Anti-bullying Policy
Our Lady of Sion School, Worthing
Anti-Bullying Policy
Policy Statement
1. Scope:-
This policy applies to all pupils at Our Lady of Sion School including Early Years (EYFS), Junior School, Senor School and Sixth Form.
2. Policy Aims:-
Through the operation of this policy we aim:-
2.1 To maintain and drive a positive culture of kindness and consideration among all pupils and staff throughout the school. This policy dovetails with Sion’s Behaviour Policy in ensuring that good behaviour is promoted throughout the school at all times
2.2 To deter bullying behaviour, detect it when it occurs and deal with it by counselling and/or disciplinary sanctions and, if necessary, by expulsion
2.3 The DCSF Guidance on the prevention of bullying is contained in Safe to Learn - Embedding Anti-Bullying work in Schools.
3. Bullying behaviour:-
Is always unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Our Lady of Sion School because:-
3.1 It is harmful to the person who is bullied and to those who engage in bullying behaviour and those who support them
3.2 It interferes with a pupil’s right to enjoy his/her learning and leisure time free from intimidation
3.3 It is contrary to all our aims and values, our internal culture and the reputation of the school
4. Meaning:-
Bullying is behaviour which hurts or causes distress by taking unfair advantage of another person in some way, making him or her feel uncomfortable or threatened. Examples are:-
4.1 Physical bullying such as hitting, kicking, pushing people around, spitting, or taking, damaging or hiding possessions
4.2 Verbal bullying – name-calling, taunting, teasing, insulting remarks referring to race, culture, religion, sex or sexual orientation (ie homophobic), physical or mental disability, or demanding money
4.3 Exclusionary behaviour – intimidating, isolating or excluding a person from a group
4.4 Sexual harassment – talking to, or touching, someone in a sexually inappropriate way
4.5 General unkindness – spreading rumours or writing unkind notes, text messages or e-mails, IT Use
4.6 “Cyberbullying”, that is the use of information and communications technology (ICT) particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else. This is addressed in detail in Appendix 1
5. Intention:-
Not all bullying is deliberate or intended to hurt. Some individuals may see their hurtful conduct as “teasing” or “ a game” or “for the good of” the other person. These forms of bullying are equally unacceptable but may be non-malign and can often be corrected quickly with advice and without disciplinary sanctions. A bully who does not respond appropriately to the full range of advice or sanctions would ultimately have to leave Our Lady of Sion School.
6. Responsibility:-
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure, whatever the circumstances, that no pupil becomes a victim of bullying. A person may be vulnerable to bullying because of his/her age, physical appearance, nationality, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion or disability, or because she/he is new in the school, appears to be uncertain or has no friends. She/he may also become a target because of an irrational decision by a bully.
7. Legal Aspects:-
A person who makes a physical or sexual assault on another, or who steals or causes damage to the property of another may commit a criminal offence and also a civil wrong over which there can be legal consequences outside the school.
Anti-bullying culture
8. Ethos:-
Our expectation of all members of the school community is that:-
8.1 Everyone will uphold the Anti-Bullying Code which is published in School literature and available on request.
See Appendix 2
8.2 A pupil or a member of staff who witnesses or hears of an incident of bullying will report it
8.3 A complaint of bullying will always be taken seriously, because bullying has damaging effects both in the long and short term on both victim, perpetrator and all others involved. These can include psychological damage, illness and suicide.
8.4 No one will tolerate unkind actions or remarks or stand by when someone else is being bullied. Our Lady of Sion School regularly uses Personal Social and Health Education sessions, assemblies, Anti-Bullying Week and literature and drama materials to instill and reinforce in all pupils and staff a zero-tolerance culture towards bullying
9. Equal Opportunities:-
In school and in every year group:-
9.1 Discriminatory words and behaviour are treated as unacceptable
9.2 Positive attitudes are fostered towards people who are disabled and towards ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups within and outside the school
9.3 Positive attitudes are fostered towards both sexes through the curriculum and tutorials
10. Staff:-
Through their training and experience, members of the staff are expected to promote an anti-bullying culture by:-
10.1 Celebrating achievement
10.2 Anticipating problems and providing support
10.3 Disciplining sensibly and fairly
10.4 Making opportunities to listen to pupils
10.5 Acting as advocates for pupils
11. Pupils:-
Through our pastoral care systems, pupils are informed and taught that bullying will not be tolerated in the school. They are encouraged:-
11.1 To celebrate the effort and achievements of others
11.2 To hold and promote positive attitudes
11.3 To feel able to share problems with staff
11.4 To turn to anyone they trust if they have a problem
11.5 Not to feel guilty about airing complaints
11.6 To treat meals as pleasant social occasions
Anti-bullying systems
12. Approach:-
Our systems for detecting and dealing with bullying are designed to operate:-
12.1 Vertically, through all year groups and through the house system
12.2 Horizontally, within year groups and in the classroom and other activities
Our anti-bullying systems are implemented and driven in the way described below:-
13. Complaints:-
A pupil who considers himself/herself to be a subject of bullying should complain without delay and can do so in several ways. She/he can:-
13.1 Tell his/her parents, his/her Form Teacher, Year Co-Ordinator, or any member of staff.
13.2 Tell the relevant Child Protection Officer;- in the Junior School, Mr James Summers, Deputy Head; in the Senior School, Mrs Paula Starkey, Deputy Head.
14. Vigilance:-
Members of staff are vigilant at all times but particularly:-
14.1 Between lessons, during break and lunch time, in the Hall, changing rooms and outside areas
14.2 On school minibuses and official school trips
15. Meetings:-
Bullying is regularly discussed in meetings between:-
15.1 Members of the Senior Management Team
15.2 Staff Meetings
15.3 Year Co-Ordinators, Form Teachers and with House Captains/prefects where appropriate
15.4 Tutors and pupils in the tutor group
15.5 Subject staff and the pastoral team where appropriate
The result of these meetings is to feed back information about friendship patterns, particular incidents, any pupil who seems to be isolated, any growing “power base” and any known conflict between a member of staff and a pupil, or between pupils.
16. Record Keeping:-
All teaching staff maintain records concerning the welfare and development of individual pupils.
17. Education:-
The PSCHE programme includes a section on bullying which covers:
17.1 Who is the “bully”? Who is the “victim”?
17.2 Why are some people “bullies” and others “victims”?
17.3 What should a pupil do if s/he is bullied?
17.4 What constitutes bullying? Where are the boundaries?
17.5 What should be done if bullying is confirmed?
A wide variety of material is used to stimulate discussion.
18. Staff Training:-
Appropriate training (including INSET) in all aspects of care is arranged regularly to ensure that Year Co-ordinators and other staff have the necessary professional skills and are aware who the designated person is in both schools see 13.2 above. Skills should include:-
18.1 Awareness of the risk and indications of child abuse and bullying, and how to deal with cases
18.2 Counselling skills (including bereavement)
18.3 Ensuring that there is an adequate presence of staff, particularly in locations and at times when bullying is most likely to occur, eg changing rooms, locker rooms, remote parts of the school buildings
18.4 Staff are actively involved with pupils when they are on duty
18.5 Attempts are made to avoid boredom and lack of purpose among pupils
18.6 There is space available for pupils’ quiet withdrawal
18.7 Good behaviour and discipline is maintained
19. Pupils’ Responsibilities:-
We emphasise with senior pupils the role which is expected of them in setting a good example and being helpful to younger pupils and each other.
20. Monitoring:-
Every complaint or report of bullying will be recorded in writing and filed. Serious incidents are recorded in the incident book.
Reporting incidents
21. Victim:-
There are many reasons why a pupil who has suffered bullying may be reluctant to report it. She/he may become demoralised and may say, for example:-
21.1 It is telling tales - they won’t believe me because the person I am complaining about is intelligent and popular and I am not, and I will become even more unpopular
21.2 The things they are saying and doing are too embarrassing to discuss with an adult
21.3 It is all my fault anyway for being overweight/too studious etc
21.4 There are too many of them; there is nothing the staff can do
21.5 It will get back to my parents and they will think less of me
21.6 I will just try and toughen up and grow a thicker skin
21.7 I will lie low and not audition for a part in the school play etc
22. Witnesses:-
There are also reasons why a pupil who has witnessed or learned of bullying behaviour may not want to make a report. She/he may say:-
22.1 It is “grassing” and I will become unpopular
22.2 It is not my concern anyway
22.3 I don’t rate the victim and I would find it embarrassing to be associated with him/her
23. Culture:-
Any of these responses would be contrary to our culture at Our Lady of Sion School. When we drive and implement this policy we encourage every pupil to understand that:-
Every complaint of bullying will be taken seriously
23.1 Members of staff will deal with a complaint correctly and effectively in accordance with their experience and the training they have received
23.2 There is a solution to nearly every problem of bullying
23.3 A pupil who complains will receive support and advice and it may be possible for the problem to be dealt with on a no-names basis but this cannot be guaranteed
23.4 The primary aim will be for the bullying to cease, not the punishment of the bully unless necessary
Procedures
24. Guidelines:-
The following procedures are a guideline except where expressed in the terms “should” or “must”. The best guide is the experience and training of the staff.
25. Initial Complaint:-
A person in authority who learns of alleged bullying behaviour should:-
• Firstly, offer advice, support and reassurance to the alleged victim
• Report the allegation to the Deputy Head in the Junior School or, in the Senior School to the apropriate member of the Pastoral Team, who may be the form teacher of the vistim (and the alleged bully) as soon as possible in writing, copied to the Year Co=Ordinators(s), Deputy Head and Headmaster. Incidents involving the Sixth Form should be reported to the Head of Sixth Form and copied to Form Tutor, DH and HM
• The Child Protection Officers are; in the Junior School, Mr James Summers; Deputy Head; in the Senior School; Mrs Paula Starkey, Deputy Head.
• A decision will be taken whether, if at all, the allegation should be reported to the bully and in what form
26. Assessment:-
The victim will normally be seen to enable the member of staff to form an initial view of the allegation:-
26.1 Take decisions of how to proceed and whether to see any witnesses to an alleged event and if so without delay
26.2 The nature of the incidents(s) – physical? verbal? exclusionary? etc
26.3 Is it a “one-off” incident involving an individual or a group?
26.4 Is it part of a pattern of behaviour by an individual or a group?
26.5 Has physical injury been caused? Who should be informed – DH? HM? Social Services? Police?
26.6 Can the alleged bully be seen on a no-names basis?
26. 7 What is the likely outcome if the complaint proves to be correct?
At this stage, the possible outcomes for an incident which is not too serious include:-
26.8 There has been a misunderstanding which can be explained sympathetically to the alleged victim with advice to the alleged bully
26.9 The complaint is justified in whole or in part, and further action will be needed (see Range of Actions and Sanctions, below)
27. Serious Incident:-
If a member of staff believes that serious bullying behaviour:-
27.1 Has occurred involving a pupil, or
27.2 Has recurred after warnings have been given to the “bully”
She/he must inform the Child Protection Officer;- in the Junior School Mr James Summers,Deputy Head; in the Senior School, Mrs Paula Starkey, Deputy Head
who will then:-
27.3 Interview the alleged victim, bully and any witnesses separately, in order to establish the facts of the case. She/he may decide to ask the member of staff to be present
27.4 Record the incident in the Incident Book, and send a summary of his/her findings to the Head, and other relevant staff.
27.5 Decide on the action to be taken in accordance with the Range of Action set out below
27.6 The Deputy Head or Head will notify the parents of the victim and bully, giving them details of the case and the action being taken
28. Range of Actions and Sanctions:-
Where sanctions are felt to be appropriate the range of responses will include one or more of the following:-
28.1 Advice and support for the victim and, where appropriate, establishing a course of action to help the victim
28.2 A supervised meeting between the bully and the victim to discuss their differences and the ways in which they may be able to avoid future conflict
28.3 Advice and support to the bully in trying to change his/her behaviour, involving clear instructions and a disciplinary sanction against the bully such as detention. In a very serious case or a case of persistent bullying a child may be excluded following our normal school procedures
28.4 Action to break up a “power base”
28.5 Moving either the bully or victim to another Form after consultation with the pupils, his/her parents, and the relevant staff
28.6 Involving Social Services or the police
28.7 Such other action as may appear to the Pastoral Staff to be appropriate
28.8 Notifying the parents of one or both pupils about the case and the action which has been taken
28.9 Noting the incident in the Incident Book
29. Monitoring:-
The position should be monitored for as long as necessary thereafter. Action may include:-
29.1 Sharing information with some or all colleagues and, if appropriate, with pupils in the form so that they may be alert to the need to monitor certain pupils closely
29.2 Ongoing counselling and support
29.3 Vigilance
29.4 Mentioning the incident at staff meetings
29.5 Reviewing vulnerable individuals and patrolling vulnerable areas of the school
Liaison between all involved members of Staff at Staff Meetings as appropriate, the outcome being minuted
APPENDIX 1
OUR LADY OF SION ANTI-CYBERBULLYING POLICY
Introduction
DCSF guidance defines cyberbullying as “The use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile ‘phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else.” Abuses instanced by the DCSF as committed by students in the UK include: setting up websites and inciting others to post derogatory comments about other students; filming fights and assaults (“happy slapping”) and circulating the material via ICT; sending insulting and vicious texts; posting fake and/or obscene images on networking sites; hacking into such sites and exporting or importing embarrassing and/or personal material.
Cyberbullying may be more serious than “traditional” forms, given its scope for widespread and prolonged harm, involving potentially huge numbers of otherwise uninvolved individuals. Many of its forms are clearly illegal under Civil or Criminal Laws covering, for instance, racial, gender, religious, obscenity and copyright issues.
Sion School will always take swift and decisive remedial action commensurate with the apparent gravity of any alleged case of cyberbullying.
Action by Sion Students who feel them themselves victims of cyberbullying
Tell someone responsible whom you trust (eg parent/guardian/teacher), or contact an Advice Line such as www.kidscape.org or www.wiredsafety.org or www.childline.org.uk (Tel: 0800 1111). Neither reply to, nor participate in, cyberbullying. Report it. Our Child Protection Officers are shown below
Action by parents/guardians of alleged victims of cyberbullying
Remind students in your charge frequently that they must report cyberbullying to you as their parent/guardian, and/or to a trusted member of staff at Sion, and/or to any appropriate helpline. Any allegations of cyberbullying reported to Sion staff will lead to prompt, decisive and appropriate action.
Action by Sion School on alleged cyberbullying
Sion School corporately and its staff individually will offer immediate and appropriate advice and support to any Sion student reporting alleged bullying using ICT in any of its forms. The school will deal with any such allegations using the procedures detailed in Sections 24-29 of the school’s over-arching Anti-Bullying Policy.
Our Child Protection Officers are:
Junior School - Mr James Summers, Deputy Head
Senior School - Mrs Paula Starkey, Deputy Head
APPENDIX 2
ANTI-BULLYING CODE
Bullying will not be tolerated at Our Lady of Sion School
•Everyone has the right to develop and grow without intimidation.
•Any student witnessing or experiencing bullying behaviour must report the incident to staff immediately. Bullying is too serious to ignore.
•Reports of bullying will be followed up by the pastoral team
Remember –
if you become aware of any bullying in Sion School:
Tell, TELL, TELL
Our Child Protection Officers are;
Junior School - Mr James Summers, Deputy Head
Senior School - Mrs Paula Starkey, Deputy Head
©Our Lady of Sion School 2011
The school reserves the right to amend this policy
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