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.
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. Some young children confuse friendship issues with bullying. What characterises bullying is a wilful, conscious desire to distress, hurt, threaten or frighten someone. All forms of bullying are damaging to a person's well-being.
Bullying can take many forms but the three main types are:
Whilst most cyber bullying takes place at home, the issues often come into school. The school has a responsibility to educate students about such bullying and to support students who are victims. However, parents are responsible for monitoring their children's use of the internet. Parents may wish to report Incidents of cyber bullying which take place out of school to the police.
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.
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.
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.
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 (Personal Development) 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.
Pastoral Support Managers are 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:
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.
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.
This policy will be reviewed by the Governors (Students Committee) every three years in accordance with the school’s annual cycle.
Policy reviewed: November 2010
Lavington School,
Devizes,
Wiltshire,
SN10 4EB
Tel: 01380 812352
Fax: 01380 818492
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