Parents- Anti-Bullying Policy

The Consultation Group

The members of the working party involved in the production of this policy statement are:

Vice Principal, Guidance & Support
Head of House, Co-ordinator for CRISS, SENCO
Educational Social Worker
Head of House
Form Tutor
Auxiliary, Home / School Liaison
Clerk to Pupil Welfare
NSPCC School’s Councillor
Reducing Disaffection Team
Representative of Year 10 Buddies
2 x Representatives of School Council, Key Stage 3
2 x Representatives to School Council, Key Stage 4
2 x Representatives to School Council, Post 16

Policy Formation and Consultation Process

The Guidance and Support Group identified a need for a new policy on bullying to reflect the changes in the school through various aspects of its transition from the Regis School.

Prior to this the NSPCC councillor has conducted a survey on bullying with all Year 7 pupils, and his findings informed the consultation process.

A draft policy was circulated to members of the consultation group. In addition it was put to the Senior Management Meetings of the school.

Definition of Bullying

“Any behaviour, physical or verbal, which is intended to cause another to feel intimidated, humiliated, distressed, uncomfortable, upset, afraid, offended or hurt.”

Aims of the School’s Anti-Bullying Policy

• To work together as a team of staff towards the elimination of bullying.
• To encourage the school as a community to work together towards the elimination of
  bullying.
• To develop an atmosphere of trust which encourages students to speak out against bullying.
• For all members of the school community to treat each other with courtesy and respect.
• To reward good behaviour.
• To ensure that all members of the school community are aware that bullying will not be tolerated.
• To put into place clear procedures for reporting bullying and to ensure that these are understood and followed consistently.
• To make clear what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

Procedures and Consequences

• All incidents of bullying are to be reported to a member of staff.
• Staff will listen to accounts of bullying sensitivity and will take them seriously.
• Staff will deal with incidents of bullying as appropriate, will record each incident and will report to the appropriate Head of House.
• The CRISS co-ordinator will maintain a record of bullying incidents.
• In cases of serious or sustained bullying, parents will be informed and will be asked to come to a meeting to discuss the problem.
• If necessary and appropriate, with the prior knowledge of the Headteacher, the police will be consulted.
• An attempt will be made to help the bully or bullies to change their behaviour.
• The bullying behaviour and threats of bullying must stop immediately.
• Where necessary, counselling will be provided for victims of bullying
• The bully or bullies will offer an apology and other appropriate measures may be implemented.
• In serious cases, temporary or even permanent exclusion will be considered.
• Whenever possible, the pupils will be reconciled.

Prevention

The staff will work together in order to help students prevent bullying.

a)Duties: Staff will be vigilant when on duty and thorough in their patrolling of all areas of the school. Staff will be briefed on areas needing particular attention.

b)Lessons: Staff will be vigilant within the classroom and will arrive promptly to lessons, gathering together resources, where possible, before the lesson begins in order to avoid leaving the classroom.

c)Curriculum: Issues about bullying will be raised and discussed through the PSE programme and other curriculum areas as appropriate, for example through dance in Year 7, work with the NSPCC Councillor. Efforts will be made through all curricular areas, and particularly through the PSE programme, to raise pupils’ self esteem and to encourage them to develop certain life skills such as assertiveness, self-confidence and communication skills.

d)Collective Worship: Issues about bullying can be tied in with worship themes.

e)It will be made clear to students that the school has an anti-bulling policy and that bullying of any kind will not be tolerated. All efforts will be made to raise students’ confidence that, when bullying is reported, action will be taken.

Opportunity will be created and maintained whereby positive pupil role models will be promoted in terms of older/bigger pupils taking care of the younger/more vulnerable pupils. The Year 10 Buddy scheme, Year 12 members.

Involvement of Parents

• Parents of current and future students will be made aware through documentation such as Newsletters the School Prospectus, etc. that the school has an anti-bullying policy.
• Parents will be involved when necessary in the process of dealing with incidents of bullying should their child be involved.
• Parents will be encouraged to support the staff and governors in their efforts to counter bullying.
• Governors should be fully involved in the process of monitoring and evaluating the policy.

Dissemination of the Policy

The policy will be received by all members of the teaching and non-teaching staff in a summarised format in the Staff Handbook.

Full copies of the policy will be distributed to all members of the Governing Body.

Copies of the policy will be available in school for parents to read.

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