Anti-bullying Policy

Transcription

1 SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY Whole School Policy Date reviewed: September 2015 Date approved: (FGB) September 2015 Next review: September 2018 Introduction Anti-bullying Policy Pursuing Excellence in Education since 1857 Christ s College Finchley is a happy, harmonious learning community where staff and students feel safe and secure. Bullying will never be tolerated and those who seek to cause distress to others will face serious consequences. Repeated bullying will result in permanent exclusion from the school. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who is aware of any type of bullying that is taking place is expected to tell a member of staff immediately. It is the responsibility of all members of the School to support this environment. All members of the School who work with children know that it is our job to make sure every child in the School feels happy and safe. Aims of the Policy To promote the caring and protective ethos at Chris s College Finchley To reduce and eliminate, where possible, any instances in which pupils are subject to any form of bullying either inside or outside of school. To provide a support structure so that pupils and any other member of the School can be helped and supported in confidence. To provide an appropriate after care process. To enable parents to feel confident that bullying will be dealt with firmly, positively and consistently. To make sure all members of the School are aware of the School policy on bullying and their responsibility in preventing in happening.

2 Definition of Bullying There are various types of bullying, but most have three things in common: 1. It is deliberately hurtful behaviour 2. It is repeated over time 3. The is an imbalance of power, which makes it hard for those being bullied to defend themselves Physical, where a person is harmed or their property damaged Slapping, hitting, pinching, punching, kicking locking in a confined space Unwelcome touching Extortion Verbal, where a person s feelings are hurt through insults and name-calling Name-calling unwelcome teasing Taunting Spreading rumours, gossiping Racist or homophobic comments Social, where a person is shunned or excluded from groups and events. Excluding from a group Threatening or insulting graffiti Threatening notes, letters, s, telephone calls Threatening words, actions or weapons Outside School Premises It is important to note that Bullying is not just a School issue and that at Christ s College we consider Bullying away from the School. Head teachers have a specific statutory power to discipline pupils for poor behaviour outside of the School premises. This can relate to any bullying incidents occurring anywhere off the School premises, such as on School or Public transport, outside the local shops, or in a town or village centre. As a School we implement a multi-agency approach in bullying situations. If adults are involved we use our Child protection procedures to address the situation Dealing with Bullying The aim of all bullying is to reach a situation in which the bullying stops and all parties involved move on positively and with mutual respect Pupils should be encouraged to report bullying directly to a member of staff or a buddy Form Tutors need to remind their forms at regular intervals of the School policy on combating bullying, which is published in the School Handbooks. Where a member of staff encounters an act of bullying, whether physical or verbal they must act to prevent an immediate recurrence. Information then may be passed on via the correct lines of responsibility Where a member of staff has evidence or grounds for suspicion of an act of bullying they must inform the tutor or Learning manager as a matter of urgency. Information regarding any bullying situation/incident will be logged on a bullying referral form (appendix4) and logged and documented onto the Schools system. Both parents of the victim and offender will be kept informed of these incidents.

3 Raising Awareness Raising awareness of bullying is a national requirement and at Christ s College we use: Assemblies, for example at the time of national bulling Awareness of anti bullying to be raised with the year and school council A friendly Anti-Bullying and advice sheet is posted on the Schools website. The issue will be covered in PSHE Issues of Bullying will be discussed and revisited regularly in Form time Strategies to Reduce Bullying Christ s College Finchley has adopted a range of strategies to prevent and reduce bullying, to raise awareness of bullying and support victims and bullies. Including: Year 10 and 12 students will be trained as Anti Bullying ambassadors to help lower years in the transition process. They also liaise with the pastoral teams and the learning managers coordinating the service. There will be diligent patrolling by staff at breaks and before, during and after School. Senior Leader Team are on duty throughout the day to deal with potential problems The School will continue to develop strong links with the local police and the local community Anger Management is given to pupils who have a history of bullying. The management programme may involve one-to-one counselling or in small groups and focus on The School provide effective staff training on eth Anti bullying policies so all teachers support staff are aware how to resolve problems, where to seek support and the correct procedures when dealing with bullying The School is committed to creating safe environment where pupil can openly discuss the cause of bullying, without fear of further bullying or discrimination. Where necessary the School will refer victims of bullying/bullies to external agencies. These may include the CAHMSs and other organisations. Specific School Targets Our school targets for 2015/2016 are as follows: To ensure all governors, parents, pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff have seen and had the opportunity to discuss the policy. To ensure all staff are familiar with reporting incidents, procedures and that a summative record is sent to the LEA To ensure all incidents of bullying are recorded Guidance for parents The role of parents has an important role to play in combating bullying in School and can help the School in a number of ways. (Also see appendix 2) To support the School in its attempt to eliminate bullying To impress on the Children the importance of Sociable behaviour Guidance for Pupils It is important that pupils understand the Schools approach and are clear about the part they can play to prevent bullying, including when they find themselves as bystanders.

4 Pupils are encouraged to tell anybody they trust if they are being bullied, and if the bullying continues, they must keep on letting people know (Please see appendix 1 pupil s guidance to bullying) Students have the responsibility to ensure that victims of bullying are not isolated and to intervene when someone is being bullied and making it clear to the bully that their actions are disapproved of. Students should inform a member of staff if they suspect bullying is taking place. Guidance for Staff Bullying can take many forms and can happen in many areas around the School. These are in the classroom, on the playground on corridors, on the way to and from School. It is essential that all staff is familiar with the anti bullying policy and understand the correct procedures on how to deal with bullying incidents Confidentiality School staff cannot promise absolute confidentiality if approached by a pupil for help. Staff must make this clear to pupils. Child protection procedures must be followed when any disclosures are made. An underlying principle in supporting pupils at Christ s College Finchley is that all children are listened to sensitively and objectively and all incidences of bullying will be taken seriously. Monitoring Arrangements This policy will be evaluated and updated where necessary annually by the whole school. The views of pupils and staff will be used to make changes and improvements to the policy on an on-going basis. Dissemination of the Policy All staff, parents and students have access to this document via the school website: Students can also access the document via the schools internal intranet service A hard copy of the policy is kept in the Head teacher s office. Policy Review and Development Plan Date of Policy Review: September 2015 Priority areas for development of anti-bullying at Christ s College Finchley: 1. Locating areas commonly used for bullying; 2. Ensuring staff know where these areas are; 3. Discuss issues with the school council via the parliament which meets once every term. Review: Sept 2016 This policy will be subject to review and evaluation after one full year of operation and thereafter subject to changes in local and national policy.

5 Support for Pupils who Experience Bullying If you are being bullied: Tell an adult, or somebody you trust, what has happened straight away Get away from the situation as quickly as possible Try to stay calm and look as confident as you can Be firm and clear look them in the eye and, if possible, tell them to stop and tell them how you feel. Speak to one of the Schools anti bullying Ambassadors or Prefects. After you have been bullied: Tell a teacher or another adult you trust within the school Tell your family If you are scared to tell a teacher or adult on your own, ask a friend to go with you Speak to one of the Schools anti bullying Ambassadors or Prefects Keep on speaking until someone listens and does something to stop the bullying Don t blame yourself for what has happened. When you are talking to an adult about bullying be clear about: What has happened to you How often it has happened Who was involved Who saw what was happening Where it happened What you have done about it already. DO NOT SUFFER IN SILENCE! Guidance for parents Christ s College does not tolerate bullying or harassment or any kind. All learners in our School are of equal worth and should be enabled to enjoy their time at School and achieve their potential. Parents and families have an important part to play in helping the School deal with bullying. You can: 1. Show your child how to deal with situations without hitting back 2. Watch out for signs that your child is being bullied or is bulling others. 3. Don t try to tackle other Children or parents yourself

6 Recognise Bullying If your child is being bullied they may talk about it or they may Look less happy or be reluctant to come to School Complain about being unwell Avoid certain Children or activities Change their behaviour e.g. tantrums, wetting or sleep problems Be unwilling to talk about their day Come home with cuts and bruises Not want o wear their glasses. Take things from home to give to other children If your child has been bullied Calmly talk with your child about his/her experiences Make a note of what your child says including who was involved, how often the bullying has occurred, where it happened and what happened Reassure your child that s/he has done the right thing to tell you about the bullying Explain to your child that should any further incidents occur s/he should report them to a teacher immediately Make an appointment to see your child s teacher Explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing. When talking with teachers about bullying Try to stay calm and bear in mind that the teacher may have no idea that your child is being bullied or may have heard conflicting accounts of an incident. Be as specific as possible about what your child says has happened, give dates, places and names of other children involved. Make a note of what action the school intends to take Ask if there is anything you can do to help your child or the school Stay in touch with the school and let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue. If you are not satisfied Check with the school anti-bullying policy to see if agreed procedures are being followed. Discuss your concerns with the parent governor or other parents Make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Head teacher and keep a record of the meeting If this does not help, write to the Chair of Governors explaining your concerns and what you would like to see happening Contact the Director of Education for your authority in order to ensure the Governors respond to your concerns.

7 If your child is bullying others Talk with your child and explain that what s/he is doing is unacceptable and makes other children unhappy Discourage other members of your family from bullying behaviour or from using aggression or force to get what they want Show your child s/he can join in with other children without bullying Make an appointment to see your child s teacher and explain the problems your child is experiencing as well as discussing how you can work together to stop him/her bullying others. Regularly check with your child how things are going at school Give your child lots of praise and encouragement when s/he is cooperative or kind to other people. Helpful Websites Information centre Childline NSPCC Helpline Police non-emergency 101 Useful Numbers Policy Links SMSC Policy PHSE Policy Behaviour Policy Safeguarding Policy Mobile Phone Policy British Values Policy

8 Bullying Referral Form Log Sheet: Name of victim: Form: Date: Name of Pupil/s involved Bullying Category Physical Verbal Social Details Staff Initials: Signature Referred To: Bullying Type Signature One Off Repeat Occurrence Cyber Harassment Outcome School Detention Entered into cmis Inclusion Exclusion N/A Date: