Anti-Bullying Policy

The aim of the anti-bullying policy is to ensure that pupils learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone; it is unacceptable. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.

Why do we need an Anti-Bullying Policy?

Persistent bullying can severely inhibit a child’s ability to learn effectively. The negative effects of bullying can have an impact on a person for their entire life.

This organization wishes to promote a secure and happy environment free from threat, harassment and any type of bullying behaviour. Therefore this policy promotes practices within the organization to reinforce our vision, and to remove or discourage practices that negate them.

What is Bullying?

Bullying occurs when an individual or a group uses strength or power to hurt, either physically or emotionally, by intimidating or demeaning others. Bullying can be emotional, physical, racist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, verbal or cyber. It is usually persistent and is often covert, and is a conscious attempt to hurt, threaten or frighten someone. Pupils who are being bullied, may show changes in behaviour, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults.

There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, lacking concentration or truanting from .

Bullying can take many forms including:

• Physical bullying which can include kicking, hitting, pushing and taking away belongings;

• Verbal bullying which includes name calling, mocking and making offensive comments;

• Emotional bullying which includes isolating an individual or spreading rumours about them;

• Cyber-bullying where technology is used to hurt an individual – for instance text messaging or posting messages/images on the internet or any form of social media

• Racist bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by racial, ethnic or cultural prejudice.

• Sexual bullying is where someone makes unwanted physical contact or makes sexually abusive comments.

• Homophobic and biphobic bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against lesbian, gay or bisexual people.

• Transphobic bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against people who identify as trans

• Disabilist bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against people with any form of disability.