Statement of Intent

At Lavington School, the aim is for all students to fulfil their potential personally, academically and socially, developing self-respect, respect for each other and for the community.  Therefore, all forms of bullying and harassment are considered unacceptable, and it is essential to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age. All reported or suspected incidents of bullying will be investigated and appropriate action taken.

Objectives of the Policy

The objectives of this policy are to present a clear definition of bullying; a description of the effects of bullying; and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of students, staff, parents and governors.

Definition of bullying

Bullying can be defined “as deliberately hurtful behaviour, usually repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those bullied to defend themselves”  from ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ HM Government 2006.  It is a wilful, conscious desire to distress, hurt, threaten or frighten someone.

Bullying can take many forms but the three main types are:

• Verbal bullying which includes: hurtful teasing, name-calling, mimicry, taunting, making threats, spreading rumours, racist, sexist or homophobic remarks.
• Emotional  bullying which includes isolating an individual from the activities and social acceptance of their peer group.
• Physical bullying which includes: hitting, pushing, tripping someone, theft or hiding possessions.

All forms of bullying are damaging to a person’s emotional well-being. It is worth noting the following issues.

Racist bullying

Racist bullying is defined as ‘any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person’ in the MacPherson Report 1999. Any incidents of racist bullying must be recorded in the Racist Incident Log. The Race Relations Act 2000 requires schools to promote race equality with requirements linked to anti-bullying policies.

Cyber bullying

This is a new form of bullying which has emerged over the past few years.  New technologies such as text messaging, Internet chat rooms, web-sites and mobile telephones can add to bullying.  Cyber bullies send e-mails or text messages containing insults or threats directly to children or young people, or spread hateful comments through web sites and online diaries (blogs).  Although much of this may be done from home, the issues often come into school, and the school has a responsibility to educate students about such bullying and to support students who are victims of such bullying.

Effects of bullying

Bullying affects children and young people’s social and academic lives, and can have a long-term impact on a person’s health and well-being. It is a major cause of depression, which affects learning, attendance, achievement and has lasting effects through adulthood. It can lead to self-loathing and self harm and cause or contribute to eating disorders. The seriousness of these outcomes reinforce the fact that all bullying issues must be dealt with quickly and effectively.

Implementation of policy

The Anti-Bullying Policy ensures that Lavington is both proactive (seeking to educate students and prevent bullying) as well as reactive (responding swiftly to any bullying issues) in its approach to bullying. This policy is also supported by the Anti-Bullying Charter.

Staff Responsibilities

The Governors (Students Committee) are responsible, in consultation with the Headteacher and Deputy Head (Students), for establishing the anti-bullying policy and for reviewing it at the appointed review date.
The Senior Leadership Team is responsible for the implementation and day-to-day management of the policy and procedures. They will support staff in dealing with any bullying issues. They will monitor bullying issues across the whole school and offer support and training to deal with any bullying issues. They will also support anti-bullying strategies through assemblies.
The Deputy Head (Students) is responsible for keeping up-to-date with bullying issues and strategies to support students, as well as liaising with students in co-ordinating anti–bullying work within school.
Pastoral Leaders are responsible for dealing with bullying matters within their school. They will also identify issues which arise in their year groups and seek appropriate support for staff and students. They are also responsible for including the maintenance of positive relationships and bullying in the schemes of work for PSHE and Citizenship.
The Pastoral Support Manager is responsible for offering support within school for students whose emotional well-being is significantly affected by bullying, whether they be a victim or have been involved in bullying themselves.

All staff are responsible for applying the school’s anti-bullying policy. Tutors will have a key role in supporting individual students.
Staff will be expected to:

• Take any accusation of bullying seriously, listening to the accusation/claim and informing the appropriate staff
• Ensure appropriate records are kept (eg statement by student, logging incident onto Facility).
• Liaising with parents and informing them of any actions taken
• Encouraging students to speak out against bullying and helping to create a ‘zero-tolerance’ attitude to bullying
• Monitor students so that signs of bullying can be spotted early.
• Create an environment of openness and trust so that students feel that they will be treated seriously.

Students will be responsible for ensuring that they do not bully, or support the bullying, of any other student. If they experience, hear of or witness any bullying, they should pass on any concerns or information they have to a member of staff or a Peer Mentor. The Student Council and form reps will be consulted over any new anti-bullying strategies. Peer Mentors have a special role to play in dealing with bullying issues and offering support to both victims and bullies.

Other Agencies will be involved as appropriate. These may include Connexions, YPSS (Young People Support Service), the School Nurse, EMAS (Ethnic Minority Achievement Service), and the police.

Parents are responsible for informing the school if they are aware of any bullying issues in school. It is also important that they support any sanction given to a student who has bullied others.  Parents can also help by dealing with any cyber bullying issues which are generated at home.

Evaluation and development of policy

The policy will be developed through consultation with staff, students and governors. The policy should be considered in conjunction with other relevant policies such as the Behaviour Policy, the Exclusions
Policy and the Rewards and Sanctions policy, as well as the Anti-Bullying Charter.

Review cycle of policy

This policy will be reviewed by the Governors (Students Committee) every three years in accordance with the school’s annual cycle.

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