Washwood HeathAcademy:Anti-Bullying Policy 2017

Reviewedand adoptedby theLocal GoverningBody on: Monday 12th June 2017

To be reviewed aftertwo years or following significant changes within a national or local context.

Introductory Statement

This anti-bullying policy sets out, in writing, the framework within which the whole school community of Washwood Heath Academymanages issues relating to bullying and the school’s strategy to prevent bullying behaviour.

Parents and pupils have a particularly important role and responsibility in helping the school to prevent and address school-based bullying behaviour and to deal with any negative impact within school of bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere.

Equality and Diversity Statement

WMCUTC strives to treat all its members and visitors fairly and aims to eliminate unjustifiable discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, political beliefs or practices, disability, marital status, family circumstances, sexual orientation, spent criminal convictions, age or any other inappropriate grounds

Purpose

Bullying damages lives. The aim of this policy is to provide students with a safe and secure working environment free from bullying and harassment.

The Academy aims to provide the means and opportunity for students to inform staff members if they or their peers are experiencing any form of bullying. It also aims to give students the strategies to deal with these incidences if they occur.

This policy aims to produce a consistent response by Washwood Heath Academy to any bullying incidents that may take place.

What is Bullying

There are five recognised features of bullying:

  • It is deliberate, hurtful behavior
  • It is repeated over a period of time
  • It is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves
  • It is difficult for those who bully to learn new social behaviors
  • Those who bully have and exercise power inappropriately over others.

All forms of bullying can be damaging to the development of both the person being bullied and the person bullying. Bullying can take many forms, but the main types are:

  • Physical Pushing, hitting, kicking, punching, taking belongings or an act of violence with intent to harm;
  • Verbal Name calling, insulting, threats/intimidation or making offensive remarks;
  • Indirect Spreading nasty stories about someone, exclusion from social groups or being made the subject of malicious rumors
  • Cyber Tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted using text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging or any other type of digital technology and or social networking sites.

Bullying is not

Bullying is notthe odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when an occasional joke or trick is played on someone. Bullying is done ‘Several Times On Purpose’by either individuals or groups of students in collusion.

Students sometimes fall out or say or do things because they are upset (Issues such as this will be dealt with in accordance with the Academies behaviour policy). When occasional problems of this nature occur it is not classed as bullying. It is an important part of a student’s development and growth to learn how to deal with friendship breakdowns and develop social skills to repair relationships.

Staff will suspect bullying if a student

  • Becomes withdrawn or anxious
  • Shows a deterioration in his or her work
  • Has or develops erratic attendance
  • Persistently arrives late
  • Prefers to stay with adults

Bullying outside the Academy

The Academy has the responsibility ND authority to ensure students behave outside of the premises this includes incidences of bullying or harassment.

The staff will take action in accordance with the behaviour policy and other relevant documentation whenever they are made aware of bullying that occurs outside the Academy

The Academies staff can also choose to report bullying (ether on or off the premises) to the police if they feel this is appropriate

Dealing with Bullying Incidents

Staff who receive a report of a bullying incident from a student will refer the incident to a member of the pastoral team who will:

  • Listen to the student’s account of the incident
  • Reassure the student that reporting the bullying incident was the right thing to do
  • Make it clear to the student that he or she is not to blame for what has happened
  • Make a note of what the student says
  • Interview those student(s) involved in the alleged bullying and any potential witnesses
  • Check CCTV, mobile phones, etc for evidence
  • When following up an incident listen carefully to all accounts
  • Issue the appropriate sanction where required
  • Explain that the student should report any further incidents to the pastoral team or any other member of staff immediately.
  • Check up on the student at an appropriate future date to ensure that bullying does not persist

Dealing with incidences of cyber bullying

The Academy will advise students involved in cyberbullying incidents to:

  • Avoid retaliating or returning messages
  • Check what information is in the public domain
  • Keep any relevant evidence
  • Prevent the incident from recurring, for example by changing contact details and blocking contacts

Where there is evidence that a phone has been used in a cyberbullying incident, staff can use disciplinary powers to confiscate the phone.

Working with Parents and Carers

  • WHA will work with parents in dealing with bullying
  • Tackling bullying at WHA is everyone’s responsibility
  • All staff, students and parents should be aware that bullying exists and share a commitment to combat it and to make WHA a happy safe environment for everyone.
  • Parents, carers and families are often the first to detect signs of bullying. Common physical symptoms include headaches, stomach aches, anxiety and irritability.
  • WHA will encourage parents who suspect that their son or daughter is bullying or being bullied to immediately contact the Academy and make an appointment to see a member of the relevant house team immediately.
  • Parents and carers will be informed of incidents and involved in discussions. The Academy will discuss with parents how they can work together to stop the bullying.
  • Guidance will be provided to parents to aid them if they feel their child is being bullied in school

The Law

Some forms of bullying are illegal and must be reported to the police. These include:

  • Violence or assault
  • Theft
  • Repeated harassment or intimidation, e.g. name calling, threats and abusive phone calls, emails or text messages
  • Hate crimes

Some advice on how to avoid being bullied

  • Be friendly. Friends help you avoid these situations.
  • React calmly, walk away to avoid further reaction.
  • Think positively about yourself. Be confident.
  • If you do experience bullying let a staff member know

Some advice on how to avoid being a bully

  • Talk about problems, rather than taking them out on someone else.
  • Don't make unpleasant remarks about anybody – even if you intend them as a joke. Always discuss these issues with your friends and if you feel they may take such comments seriously do not make them.
  • Try to avoid confrontations: find some way and somewhere to cool down.
  • Never send hurtful remarks to anyone on social media

Anti-Bullying Policy - Summary for Parents/Carers

No school is immune from bullying and no school should be complacent If bullying occurs. Staff at Washwood Heath Academy recognise bullying behavior as all forms of physical and psychological abuse systematically directed at victims who find this hurtful. We take responsibility for helping all students to understand what bullying is and the harm it can do. We believe that adults can set an example in their own behavior. We hope that the ethos of the school will help to instill mutual respect and civilized behavior.

We recognise that in our preventative approach to bullying we should provide pupils with the opportunity to discuss the topic through form tutor periods, assemblies and PSHE lessons. We will also ensure that every student knows where, when and to whom they can talk about any bullying incidents. This may be staff at school or parents at home. Pupils must feel confident that talking to adults is the proper course of action if they witness or experience bullying in any form.

If you discover that your child is being bullied do not encourage him or her to 'hit back'. It may be contrary to your child's nature and may be just what the bully wants. Emphasise to your child that there is nothing wrong with him or her and that he or she can be helped. Contact the Academy immediately and ask to speak to a member of staff from your child’s house team.

The whole school community (parents, pupils, teaching and support staff) has a role to play in combating bullying. All pupils should be aware that there is no such thing as an innocent bystander and the school neither condones nor ignores bullying, while all adults should be familiar with this policy to avoid inappropriate action being taken. We should all be committed to ensuring that every student receives his or her education in a safe environment free from humiliation, oppression or harassment.

We all have a responsibility to make sure that bullying has no place at Washwood Heath Academy.

1