Kirkby College
Anti-Bullying Policy
November 2015
Introduction
At Kirkby College we aim to provide a safe, caring and friendly environment for all our students, to allow them to learn effectively, improve their life chances and help to maximise their potential. All students should feel safe and confident to seek support from someone in school if they feel unsafe.
The school’s Code of Conduct states that we expect all students to show respect. This means that at Kirkby College we will not tolerate bullying behaviour.
At Kirkby College we want parents/carers to feel confident that their young person is safe and cared for and when incidents occur they are dealt with promptly and to the best of our ability.
Kirkby College is aware of its legal obligations and role within the community in supporting parents/carers, students and working alongside any outside agencies where appropriate.
Policy Development
This policy was formulated in consultation with the whole school community. Students contributed to the policy through the Student Council and a student working party. Members of staff and governors contributed through a staff working party. Parents/carers were encouraged to take part in a parents’ survey where they had the opportunity to put forward their own views and expectations of the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy.
Roles and responsibilities
The Head Teacher has overall responsibility for the policy, its implementation, liaising with the governing body, parents/carers, the LA and outside agencies and appointing an Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator who will have general responsibility for handling the implementation of this policy. This role is delegated to Ms B Blagden, Deputy Head Teacher, who is supported by the specialist Behaviour for Learning Co-ordinators. The following is a list of their responsibilities:
§ Policy development and review involving students, parents/carers, staff, governors and relevant local agencies.
§ Implementing the policy and monitoring and assessing its effectiveness in practice.
§ Ensuring evaluation takes place and that this informs policy review.
§ Managing incidents of bullying.
§ Managing the reporting and recording of incidents of bullying.
§ Assessing and co-ordinating training and support for staff and parents/carers where appropriate.
§ Co-ordinating strategies for preventing bullying behaviour.
The nominated link governor with responsibility for anti bullying behaviour is Mr J Bates.
Kirkby College’s definition of bullying
Bullying behaviour is defined as being ‘the wilful and conscious desire to hurt, threaten or frighten someone’ which can include the following repeated behaviours:
§ Name calling
§ Making offensive comments
§ Physical assault
§ The taking of or damage to the property or belongings of other people
§ Cyber bullying – this would include sending offensive emails or text messages, sending offensive or degrading images by phone or the internet
§ Producing offensive graffiti
§ Gossiping or spreading offensive or untruthful rumours
§ Ignoring/excluding people from groups
§ Racist comments
§ Sexist comments
§ Homophobic comments
§ Bullying because of special educational needs or disability
Kirkby College expects students who witness bullying to report this to the appropriate member of staff and not to stand by and watch it happen as this can be as bad as being involved in the bullying itself.
It is important to remember that there is no hierarchy of bullying and all forms will be taken equally seriously and dealt with appropriately.
Prevention
The following is a list of preventative measures that are in place at Kirkby College:
1. The cross curricular approach to bullying is throughout all year groups but with particular focus on Years 7 and 8 eg English, PSE (including SEAL work), RE, assemblies and tutor time SEAL programme.
2. The Peer Mentors are trained in dealing with students who are having difficulties and students can go to them during lunchtimes and break times with issues they have in order to get support and advice from someone their own age.
3. Students who are new to the school should be allocated a student ‘buddy’ to act as a guide and mentor for the first few days.
4. Post 16 students’ awareness should be raised to their own responsibility towards the younger students with regards to bullying and volunteers encouraged to participate in activities such as primary liaison and visits to feeder schools etc.
5. Opinions of students/parents/carers and staff will be sought for any discussions or reviews of the anti-bullying procedures.
6. Kirkby College will endeavour to take part in Anti-Bullying Week, thereby raising the awareness of staff and students of issues around bullying.
7. Regular evaluation of bullying data to assist in the further development of the anti- bullying agenda.
8. Behaviour for Learning Co-ordinators trained in using a restorative justice approach when responding to bullying issues.
Reporting bullying and responding to bullying
§ If a student is the victim of bullying, or has witnessed bullying behaviour as a bystander they should inform a member of staff immediately, eg. form tutor, subject teacher, support staff or peer mentors. This information will then be passed onto the relevant Progress and Guidance Co-ordinator who will investigate the incident.
§ Parents/carers/visitors wishing to report an incident of suspected bullying should inform a member of staff, or if possible a child’s tutor. This will then be passed onto the relevant Progress and Guidance Co-ordinator who will investigate the incident.
§ If they feel it is a bullying situation the following will occur:-
For the victim
Records will be kept by Progress and Guidance Co-ordinators on students who have been the victim of bullying behaviour.
1. It is important that we are sensitive to the feelings and worries of the victim.
2. Parents/carers of the victim should be informed of the incident and, if appropriate, invited into school to discuss the incident and what action has been taken. Where possible this should be done before the student goes home.
It may be possible that the victim may be given the opportunity to access some work based on how to deal with future bullying incidents.
We need to give recognition to the needs of both the victim and the bully; we will make support, counselling or other appropriate assistance available to both parties. Where appropriate outside agencies will be involved, eg Educational Psychology Service, Family Service, Social care, or the police.
For the bully
Specific notes will be placed in the file of anyone who is reported for bullying. The Progress and Guidance Co-ordinators will keep incident reports (see attached form) and ensure copies are passed onto the relevant members of staff. Letters will be sent home for all incidents of bullying, inviting parents/carers to contact school. A duplicate letter will be given to tutors. Letters will always:
1. state clearly that bullying has been involved
2. make it very clear that bullying is unacceptable at Kirkby College
3. request support and help
4. explain the actions which have taken place
5. offer a contact point within school
The school discipline process described in the Behaviour Policy will apply in bullying situations. Anyone found to be bullying will be placed on report to monitor the situation. They may also be required to take part in group work to help them understand the effects of bullying and how they can become a positive influence in supporting students who have been bullied. For more serious incidents of bullying parents/carers will be asked to attend a meeting in school. This will involve the student in question.
In the short term the bully will be withdrawn from lessons, or for more serious incidents, students will work in the inclusion unit. It should also be noted that in the most serious cases, or repeated incidents, exclusion will be an option that is considered by the school.
Any member of staff who considers that they are the victim of a bullying incident should report the matter to the school’s Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator, or the Head Teacher. All reported incidents will be taken seriously and investigated involving all parties.
Guidance and support for staff in recognising and dealing with bullying incidents:-
If we become aware of bullying it is the responsibility of the staff to confront and tackle it.
By ignoring it we are condoning it.
Staff should remember that:
1. Students who are new or ‘different’ can become victims.
2. Watching and observing the social relationships between students in our classrooms and tutor groups can often provide early warnings of bullying.
Staff who pick up on these incidents have to decide whether they need to be referred on to the Progress and Guidance Co-ordinators for the appropriate year group.
Some signs that a student is being bullied can include:
§ Becoming shy or nervous
§ Faking illness
§ Unusual number of absences
§ Change in how they work
§ Lack of concentration
§ Truancy
§ Damaged uniform or belongings
§ Loses dinner money on a regular basis
§ Unexplained cuts/bruises
§ Begins bullying others
Any of the above may also be indicative of other issues going on, but bullying should be considered a possibility and investigated.
Recording bullying and evaluating the policy
Bullying incidents will be recorded on the SIMs Behaviour Management system and on a Bullying Report Form by the member of staff who deals with the incident. The Bullying Report Form will be stored by the Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator in a Central Bullying Log. This will be used to ensure individual incidents are followed up. It will also be used to identify trends and inform preventative work in school and the development of the policy.
This information will be presented to governors and the policy will be reviewed and updated annually.
Policy Review Date: October 2016
Kirkby College - Incident of Bullying Report Form
Date of incident: Time of incident:Nature and type of incident (please tick)
Extortion / Verbal (name calling) / Forced into something against willIsolation, being left out or ignored / Cyber / Written
Physical / Personal possessions taken/damaged / Spreading rumours
Other / Please specify:
Details of the young people involved and their role in the incident
Name(s) / Yr / Gender / Role*§ V – victim
§ B – bully
§ By - bystander
1
2
3
4
Where has this been taking place?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
If you feel the incident was motivated by any of the following, please circle:
Appearance Disability/SEN Gender/sexism Religion
Sexual orientation Home circumstance Race/Ethnic origin
Other …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Please give a brief description of the incident (attach copies of any witness statements to this form).
Please give a description of action taken or any follow up that will/has occurred, eg exclusion, on report, meeting with parents/carers, involvement with external agencies
GenerallyWith individuals
4.
Copies of this form should be given to relevant Progress and Guidance Co-ordinator and
the Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator