Anti-Bullying Policy Love thy neighbor as thyself. Origin: Compiled by: Catherine McCormack. Committee Responsible: Inclusion

Transcription

1 St Alban s R.C. High Governing Body Anti-Bullying Policy 2014 Love thy neighbor as thyself Origin: Compiled by: Catherine McCormack Committee Responsible: Inclusion Lead Staff Member: Dan Foster (Deputy Headteacher) Approved by Governing Body Date Signed Chair of Governors Name... Review Date June 2014

2 Love ST ALBAN S RC HIGH SCHOOL Love thy neighbour as thyself ANTI-BULLYING POLICY Bullying behaviour abuses an imbalance of power to repeatedly and intentionally cause emotional or physical harm to another person or group of people. Isolated instances of hurtful behaviour, teasing or arguments between individuals of equal power should not be seen as bullying In common with all other schools, we recognise that some pupils at St Alban s will experience bullying of some kind. Bullying is anti-social behaviour. It will not be tolerated at St Alban s. Staff will never ignore allegations of bullying.

3 What is bullying? Any behaviour which makes a pupil feel threatened hurt or frightened. It can be physical hitting, punching, kicking and fighting. It can be verbal name-calling, threats, racial abuse. Gender abuse, disability harassment. It can involve taking or damaging another person s property. In its extreme form it can constitute a criminal offence. It is a denial of human rights. It is a denial of equal opportunities. *Cyber-bullying through mobile phones, text messages, sending picture/video clips via mobile phone cameras, s, chat rooms, instant messaging and websites. *This is a particularly serious form of bullying as it takes planning and organisation and there is definite malicious intent involved. We are a telling school we must ALL encourage the pupils, to tell when they have a problem

4 Each member of the school community has a role to play in helping to prevent bullying and in creating an atmosphere in which it is not allowed to develop. In St Alban s, action will be taken to seek to prevent bullying in the following ways: By promoting and maintaining an ethos which encourages consideration and respect for others and which is firmly based on the values of St Alban s School. By educating pupils about the boundaries of appropriate behaviour towards others and addressing bullying and related issues in assemblies and the personal development programme. By ensuring effective supervision of locations within school where bullying is likely to occur and highlighting to pupils, with the support of parents, the importance of appropriate behaviour when travelling to and from school. By ensuring that pupils and parents are aware of school policy on the use of mobile phones within school and on the use of the internet within school through the Mobile Phone Policy and the Acceptable use of the Internet Policy. By liaising with other agencies as appropriate. By encouraging a strong sense of belonging to school through participation in extra curricular activities. By having clear procedures for responding to bullying, which are kept under regular review.

5 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS The following may suggest that a pupil has been bullied and that the situation warrants investigation: Unwillingness to attend school truancy. Anxiety about travelling to and from school/avoiding regular travelling times. Underachievement. Loss of concentration /enthusiasm / interest in school/changed behaviour. Repeated non-specific reasons for surgery visits, headache/stomach ache. Unexplained change in mood especially before returning to school after holidays/weekends. Physical signs of anxiety stammering/nightmares/loss of appetite/nausea/withdrawal. Physical bruising/torn clothes. Loss of self-esteem/confidence/mood swings. Books torn or destroyed/missing possessions. Reluctance to say what is wrong.

6 We believe that: All pupils have the right to attend school. All pupils have the right not to be afraid. All pupils should feel happy and safe at school. All pupils should be able to trust the staff to act. All pupils should know the school policy on bullying. Parents should be able to raise their concerns about bullying. Staff and pupils should respect each other and treat each other with kindness and courtesy. Ethos and curriculum should reflect these beliefs. The anti-bullying procedure and the penalties for bullying should be made clear to all Pupils, Parents and Staff.

7 Anti-bullying procedure for parents: St Alban s believes in working in partnership with pupils and parents. You can trust St Alban s to act in the best interests of your child. Please feel free to make an appointment to discuss you child s progress at any time. If you suspect that your child is being bullied you should: Talk to your child and try to find out what the problem is. Contact the school and request an appointment to see your child s Form teacher. You will be spoken to by a member of staff within 24 hours of the first contact. We will discuss the problem with you and design a plan of action to suit the situation. WE WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION Remember there are always two sides to any problem and we must look at all problems from all sides. We will work together to make pupils aware that St Alban s does not find bullying acceptable. We are alert to the possible signs of bullying. We will never ignore insulting, unkind or threatening remarks made by one pupil to another. We still investigate non-accidental incidents and pupils who borrow other people s property without asking.

8 What happens to bullies at St Alban s? At St Alban s we all work together to make school a happy, safe place to be. We do not accept bullying in any form. If you bully, you will be found out and you will be punished. This is what will happen: Verbal abuse (name calling, threatening words, nasty ways of speaking to others) The first time you are caught, you will be warned. The second time you are caught, you will be warned again and you will be punished. You will be excluded from non-curricular activities or some other suitable punishment. The third time you are caught, you will be given a written warning. A copy of the warning letter will be sent to your parents. A contract of behaviour will be agreed and you will have to keep to it. You will be kept away from pupils at break and lunchtime for one week and excluded from non-curricular activities or some other suitable punishment. If you break the contract and offend again, you will be excluded from school. You will be called before the St Alban s Governing Body, your parents will be present. You will lose your place at St Alban s if you continue to verbally abuse other pupils. This will have a serious effect on your future. ALL INCIDENTS AND WARNINGS ISSUED ABOUT BULLYING WILL BE RECORDED AND PUT IN YOUR FILE. THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO IN ANY REPORTS WE HAVE TO WRITE ABOUT YOU.

9 Physical Abuse If you hurt another person ON PURPOSE in any way, you will be sent home while the incident is looked into. ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE MAY RESULT IN YOUR PERMANENT EXCLUSION FROM ST ALBAN S.

10

11 ANTI-BULLYING REPORT FORM You can get these from : Your class teacher, the office, the library. You complete this part Name Class Date What happened? Write on the back of this sheet if you need more space Who was involved? Who saw what happened? Now give the form to your class teacher. Your teacher will write this part. Name of teacher and date Investigation details What will happen now? A COPY OF THIS FORM WILL BE KEPT IN YOUR RECORD SO THAT WE CAN REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE TEACHER WILL GIVE A COPY TO YOU SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO HELP YOU.