KING EDWARD VI FIVE WAYS SCHOOL 2013-2014 GUIDANCE NOTES
We hope that this booklet will convey to you much of the important basic information about how the school works. If there is anything further that you would like to know then you are welcome to contact the school directly. Email: office@kefw.org Tel: 0121 475 3535 The safeguarding and welfare of pupils is our prime concern; all staff are committed fully to the safety and well-being of all pupils and receive regular training in safeguarding and child protection.
Welcome to King Edward VI Five Ways School Congratulations! Your child has performed extremely well in an open and highly competitive selection test and is now a member of our school. In these notes you will find information that I hope will enable your child to settle in as quickly as possible. Your child is joining a happy, hard-working community that values its past and looks forward to the future. We are a successful school, which looks to all of its members to continue this success. We ask that pupils work hard, and that they help us to do our best to develop their current abilities and to discover those talents they did not know existed. Our pupils are presented with a large range of opportunities and the school prides itself on the extra-curricular and enrichment activities it offers. Good communications are vital in our school and we ask you to make sure these communications work by talking to us as soon as possible if there are problems. As members of our school we hope that you and your child will value all that we do and take pride in being one of our community. We hope that over the years pupils will develop and grow, in every respect, and will leave us prepared to take their place in society, always conscious of their time with us. Exciting times lie ahead! Mrs Y L Wilkinson Head
VISION STATEMENT: Within a friendly, caring and stimulating community, Five Ways will educate able boys and girls from all backgrounds and prepare them for life. THE FIVE WAYS CODE Governors expect the highest standard of behaviour from all pupils. Care and concern for the individual is paramount in all matters. Anti-social behaviour is not tolerated. Respect for other people and their property is to be shown at all times. WORKING TOGETHER AT FIVE WAYS Respect other people; show care and consideration. Listen when others speak. Always support and encourage the efforts of others. Dress smartly and in a business like way. Always aim for the highest standards. Behave in an orderly way. Behave appropriately to and from school. Keep rooms and other areas tidy and litter free. EVERY CHILD MATTERS The School recognises and supports the goals of Every Child Matters. The five central goals that every child will. be healthy stay safe enjoy and achieve make a positive contribution achieve economic well-being.. should be the concern of everyone at King Edward VI Five Ways.
l. ADDRESS: King Edward VI Five Ways School Scotland Lane Bartley Green Birmingham B32 4BT CONTACT ( (0121) 475 3535 School Office NUMBERS: ( (0121) 475 4684 Staff Common Room Fax: (0121) 477 8555 E-mail: office@kefw.org headspa@kefw.org 2. PEOPLE YOU MIGHT NEED TO CONTACT Head Mrs Y L Wilkinson Deputy Heads Mr C R Fox, Mrs G Long Assistant Heads Mrs S Wells, Mr G Cooper, Mrs L Tolley, Mr M Drury, Mr A T Dean, Mr P S Amieli Year 7 Pastoral Leader Mrs C Ryan Head's P.A. Mrs H Surr Student Support Officer Mrs S Guthrie Administrative Assistants Mrs L Henlan, Mrs J Noyce, Mrs L Heath Finance Officer Mrs S Collins Pupil Administrator/Exams Officer Ms M Black School Administrator, Business and Estates Manager Mrs S Ford Head Porter Mr D Firth Assistant Porters Mr J Collyer, Mr C Ryan Chairman of Governors Professor H Thomas Friends of Five Ways School - (Parents' Association) Chairman Mrs S Woodall Secretary Mrs S Atkins 3. PROVISIONAL DATES FOR 2013/2014 New Yr7 Welcome Evening Tuesday 7 May Uniform Evenings Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 June Induction Day for New Yr7 Wednesday 3 July New Yr7 Induction Evenings Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July AUTUMN TERM 2013 Staff Training Day Induction programme for pupils Wednesday 28 August Thursday 29 to Friday 30 August
Half Term Term Ends SPRING TERM 2014 Term begins Half Term Term Ends SUMMER TERM 2014 Term begins Half Term Term Ends Monday 21 October to Friday 1 November inc. Friday 20 December Monday 6 January Monday 17 to Friday 21 February inc. Friday 11 April Monday 28 April Monday 26 May to Friday 30 May inc. Monday 21 July 4. TIMES OF THE SCHOOL DAY 8.35 8.40 Registration in form rooms 8.40 9.10 Assembly/Form Period 9.10 10.00 Period 1 10.00 10.50 Period 2 10.50 11.10 Break 11.10 12.00 Period 3 12.00 12.50 Period 4 12.50 1.50 Lunch 1.50 Registration in form rooms 1.55 2.45 Period 5 2.45 3.35 Period 6 3.35 School Ends 5. SCHOOL UNIFORM We hope that pupils will always be proud of our uniform and wear it tidily at all times. Wearing of school uniform indicates a pride in personal appearance, an acceptance of shared goals, and support for the values King Edward VI Five Ways School seeks to achieve. If you are entitled to a uniform grant please contact the School Office. Our recommended supplier of uniform is Clive Mark Schoolwear 0121 459 4599 (www.clivemark.co.uk). Boys Compulsory items: Black blazer with badge White shirt/standard collar School tie with house stripe Black tailored trousers standard design Black, polished shoes (not trainers/boots/sandals) Girls Compulsory items: Black blazer with badge White blouse/standard collar School tie with house stripe Black tailored trousers or Grey skirt, knee length standard design (with logo) Black, polished, backed low heeled shoes (not trainers/boots/sandals)
Black ankle socks White ankle socks (black tights from October April for girls in skirts) Optional items for all Grey V-necked jumper in Y7 and Y8 Black V necked jumper with logo in Y9, Y10 and Y11 KEFW blouse for girls in Y9, Y10 and Y11 worn without tie There will be chance to purchase school uniform and sports kit at our new intake uniform evenings mid June. Pupils are expected to wear full school uniform on the way to school, at school, and on the way home from school. Headgear is not appropriate, except in exceptionally bad or cold weather. Pupils will usually be required to wear uniform at school functions, to school sports fixtures, and on school visits, unless exemption has been granted. Pupils are expected to keep their uniform smart and clean at all times. Extremes of fashion in clothing or hairstyle will not be allowed. It is not acceptable to replace items of school uniform with exaggerated styles or fashionable alternatives. Shaven heads, inappropriately coloured or styled hair, and motifs cut into hairstyles are unacceptable. Make-up, jewellery and body piercing are not appropriate, although a single pair of ear studs is permitted (one in each ear lobe). Boys below the Sixth Form are expected to be clean shaven unless following religious observance. There are also health and safety as well as tidiness considerations, meaning that long hair should be tied back, and shoes with high or platform heels or soles are not appropriate. Loose clothing may need to be secured in practical environments. Veils, or other garments of religious observance, are allowed by the school. However, if students are wearing these garments they must pay attention to advice or instruction given for health and safety reasons and these garments should, where possible, be black or white. The school has a flexible attitude to the choice of colour of outdoor coats, but we ask for plain coats, preferably black, grey or blue, without decoration or logo; hoodies and similar garments are not allowed. Coats must be removed and stored in the cloakroom or locker once students have arrived at school. Coats should not be worn or carried around school, and may be confiscated if this rule is ignored. Coats in classrooms cause unnecessary hazards.
6. ITEMS NEEDED BY NEW PUPILS Games and Physical Education Clothing Boys Girls White Indoor Polo Shirt White Indoor Polo Shirt Black Cotton Shorts Black Cotton Shorts White Indoor Socks White Indoor Socks Indoor Trainers Indoor Trainers Black Reversible Rugby Shirt Black Rugby Shirt Black Rugby Shorts Black Sports Skort Black Football Socks Black Football Socks Rugby/Football Boots Astros/Football Boots K.E.F.W. Tracksuit (optional) K.E.F.W. Tracksuit (optional) House Polo Shirt House Polo Shirt Black Swimming Shorts/Trunks Black Swimsuit Mouth Guard and Shin Pads Mouth Guard and Shin Pads (strongly recommended for hockey) Swimming Cap (optional) Swimming Cap (optional) Our recommended supplier of P.E. and Games kit is Gogna Schoolwear & Sports - 0121 523 5572 (www.gognaschoolwear.co.uk). Languages - We recommend the Collins Easy Learning Dictionaries. Art - Students are provided with a school sketchbook to work in and are advised to equip themselves with some basic materials to support the work they do as private study. Art materials are available from most art stationery shops such as Everymans, Spectrum, Staples, and The Works. We recommend the following items: 2B & 4B drawing pencils and eraser. A small set of watercolour paints that contain the three primary colours red, blue and yellow (at the very least). 2 paint brushes, small and medium. Coloured pencils. Music We offer tuition on a variety of orchestral instruments during the normal school day. The timing of instrumental lessons rotates so that they do not coincide with the same curriculum lesson every week. Some instruments are available for loan from the school. Tuition is available on the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, bass guitar, guitar, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon,
saxophone, cornet, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, tuba, french & tenor horns, pipe organ, percussion (orchestral & drum kit) and voice. For Year 7 pupils the cost of a 30 minute individual lesson is 10.20 This will increase to 12.00 from Year 8 onwards. Please note that we require parents to pay for 10 lessons in advance. Pupils in receipt of free school meals will be entitled to receive free tuition. If you choose to sign up for instrumental lessons, our Director of Music will be in touch over the summer holiday to confirm this arrangement. Extra-curricular music activities take place on a weekly basis: Music Theory Club, Chamber Choir, Young Voices Choir, Wind/Swing Band, Samba Band, Jazz Band, Training Orchestra (grades 1-5), Brass Band & Senior Orchestra (grade 5+). We also recommend that if your child plays and owns an instrument, they should bring it with them, if possible, to their curriculum music lesson to facilitate differentiation, regardless of whether they have instrumental lessons in school. 7. SCHOOL CLUB Parents are asked to make a voluntary contribution each year to The School Club. This money is used entirely and solely to provide extras and benefits for all pupils throughout the year. It finances the termly calendar, Focus Five Ways, the Chronicle, and the Student Planner. It also subsidises sports and games transport, theatre visits and all the clubs and societies. When you wonder how the school is able to provide such excellent benefits for pupils, one of the answers is the funds raised for School Club. An account of last year s spending is available, on request, at the start of the academic year. 2.00 of each contribution will be paid per annum to The Five Ways Old Edwardian Association so that when students leave us they will become members of the Association. If you do not wish this prepayment to the Old Edwardian Association, then please inform us when you make your contribution. The suggested amount is 30 per pupil with a reduction of 25%, where there is more than one sibling in school. We hope that all parents will make a contribution: 30 per annum is not a large sum when compared with what many other schools ask for.
8. ACADEMIC MATTERS a. On entry pupils are divided into six equally sized forms that are not streamed, although after the induction period there may be some setting. This ensures that we are able to meet the needs of every learner and give them a flying start to their secondary education. All of Year 7 will have a baseline test soon after entry, so that we can assess their personal needs and ensure they have the support of targeted work where necessary. They will have formal tests at other times, which enable parents and teachers to measure progress and the level of learning. b. The school has a six period day - each lasting 50 minutes, and a two week timetable; a total of 60 lessons. Pupils will need to organise themselves carefully and we will help them with this during their induction within the first few weeks. To aid their organisation all pupils are issued with a planner for the school year and a termly calendar. c. In the Planner pupils should enter details of all the Private Study set. We do ask parents to sign the planner weekly to keep track of their child s work. The planner is a valuable aid to help pupils with organisation and also serves as a means of communication between home and school. There are sections to note targets, merit points, and Head s commendations as these are awarded. There is also a great deal of useful information for both pupils and parents in the planner. d. Subjects taken in Year 7 include the following: English, Maths, Science, French, a second language of German, Latin or Spanish, Geography, History, Religious Education, Art, Drama, Music, Information Technology, Technology, Physical Education, Games and Learning Skills. Technology includes work in three areas: resistant materials, electronics and food technology. Learning Skills covers learning preferences and guidance on developing and improving the various skills involved in learning, problem solving, note taking, listening etc. Lots of curriculum information can be found on the website, so that you are able to follow progress in all the different subjects. e. All year 7 pupils also have a Personal and Social Education lesson with their tutor and the PSE programme continues throughout the school. This allows them to develop their knowledge and understanding of their personal development and social interaction as a tutor group. They will also do some initial work on careers, citizenship, health education and economic understanding.
f. Our reporting system involves the sending out of regular grade letters for Year 7. We hope that these give you a picture of your child s learning development during the year, so that you are informed of progress being made. A full report will be issued at the end of the year and this will include grades and written comments from staff teaching the class. Assessments are made in two areas: Achievement and Effort. Achievement/Skills assessments are based on a series of criteria which are subject specific as follows: A* = Excellent; A = Good; B = Moderate; C = Needs attention; D = Serious concern Effort assessments are also based on a best-fit approach to a series of criteria as follows: 1 = Excellent; 2 = Good, 3 = Needs attention, 4 = Unsatisfactory Pupils also monitor progress through their student planners which are reviewed by form tutors regularly. A pupil review day early in the year gives pupils the opportunity for a detailed individual discussion with their tutor or a senior member of staff. g. Private Study / Homework plays an important part in training pupils to work independently, and we would ask parents to see that priority is given to the completion of prescribed work. In Year 7, pupils can expect to be set Private Study regularly. It can be very helpful if pupils set aside an hour, five times a week, to Private Study. This will get them into good habits for organising and planning work and will stop the race to complete work just prior to its deadline. Sometimes the amount of Private Study may exceed this. If for some reason Private Study cannot be completed e.g. a family emergency or illness, or if a pupil has already spent an excessive time on the subject, please write a short note in their planner to the member of staff concerned, explaining the difficulty. Teachers will be sympathetic to genuine reasons for uncompleted homework. h. In each lesson, staff will indicate to the class what the learning intention is. This is to help the pupils to focus clearly on what is to be taught, and to help them remember the topic later. 9. ACTIVITIES Five Ways has a very full programme of extra-curricular activities and we hope that all pupils will take a full part in these. There are opportunities for residential visits, lots of clubs and societies, both at lunchtime and after school, a thriving drama department, a wide range
of musical activities, many different sports teams, day visits, house events, charity events and much more. 10. STUDENT VOICE AND THE SCHOOL COUNCIL We believe that it is important that students have the opportunity to express their views, opinions, and ideas about all aspects of school life. Formally this happens through the school council. Each tutor group elects one representative to attend school council meetings, which occur about twenty times per year. This group discusses matters affecting pupils, and sets up task forces to look into particular issues. For example, there is a charities task force that determines the whole school charity campaigns each year, and a teaching and learning group that has completed research into what happens in the classroom. Class council meetings with single item discussion points take place where appropriate. Pupils also take part in some staff appointments, discussions about catering, and building plans. They are often involved in meeting and informing visitors to the school, contribute to various publications, the selection of prefects, and in school improvement planning. Increasingly, departments seek feedback on the effectiveness of teaching and ask for ideas on improving course delivery. Pupils also attend consumer group meetings with our caterers, AIP, and The Green Bus Company. In these and many other ways students at Five Ways feel that their voice is being heard and that we value their opinions. 11. THE FORM TUTOR The Form Tutor is a key person - not only taking the attendance register twice daily but being the first point of contact for many of the issues that affect pupils. Together with the Form, the Tutor will agree a set of rules that govern everyone s use of the Form Room. The Form Tutor is the member of staff most closely involved with helping pupils with any difficulties encountered, ranging from lost property to problems with other students. They also monitor academic and personal progress and will try to help ensure pupils are able to make the most of their potential. Occasionally they may need to speak to parents or the Pastoral Leader to get extra assistance with issues. 12. KEEPING IN TOUCH a. We often ask pupils to take letters home for parents: Academic Reports and grade letters as outlined above. End of term letters which give dates for the next term and details of any changes to be introduced.
Letters and notices with invitations to School and Friends of Five Ways events and Parents' Evenings. Many letters also appear on the school website, where there is also a regularly updated school news section. b. The weekly e-newsletter gives details of forthcoming events and current issues make sure you provide your email address on the data sheet so that you receive it. We operate a text message system to aid in communicating with parents and carers. We will use this text system to inform you of urgent or important school events such as parents evenings or snow day closures. c. We ask that you keep the office informed of changes to your contact details. It is particularly important that you make clear to us which is your primary mobile number. There is a system which allows you to update your contact information online. d. Parents' Evenings are normally held once a year, when staff who teach pupils will be available for consultation. Dates are published in the school termly calendar. e. We like to hear from parents, especially when there are matters which give rise for concern and which they would like to tell us about or discuss with us. The usual first line of communication for routine enquiries and discussions is with the subject teacher if the query relates to a subject or Form Tutor if it concerns general progress. The Pastoral Leader is also available for consultation by email. f. Could we please request that parents only telephone the school asking for a message to be passed on to pupils if the matter is really urgent. In emergencies we will obviously be pleased to help. g. The School website www.kefw.org - contains useful information and copies of all letters sent out. h. Increasingly, parents and teachers use email to contact each other. If you do not know a teacher s email address, send messages to: office@kefw.org marked for the attention of the teacher and it will be forwarded to the intended recipient. i. If your child misses registration you are likely to receive a standard text message from the School prompting you to contact the office to explain the absence.
13. ABSENCE a. If pupils are medically fit to attend school, it will be assumed that they are fit to take part in lessons. Pupils with minor ailments are therefore expected to take part in P.E. and games activities unless there are compelling medical reasons why they should not do so, accompanied by a doctor s certificate or a note from parents, which should be taken to the P.E. department at the start of the lesson. It may be easier to write a note in the Student Planner. b. Pupil Absence Procedure for unexpected absences, including illness, parents should (1) contact the school office as soon as possible and (2) write a note, explaining the pupil absence, on the pupil s return. A medical note should be provided where applicable. c. If parents anticipate in advance that students may need to miss school, for a medical appointment or some other reason, then they must write and request permission for that absence from the Pastoral Leader, well in advance. Pupils must give that letter to the Form Tutor as soon as possible. d. Holidays should not be taken in term time but there is a form available, from the school office, to request permission, if unavoidable. Letters concerning holiday leave should always be addressed to the Head. 14. LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS a. We think it is very important that pupils have a substantial and healthy meal at lunch time. b. Pupils may have a school meal or bring sandwiches for lunch. Pupils below the Sixth Form are required to remain on site. c. Meals are organised on cafeteria lines. Pupils pay for the meals as they receive them, using a biometric account. We are a cashless school in this respect for many reasons, and we hope that parents appreciate why. Biometric registration will take place in September. Pupils should bring a cheque, payable to AIP (Alliance in Partnership) with their name and form written on the back, to add credit to their account. At this stage we suggest about 30, which can be topped up when necessary (AIP minimum is 20). Accounts are linked to a photograph to ensure security. Once students are in the school full time, payments can be made preferably through Parent Pay before 10.00am any morning (minimum 20) or by cheque. d. Parent Pay is an internet based system allowing use of your credit card to make various payments to school. This is our preferred method.
Using a highly secure website, visits, music lessons, catering and lots more can be paid for using credit and debit cards. Payments for school meals will go directly to the school caterers; straight onto your child s account (automatic updates occur every 30 minutes). e. Refreshments during the day: Breakfast is available daily from 8.00-8.30 a.m. Food is available at morning break in the Gallery Dining Room and Pavilion. There are water fountains easily accessible around the school. 15. PERSONAL PROPERTY a. Pupils adjusting to secondary school life frequently mislay items on buses and around school. It is therefore important that all items are clearly marked with a name, as these losses can otherwise prove very expensive. Please make sure that all clothes and equipment are clearly marked. This will make it much easier for lost items to be returned as quickly as possible. Valuable items and large amounts of money should not be brought to school unless absolutely necessary; if they are brought they should be handed over to the office or a member of staff at the beginning of school for safe keeping. When attending PE lessons it is strongly recommended that pupils lock valuables away in personal lockers, as only watches may be handed in for safe keeping at the start of a lesson; neither the school nor the PE department will take responsibility for electronic goods such as mobile phones. b. Items lost about the school should be reported as soon as possible to the Form Tutor and the Porter. Labelled items can be returned! Named items can be collected from the Porter and are notified to pupils via a note in the register. The Porters hold a lost property day approximately every 6 weeks, which will be announced in assembly. c. Insurance Cover: The school currently has, subject to policy terms and conditions, onsite personal accident insurance which will provide indemnity in respect of injury whilst on the premises, and off-site personal accident and travel insurance which will provide indemnity in respect of loss or injury whilst away from the premises on school visits. Cover is also in place in respect of Personal Liability where a pupil is held liable for third party injury or third party property damage. Pupils Personal Property: The personal property of pupils brought into the school is not insured by the Governors. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that such items of value are adequately insured through their own private policies. The fact that the Governors do not
have insurance cover in respect of personal property would not, of course, affect their liability should they have in some way been negligent. d. Monetary transactions in school between pupils without parental and school permission are forbidden, so pupils must not arrange to buy or sell anything in school without first informing their Form Tutor. e. Expensive electronic devices are unnecessary in school and students are advised not to bring them in. Where pupils need to have a mobile phone it must be switched off during lessons. Phones may well be confiscated if they are seen or heard in lessons without teacher permission. We cannot take responsibility for these items, which must be stored in lockers when a student attends PE lessons or sits an external examination. 16. ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT whilst at school a. If pupils feel ill they must report to the Pastoral Support Office, or if they are hurt report to the School Office or a member of staff at once. They must not go to the toilets or try to phone home directly. b. If we feel that pupils are too unwell to remain at school, it is our practice to contact parents either at home or at work. c. In the case of accidents where there are injuries which we feel need immediate medical attention, we usually phone for an ambulance and then get in touch with parents to inform them to which hospital the pupil has been taken. d. Any medical issues should be clearly communicated to the school in writing and the school policy is for regular medication to be held by the office in pupil named containers. Students may only self medicate with express permission of parents in writing. 17. REWARDS Pupils in Key Stage 3 can be formally rewarded for outstanding effort or achievement in the following ways. a. Merit Points are awarded for various positive efforts and contributions and are collected in the Planner. Certificates are awarded once pupils have 25, 50, 75 and 100 points. b. Commended Work for exceptional academic work, effort, or service is recognised during a visit to the Head in which pupils are congratulated and rewarded.
c. Awards are also given for participating in and contributing effectively to extended curriculum activities, such as clubs, teams etc, over a period of time. d. Other certificates exist for various activities, as appropriate. Pupils are encouraged to collect evidence of achievements both inside and outside school in a Progress File, held by their Form Tutor. 18. SANCTIONS Punishments are sometimes necessary, although we always try to resolve problems in a constructive and supportive way. a. Members of the teaching staff may set impositions or extra work and may detain pupils for up to 10 minutes after school. If longer than 10 minutes and up to one hour, at least one day s notice will be given. b. School Detention is held for repeated neglect of academic work or classroom disciplinary matters on Mondays for one hour from 3.35 pm to 4.35 pm. Parents will be informed by post. c. Head's Detention is held for one and a half hours after school on Fridays. We regard Head's Detention as a very serious matter and if pupils are in detention they will usually be interviewed by the Head or a Deputy in her absence. Parents will be informed by a formal letter and are asked to counter-sign it and return it on or before the Friday. d. In the rare event of serious offences like theft, truancy, or bullying, parents will normally be consulted immediately. 19. MISCELLANEOUS a. Morning School Assembly. We are very fortunate, as a secondary school, to be able to accommodate all pupils in the main hall for assembly. We feel that a meeting of the school together is very important. Currently there are two whole school assemblies every week, typically: Monday often a Christian content assembly, a simple act of worship, a hymn, reading and occasional moment of thought, followed by announcements. Friday a general assembly following the theme of the week. Pupils are required to attend the whole assembly, unless a letter is received from parents requesting that a pupil be excused from the
religious element. We expect all students to participate positively in assembly, where we also celebrate successes and achievements. b. Beginning and end of school day. Parents are asked not to enter the school drive at these times unless depositing or collecting an invalid. The Green Bus, an excellent network of bus services, runs directly to the school and reflects the geographical distribution of Five Ways students. The buses are very good value for money, offering safe, direct and efficient transport for your son/daughter both to and from the school. These buses leave school at 3.50pm. If you have any questions about any aspect of our school bus services, please do not hesitate to contact The Green Bus through their website at www.thegreenbus.co.uk c. Representation of the School. We regard representing the School in any activity as an important feature of school life. If pupils are selected or required for a Saturday or other 'out of hours' activity, this must take first priority over other events/sports/activities. If there are any other questions about school life at Five Ways that you would like to ask, do phone the School Office on 0121 475 3535. We look forward to seeing you soon! A full copy of the school rules is available from the School Office.
Our approach to bullying. KEFW is generally a safe, friendly environment where people get on well with, and take care of, each other. As in any school, however, sometimes pupils experience behaviour which might be regarded as bullying. So What is bullying? Bullying can mean many different things but it includes any behaviour that intentionally or thoughtlessly harms, threatens, intimidates or distresses someone else. These are some ways other pupils have described bullying: being called names being teased being pushed or pulled about being hit or attacked having your bag and other possessions taken and thrown around having rumours spread about you being ignored and left out being forced to hand over money or possessions being attacked because of your religion, colour, gender, sexuality or any other characteristic being abused verbally on the internet and/or mobile phone Everyone has the right to live in peace and safety, to be an individual, so: 1. Don t ignore bullying it won t go away on its own and it may get worse. 2. Tell someone you trust such as your form tutor, a teacher, parent, form prefect or friend. 3. Don t be afraid of reporting incidents What to do if you are bullied. o o o o o o Remember it s not your fault. No one deserves to be bullied. Keep a record and save any nasty texts or emails that you have been sent. Try to stay away from the bullies. Ask your friends to look out for you. Don t retaliate you could get into trouble or get hurt. Try to act more confident even if you don t feel it. What happens if you report it? Staff will listen to you and bullying will always be taken seriously. Sanctions will follow on those found to have been bullying others. Stop the bullies now!