THE KING JOHN SCHOOL

Anti Bullying Policy

Reviewed May 2018

1.Objectives of this policy

  • All governors, teaching and non-teachingstaff, pupils and parents should have an understandingofwhat bullyingis;
  • All governors and teachingand non-teachingstaffshould know what the school policyis on bullying, andfollow it when bullyingis reported;
  • All pupils and parents should know what theschool policyis on bullying, and what theyshould doif bullying arises;
  • As aschool wetakebullyingseriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that theywillbesupported when bullying is reported;
  • Bullyingwillnot be tolerated.

2.TheDepartment forEducation (DfE)defines bullyingas:“Behaviourbyan individual orgroup,usuallyrepeated over aperiodof timethat intentionally hurts anotherindividual orgroup either physicallyoremotionally.”

Bullyingwillnot betolerated at The King John Schooland is seen as the misuse of power. Theschoolcommunityhas adutyto protect all its members and provideasafe, healthyenvironment.Theschoolhas abehaviour codebased aroundthe UNCRC Rights of the child, and also focuses on responsibilities (with everyright comes aresponsibility)“Ihavetheright to feel safeand protected and theresponsibilityto look out forothers.”“Ihavetheright to be myselfand aresponsibilityto accept other people’s differences and boundaries” “Ihavearight to get support andaresponsibilityto ask for it at the appropriatetime”“Ihavearight to beheard and aresponsibilityto listen to others”.

The school is aware of the Essex Safeguarding Children’s Board support for anti-bullying and Julie Keating is the Essex link as supported by Jo Barclay.

3.While recognisingthat bullyinghappens inallschoolsand within the wider community, parents/carers andstudentsat The King John Schoolare encouraged to report incidentsof bullyingto anymember ofstaff and be confident that action willbetaken as per theschool procedures set outinthe Appendix1 to deal effectivelywith thevictims of, and thoseresponsible for, acts of bullying. Appendix 2 – an example of the blank statement forms adopted by the school.

4.Education to prevent bullyingwillbeprovided toallstudents duringtheirtime at The King John School and appropriatebehaviour willbereinforced duringlessonsand around the school site. Curriculum opportunities areused to address bullying through:

  • Subject arease.g. English, drama, philosophy and ethics;
  • Personal social health;
  • Skills;
  • Assemblies e.g. NationalAnti BullyingWeek–November, NationalSafer internet day– February;
  • Presentations fromoutsideagenciesand theatregroups (when available) such as Chelsie’s Choice;
  • Tutorial activities;
  • Peer support through Peer Active Listeners Programme.

Students areencouragedto developand understand:

  • Patience
  • Empathy
  • Co-operation
  • Understanding

Students have developed a “core values scheme” which is explored through the Thought for the Week pastoral programme. The programme encourages community cohesion.

  • Caring;
  • Responsibility;
  • Respect;
  • Trust and Honesty;
  • Perseverance;
  • Positivity;
  • Loyalty;
  • Open-Mindedness.

As wellas theBritish Values shown below:

  • Mutual respect
  • Democracy
  • Theruleof thelaw
  • Individual liberty
  • Toleranceof thoseof different faiths and beliefs

5.Theschool communicates its stanceon bullyingto all students and parentsvia aletterfrom theHeadteacher in thestudentplanners and bypublishingits policyon the school website.

6.Theschool recognisesthat thereareseveral formsof bullyingand that they can bethought of as bullyingif theyaredonemaliciously, deliberately or persistently to hurt or upsetor havethateffect. There is an understanding of the symptoms of bullying. (Appendix 3). This policyfollows all statutoryguidancein relation to bullying(pleaserefer to Appendix4).

Bullyingencompassesallthe followingforms ofbullying: (theStudent Voice has givenexamples of different types of bullying).

Verbale.g

  • Deliberate, unkindand persistent remarks;
  • Racist, sexual or homophobicname calling;
  • Beinghurtful aboutappearance;
  • Name calling, sarcasm, persistent teasing.

Emotionale.g

  • Spreadinghurtfulrumours;
  • Writing graffiti or usingimages/offensive materials;
  • Tormenting, humiliating;
  • Excludingsomeone and leavingthem out on purpose.

Theft/Damaging property e.g

  • Takingsomeone’s bagdeliberatelyand breakingit;
  • Malicious damageto propertye.g. pencilcase, uniform.

Physical e.g

  • Pinching, punching, pushing, kickingand hitting;
  • Anyviolencethat is doneon purposeto others.

Racist e.g.

  • A racial taunt,graffiti, gestures.
  • Makinginappropriatecomments regardingfaiths and beliefs

Sexuale.g

  • Makingsexual comments.
  • Inappropriatetouching.

Cyberbullyinge.g

  • TheuseofICT, particularlymobile phonesand the internet, deliberatelyto upset someone else. Hurtful, harmful messages sent from individualsandgroups.

Homophobice.g

  • Because of, or focusingon the issue ofsexuality.

Monitoring andevaluation

7.Senior staff will regularlyevaluateand update their approach to bullyingto takeinto account thedevelopments in technology.

8.E-safety evenings are held to ensure parents and students can recognise the signs of bullying on-line (in-line with the school’s e-safety policy).

9.The school works with CEOPs to ensure procedures for dealing with online bullying are adhered to and are effective.

10. The online safeguarding logging system myconcern is used to log any incidents of bullying which leads to a safeguarding concern and is reviewed by the Designated Leads.

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Appendix1

School procedures

Theschool recognisesthat bullyingisneveracceptable and willfollow theprocedures as outlined below:-

1.Incidents of bullyingshould be reportedimmediatelyto anyadulton the staff who in turn will report the matter to theappropriateHead of Year, the student support officer and the tutor.

2.All students willbelistened to, and individual issues understood. Theschool provides opportunities forstudents to report bullyingso that theyare assured that theywillbelistenedto and the incident acted on.

3.Staff will take appropriate action on informationgiven. Itwillbethe professionaljudgementof senior staff to determinethe natureof theproblem and the appropriate level of responseand courseofaction.

4.In most cases written accounts of theincident will be taken through discreet interviews wherenecessary and followinginvestigation, the incidentwillbe dealtwith appropriately. The statements written by the students are then reviewed with and by the student to ensure that a reflective activity occurs so that the students’ voice is heard and they are able to comment on how the matter has been dealt with. The statements are collated as and when an incident occurs and are reviewed by Heads of Year. Witness statements are also gathered to ensure a fair review of a situation. Once an investigation has occurred, relevant sanctions are imposed as per the behaviour policy.

5.Incidents of bullyingwillberecorded onSIMSbytypeand outcome.This data is used for monitoringandevaluation by the pastoral team and isshared with theGoverning Body.

The central bullying log is completely reviewed every first Monday after half term by the senior bullying leaders- Mr Watts; Mr Lister and Mr Hickey and an overview is presented to the Leadership for discussion on the first Tuesday after half term. The bullying log and SIMs is reviewed weekly by Heads of Year to ensure follow up actions have been noted and reviewed for impact.

6.A varietyofappropriatestrategies maybeusedto deal with reported incidents:

  • Apologyfrom bullyto victim (verbal/written) supported by the Head of Year;
  • Discussion ofvictim’s own behaviour leadingupto theincident;
  • Positive steps to betaken with bullytoencourageimproved behaviour;
  • Monitoringof bullyafterincident to see anyrepeatedbehaviour;
  • Counsellingof victim/bully, reviewed by the targeted services team to ensure impact;
  • Parents /carers maybecontacted byletter/telephone/invited into school, if appropriate;
  • Implement disciplinarysanctions, includingdetentions/exclusions;
  • Record incidents of bullyingaccordingto typeonSIMSand usethis data to monitor incidents of bullyingin theschool. As patterns emerge from the analysis, pastoral programmes are designed to address emerging issues, such as Thought for the Week;
  • Students who have been a perpetrator of bullying are sanctioned via isolation in the curriculum plus centre. They work through a reflective booklet on the causes of bullying, being mentored by the curriculum plus manager, Mr Radley;
  • Usespecificorganisations and resources for helpwith particularproblems. High level intervention and support will be sought to support with emotional effects of bullying- such as EWMHS and the Essex Family Operations;
  • Work with the wider communitysuchas thepolice andchildren’s services wherebullyingis particularlyserious orpersistent and when acriminal offencemayhavebeen committed.

Student Statement

Name / Tutor Group / Date
Who else was there? (Names and tutor groups if possible)
What happened leading up to the incident?
Has this happened before? (If yes please give details)
Have you spoken to any other adults about this? (If yes please give details)
What happened? (Give as much detail as possible)
Continued …
Student Signature:

Self-Reflection Form

How do you feel about the incident now?
How could you have behaved differently?
What would you like to happen next?
Has the matter been resolved?
Student Signature:

Office Use Only

Statement taken by
Comment/Action:
Staff signature:
Referred to
Comment/Action:
Staff signature:
Outcome
Comment/Action:
Staff signature:
Parent/carer informed?
Comment/Action:
Staff signature:

Recorded on SIMS:YESNO (if no contact member of staff who dealt with incident)

Type of Incident
Safeguarding / Bullying / Racist / Other

For safeguarding please ensure this is/has been record on My Concern. For bullying and racist incidents please record on central log.

HOY SIGN OFF: ………………..…………… DATE: …………..……..

Appendix 3

Signs and Symptoms

A child mayindicate bysigns of behaviour that heor sheis beingbullied. Adults should be awareof thesepossible signs and that theyshould investigate ifachild:

  • is frightened of walkingto or from school;
  • doesn’t want togo on theschool/publicbus;
  • begs to bedriven to school;
  • changes their usual routine;
  • is unwillingto go to school (school phobic);
  • begins to truant;
  • becomes withdrawn anxious, or lackingin confidence;
  • starts stammering;
  • attempts or threatens suicide orruns away;
  • cries themselves to sleepat night or has nightmares;
  • feels illin themorning;
  • begins to do poorlyin school work;
  • comes homewith clothestorn orbooks damaged;
  • has possessions which aredamaged or “go missing”;
  • asks formoneyor starts stealingmoneyto paybully;
  • has dinner orother monies continually“lost”;
  • has unexplained cuts or bruises;
  • comes homestarving(money/lunch has been stolen);
  • becomes aggressive, disruptiveor unreasonable;
  • is bullyingother childrenor siblings;
  • stopseating;
  • is frightened to saywhat’s wrong;
  • gives improbable excuses for anyof theabove;
  • is afraid to usethe internet or mobile phone;
  • is nervous and jumpywhen acyber messageis received.

This is not an exhaustivelist

Thesesignsand behaviour could indicate other problems, but bullyingshould be consideredapossibilityand should beinvestigated.

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Appendix 3

The lawandstatutory guidance with respect tobullying

THEEQUALITY ACT 2010

Under theEqualityAct 2010, newduties on schools and other publicbodiescame intoforcefrom April2011. TheAct strengthensand simplifies existingequality legislation. TheAct brings together existingduties not to discriminate on grounds of race, disabilityandgender which schools are alreadybound to complywith, and it extends theseto include duties not to discriminateon the grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, orgender re-assignment.It places arequirementon governingbodies and proprietors ofschools to eliminate discrimination and promote equal opportunities.

SAFEGUARDINGCHILDREN ANDYOUNG PEOPLE

Under theChildren Act 1989 a bullyingincident should be addressedas a childprotection concern whenthereis ‘reasonablecauseto suspect that a child is suffering, or is likelyto suffer, significant harm’. Wherethis isthe case, the school staffshould report their concerns to theirlocal authoritychildren’s socialcare. Even where safeguardingis not considered to bean issue, schools mayneed to draw onarangeof external services to support thepupilwho is experiencingbullying, or to tackle any underlyingissuewhich has contributed to a childdoingthe bullying.

CRIMINAL LAW

Although bullyingin itself is notaspecificcriminal offencein theUK, itisimportantto bear in mind that sometypes of harassingor threateningbehaviour– or communications– could be a criminal offence, forexampleunder theProtection from Harassment Act 1997, theMalicious Communications Act 1988, theCommunications Act 2003, and thePublicOrder Act 1986.If school stafffeel that an offencemayhave been committed theyshould seek assistancefromthe police. Forexample, underthe Malicious Communication Act 1988, it is an offenceforaperson to send anelectronic communication to another person with the intent to causedistress oranxietyor tosend an electronic communication which conveysamessagewhich is indecent or grosslyoffensive, athreat, or information which is false and known or believed to be false bythe sender.

BULLYINGOUTSIDE SCHOOL PREMISES

Head teachers haveaspecificstatutorypower to disciplinepupils forpoorbehaviouroutsideof theschool premises. Section 89(5) ofthe Education andInspections Act2006 gives head teachers thepower to regulatepupils’ conduct when theyarenot on school premises and are not underthe lawfulcontrol or chargeofamember ofschool staff. This canrelatetoanybullyingincidents occurring anywhereoff theschool premises, such as on school or publictransport, outsidethe local shops,in a town or villagecentre,cyber bullyingor viasocial networkingsites.

Wherebullyingoutsideschool is reported to school staff,itshould beinvestigated and acted on. Thehead teacher should also considerwhetheritis appropriateto notifythe policeor anti-social behaviour coordinator in theirlocal authorityof theactions taken againstapupil.If themisbehaviour could becriminal or poses aserious threat to a member ofthe public, thepoliceshould always beinformed.

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