of internet, such as  email, social networks & internet chat room misuse

Mobile threats by text messaging & calls

Misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera &video facilities

 

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?

Bullying hurts.  No one deserves to be a victim of bullying.  Everybody has the right to be treated with respect.  Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.

IBSB has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

 

Objectives of this Policy

  • All management team members, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
  • All management team members 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.
  • Bullying will not be tolerated.

 

Signs and Symptoms

A child 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 to truant
  • 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 which are damaged or " 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
  • is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
  • is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

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

 

Procedures

  1. Report bullying incidents to staff
  2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff
  3. In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
  4. Referral to our Welfare Services department where the problem will be discussed and hopefully resolved. 
  5. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
  6. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
  7. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour

 

Outcomes

 

1) The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise.  Other consequences may take place.

2) In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered

3) If possible, the pupils will be reconciled

4) After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

 

Prevention

We will use different methods for helping children to prevent bullying.  As and when appropriate, these may include:

  • writing a set of school rules
  • signing a behaviour contract
  • writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying
  • reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly
  • making up role-plays
  • having discussions about bullying and why it matters

 

Background information

 

BESAG, V. Bullies and victims in schools. Open University Press, 1989.

A thorough account of the problem of bullying, summarising research into the subject and describing practical strategies for schools.

BBC EDUCATION. Bullying: A Survival Guide. P.O. Box 7, London W12 8UD.

A booklet dealing with all aspects of bullying.

DOUGLAS N, WARWICK I, KEMPS S, WHITTY G. Playing it safe: Responses of secondary school teachers to lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils, bullying, HIV and AIDS, and Section 28. London: Health and Education Research Unit, Institute of Education, November 1997.

ELLIOTT, M. (editor). Bullying: a practical guide for coping in schools. Harlow: Longman,second edition 1997.

KELLY, E & COHN, T. Racism in schools - new research evidence. Stoke on Trent:Trentham Books, 1988.

McLEOD, M & MORRIS, S. Why Me? Children talking to Childline about bullying. Childline, Royal Mail Building, Studd Street, London N1 0QW, 1996.

OLWEUS, D. Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. Oxford: Blackwell, 1993.

RIGBY, K. Bullying in schools and what to do about it. London: Jessica Kingsley, 1997.A clear single-authored overview of the topic.

ROSS, D M. Childhood bullying and teasing: What school personnel, other professionals, and parents can do. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association,1998.

SMITH, P K & SHARP, S, (editors). School bullying: Insights and perspectives. London: Routledge, 1994. An account of the intervention project in Sheffield on which the 1994version of this Pack was based.

SMITH, P.K., MORITA, Y., JUNGER-TAS, J., OLWEUS, D., CATALANO, R. & SLEE, P.(editors). The nature of school bullying: A cross-national perspective. London: Routledge, 1999.

TATTUM, D P (editor). Understanding and managing bullying. London: Heinemann, 1993. A collection of contributions from the UK and overseas.

TATTUM, D P & HERBERT, G. Countering bullying. Initiatives by schools and local authorities. Trentham Books, Stoke on Trent, 1993.

TATTUM, D. & TATTUM, E. Bullying: The early years. Cardiff: Countering Bullying Unit, 2000.