How bullying is prevented

The school raises awareness of the nature of bullying and different types of bullying in PSHE lessons, form time, assemblies and sometimes subject lessons in an attempt to raise awareness of such behaviour. Pupils are told how to report bullying and how it is dealt with. Assemblies address different forms of bullying (including racism and homophobia) in a systematic way. In assemblies teachers openly discuss differences between people that could motivate bullying, such as religion, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality. Pupils are taught that using any prejudice-based language is unacceptable. The Pupil Wellbeing Lead and Key Stage Directors review information about bullying regularly and evaluate the effectiveness of the methods used to prevent and tackle it. All teaching staff recognise that bullying and peer-on-peer abuse can be child protection issues that must be addressed.
 

How bullying is dealt with

A pupil who has been bullied will be given support. Time will be made available so that he has an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with a form tutor, Head of Year, Pupil Support Manager or another member of staff of his choice. The purpose of this discussion will be to explore what has happened and provide reassurance for the pupil. This may lead to on-going support with the designated member of staff, the school counsellor or school nurse or somebody else. Over time, the goal will be to ensure that self-esteem and self-confidence is restored. Parents will be contacted and, where necessary, given further information and advice.
 
A pupil who has perpetrated bullying will also be given the opportunity to discuss what has happened and how he become involved. The purpose of this meeting will be to ensure that the perpetrator accepts that his behaviour was wrong, knows that the bullying must stop and that he will be closely monitored – and to establish the plan of action for improving his attitude. Occasionally, the perpetrator may also be advised to seek counselling or anger management support.
 
Where appropriate, bystanders (see below) will also be spoken to about how they become involved and what made them speak out (or what prevented them from doing so).
 
All instances of bullying are recorded and reviewed over time to ensure that the bullying behaviour has definitely come to an end (and to help us in develop the school strategy to prevent bullying).