Anti-Bullying Policy

Introduction
Bullying will not be tolerated at St. Margaret’s School. As a school, we embrace the five principles of “Every Child Matters.” Our main aim is for all our pupils to enjoy school, to be healthy in body and mind and to stay safe, so any form of bullying is taken seriously. Children and parents can be assured that they will be supported if any kind of bullying is reported.

The anti-bullying policy supports the philosophy of St. Margaret’s School to encourage self-respect, self-awareness, respect for and understanding of others.

A Charter of Pupils Rights

• I have the right to live my life in peace and safety.
• I am an individual and have the right to take pride in myself for being different.
• I do not deserve to be bullied.
• I have the right to tell an adult if someone makes me unhappy.
• I have the right to say “no” firmly.
• I have the right to protect myself by walking or running away. This is not being a coward.

By parents, governors, staff and children working together we can seek to find ways of eliminating any form of bullying in our school.

Definition of Bullying
The wilful conscious desire to hurt, threaten or frighten someone.

Aims of the Policy

• For staff, governors, parents and pupils to work together in countering bullying in school, should it occur.
• To raise pupils’ awareness, through the curriculum, of the school’s expectations - in PSHCE; SEAL; circle time; to know about Trusty and to feel comfortable to approach any adult who they feel they can talk to easily.
• To be clear of the recording process for dealing with incidents concerning bullying.
• For parents to be informed of serious incidents of bullying.
  

What is Bullying in School?

• Making a child unhappy.
• Doing something to another child that you would not like doing to you.
• Threatening behaviour, verbal and physical.
• Name calling.
• Intimidation on sexist grounds – stereotyping, discrimination.
• Telling lies to get someone into trouble.
• Physical threat, harassments.
• Excluding someone from games, friendships, and activities.
• Hiding/damaging other people’s belongings.
• Extortion and not paying back loans.
• Exerting power over more passive people.
• Making personal references about clothes, size, looks, and general appearance.
• Ridiculing, sarcastic remarks.
• Invading personal space between two people.

Where does bullying occur?

• Formation of lines.
• Playgrounds.
• Cloakrooms.
• Classrooms.
• Anywhere where children gather.
• Concealed areas.
• On the way to school or home.
• Cyberbullying- through mobiles, text messages, MSN, misuse of the internet, received outside of school hours.

Reasons for Bullying

• To experience feelings of power over others.
• To exert own will.
• Jealousy.
• Attention seeking.
• Revenge.

Result on Victim

• Unhappiness.
• Physical hurt or injury.
• Bed wetting.
• Absence or reluctance to go to school.
• Feeling ill, worrying, headache.

Signs to Look For

Signs of distress:

• Deterioration of work.
• Absence.
• Isolation from peers.
• Constant attention seeking, e.g. illness.

Action - If bullying does occur

If bullying, of any kind, is suspected, children who have been bullied will be supported by:

• offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the situation with a member of staff.
• reassurance.
• offering continuous support.
• restoring self esteem and confidence.

Children found to be involved in bullying:

• will be asked to apologise.
• Parents will be informed, and if necessary, will be updated about the situation.
• School sanctions will be imposed, such as missing playtimes, the withdrawal of any privileges, etc.
• In severe cases, suspension or exclusion from school, will be considered.
• After the incident(s) have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure that repeated bullying does not take place.

Recording Process for Dealing with Incidents
All incidents must be dealt with on an individual basis and extreme care must be taken to gain a fair story from all parties, and not to stereotype children.

Incidents will be recorded by the classteacher in a “Behaviour/Incident Book.” This book is passed onto the next teacher, at the end of each year. Obviously, this helps to keep track of any bullying that has been recorded over the years. There will be consistency of recording by each member of staff; evidence will be set out as follows:

• Name of children involved.
• Classes.
• Date.
• Location.
• Dealt with by.
• Type of incident.
• Action taken.

More serious incidents will be recorded on a form, provided by the authority. Racist incidents will be also recorded on this proforma and sent, if needed, to the local authority. The following information will be documented:

• Name of child.
• Name of other children involved.
• Date. 
• Time.                                            
• Location. 
• Dealt with by.                                       
• Background information.
• Brief details of incident.
• Staff.
• Children.
• Action taken.
• Support/counselling.
• Further comments.
• Follow up.

The incident form will only be considered if the same children have been involved in previous incidents, but on very rare occasions, it may be necessary for this procedure to be used instantly.

Before parents are informed about any incidents, all members of staff must have positive facts to substantiate what they have to say.

Our anti-bullying policy will help to equip the school with a workable philosophy, a statement of intent and a plan of action which clearly communicates to all, that bullying will not be tolerated at St. Margaret’s School.

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Reviewed January 2009