Anti Bullying

Aims and Objectives

At Plashet School we are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our students so they can learn in a safe and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Where bullying does occur, it is the responsibility of all members of the school to report any incident to a member of staff, in line with the behaviour policy, who will deal with it promptly and effectively.

Aims of the policy

• To generate a sense of ownership of the school by valuing the contributions from all members of the school community
• To ensure that our students are provided with a safe environment (ECM)
• To ensure that allegations of bullying are listened to and responded to sympathetically
• To promote the school Code of Conduct by encouraging all members of the school community to work together to minimise bullying

Objectives of this policy

• All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, students 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 students and parents/carers should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• As a school we take bullying seriously. Students and parents/carers should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is the perception that there has been persistent, repetitive or intentional targeting of one person by another(s), where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Examples of bullying can be: 

Emotional	Being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, intimidating (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures/ looks)
Physical	Pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence, threatening body language, demanding money with force
Racist	Targeting, verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, taunts, gestures, language and behaviour causing offence on the basis of race.
Sexual	Unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
Homophobic	Targeting, verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, taunts, gestures, language and behaviour causing offence on the basis of sexuality.
Verbal	Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, gossip, teasing, abusive language
Cyber	All areas of the internet, such as email & internet chat room misuse. Mobile threats by text messaging & calls. Misuse of associated technology, e.g. camera & video facilities
Disability	Targeting, verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, taunts, gestures, language and behaviour causing offence on the basis of disability.
Religion	Targeting, verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, taunts, gestures, language and behaviour causing offence on the basis of religion

Signs and Symptoms

A student may indicate by signs or behaviour that she is being bullied. The list below is not finite, but includes some signs often exhibited and which should be investigated further. These signs and behaviours could indicate other issues, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

• Fear of walking to or from school or pleads to be driven to school.
• Does not want to go on the school / public bus or feeling ill in the morning.
• Changes to usual routine.
• Unwillingness to go to school (school phobic) and truancy.
• Withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence, or stammering suddenly begins.
• Attempts or threatens suicide, self harm, runs away or unexplained cuts or bruises.
• Starting to underachieve in school work.
• Coming home with clothes torn or books damaged.
• Possessions which are damaged or “go missing.”
• Requests for money, starts stealing money (to pay bully) or monies continually “lost”.
• Coming home hungry (money / lunch has been stolen).
• Becoming aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable, bullying other children/siblings.
• Stops eating.
• Fearful or afraid to say what is wrong.
• Afraid to use the internet or mobile phone. Nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received.
• Improbable excuses for any of the above.

Why is it important to respond to bullying?

Bullying hurts and is damaging to the education and well-being of a student being bullied. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying and everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Students who are perpetrators of bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. We have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

Procedures and Interventions

• In line with the School Sanction system, all members of staff should be responsible for responding effectively to any incidents of bullying.
• Any incidents will be recorded by staff on SIMS, along with any steps taken.
• Incidents of bullying should be reported to the Year Coordinator or Assistant Year Coordinator.
• In cases where it is clear that bullying has taken place, both sets of parents must be informed and may be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the matter.
• The school’s Police Liaison Officer may be consulted, if appropriate.
• The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated fully and the bullying stopped quickly.
• An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour using the range of supportive interventions in the school including restorative justice approaches.
• Incidents of bullying towards staff, by students or parents, should be investigated by the Line Manager and if appropriate referred to the Head Teacher.
• The bully (bullies) should be asked to genuinely apologise and restorative justice approaches should be considered.
• If possible, the students will be reconciled, by a member of staff, and/or peer mediation may also take place.
• The Behaviour policy and sanctions will be invoked as appropriate.
• Where appropriate, exclusion will be considered, in line with the sanctions system
• After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored by the Year Coordinator to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.
• As part of the school’s process to monitor the effectiveness of Anti bullying intervention, after a timely period of 3 to 4 weeks but not more than half a term, the victim of the bullying will be interviewed by either Year Coordinator or Assistant Year Coordinator, the member of staff who has not been involved in the investigation, to determine how the victim feels in regard to the incident and the resolution of the matter.
• The Wellbeing Mentors will allocate a named Mentor to any student who is the victim of bullying following referral from the Year Coordinator. The student will be supported by the range of interventions provided by the school including SEND, EAL or CMD programmes, as appropriate. 

Anti-Bullying issues in Learning for Life

The issue of bullying is raised in Learning for Life lessons and deals with the following issues:

• Qualities of a good friend and negotiating friendships.
• Understanding bullying and why people bully.
• Cyber-bullying including malicious texts and phone calls.
• How to get help.

Students will develop the skills to recognise, manage and develop friendships. They will learn to take increasing responsibility for themselves, their choices and behaviours and therefore make positive contributions to their families, schools and communities. Students will learn how the unfavourable treatment of others around them can have a negative impact on relationships and quality of life. Students will learn to use strategies for resisting and dealing with unhelpful peer influence and pressure including bullying.

Anti-Bullying Week

Anti Bullying week will be marked in the school calendar and takes place during the autumn term. It will be the responsibility of a member of the Leadership Team to work with the appropriate Year Coordinator(s) to ensure that a range of activities are provided.

Activities may include:

• In ICT lessons issues related to cyber-bullying will be raised.
• In tutor time and Learning for Life lessons, Anti-Bullying issues will be the theme.
• Liaison with external organisations to support Anti-Bullying week e.g. Young Minds, Beat Bullying.
• Celebratory events will also take place to promote friendship and working together e.g. poster competition, displays

All year groups will participate through year group assemblies.

Policy Responsibility - Governors and Head Teacher

The Governing Body will be reported to on an annual basis and will receive information and data, detailing the number, type, intervention and outcome of any bullying incidents in the school. 

Training on bullying prevention

Staff

We are committed to continuing Professional Development in the school.
Colleagues on Initial Teacher Training programmes, Early Career Teachers and New Staff receive training as part of the School’s Induction programme. This will be undertaken by the Designated and Deputy Safeguarding Officers.

All teachers, including those joining the school mid-phase and midday supervisors receive training on bullying awareness and intervention on an on-going basis. Support is available through borough specialist services, CPD, INSET and regular Line Management meetings.

Students

All students receive bullying awareness lessons during Learning for Life lessons.

All students participate in lessons as part of the ICT curriculum that raises awareness of Internet safety. Additionally year group and religious assemblies are given on matters relating to Internet safety and the risks associated with using social media.

Monitoring of Incidents and Evaluation of Intervention

Year Coordinators are responsible for overseeing all bullying incidents in their year group including the recording, monitoring and follow-up of incidents of bullying, overseen by a member of the Leadership Team.

Year Coordinators complete the Anti-Bullying Monitoring and Intervention Form and this is discussed and reviewed regularly with their Leadership Team Line Manager. Additionally, there will be a formal review and report of all Anti-Bullying incidents each term.

Google Classroom and Reporting of Bullying

The school uses Google Classroom as a means of sharing resources with students and all Internet use is filtered and monitored in school.

Once a year assemblies are held with each year group discussing the Designated Lead Safeguarding Officer’s role and how to report incidents. Follow-ups are regularly given through year team meetings and the Safeguarding Officer meets with Year Coordinators fortnightly to deal with and monitor any incidents.

Legislation and Guidance

Education and Inspections Act 2006 Section 89 Education and Inspections Act 2006
The Equality Act 2010

Preventing and tackling bullying Advice for head teachers, staff and governing bodies (DFE- 00062-2011)

Schools’ duty to promote good behaviour (Education and Inspections Act 2006 Section 89)

Power to tackle poor behaviour outside school (Education and Inspections Act 2006 Section 89(5))