Anti-bullying Policy

Approving Body: AGC

Ratified: June 2023 (AGC 6)

Next review:  scheduled June 2024 (AGC 6)

Policy Statement

1. Scope: This policy applies to all pupils and staff at Co-op Academy New Islington, irrespective of their age and whether or not a pupil is in our care when/if bullying behaviour occurs. It should be read alongside the school's Relationships and Behaviour Policy
2. Publication: This policy is available to all parents and pupils via the school's website and is also available on request from the school office.  It is also available to all members of staff via the staff intranet.
3. Policy aims:  Through the operation of this policy we aim:  

• To have regard to DfE guidance Preventing and Tackling Bullying – advice for head teachers, staff and governors. This  document defines bullying as follows:

‘Behaviour by an individual or group, repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally. Bullying can take many forms (for instance, cyber-bullying via text messages, social media or gaming), and is often motivated by prejudice against particular groups, for example on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, special educational needs or disabilities or because a child is adopted or in care . It might be motivated by actual differences between children, or perceived differences. Stopping violence and ensuring immediate physical safety is obviously a school’s first priority but emotional bullying can be more damaging than physical; teachers and schools have to make their own judgements about each specific case.’

• To maintain a positive, supportive and caring culture among all pupils and staff throughout our school; and
• To deter bullying behaviour, detect it when it occurs, and deal with it in a proactive way, addressing the issues restoratively.
  

4. Principles: Bullying behaviour is always unacceptable and will not be tolerated for three, key reasons:

• It is harmful to the person who is bullied, as well as those who engage in bullying behaviour. It can, in some cases, lead to lasting psychological damage
• It interferes with a pupil's right to enjoy their learning and leisure time free from intimidation; and
• It is contrary to all our aims and values, our internal culture and our reputation.
  

Bullying Behaviour

5. Meaning:  Bullying is behaviour which, over time, hurts or causes distress by taking unfair advantage of another person in some way, making the victim feel uncomfortable or threatened.  

6. Causes: There are many possible causes of bullying.  These include:

• Sexual - talking to or touching someone in a sexually inappropriate way;
• Sexist - related to a person's gender;
• Racist – related to a person’s race;
• Homophobic - related to a person's sexual orientation;
• Bullying related to a person’s religion or culture;
• Bullying related to a person's home circumstances; and/or
• Bullying related to a person's disability, health, special educational needs or appearance.

Equally, however, the act of bullying may not be related to any obvious cause at all.

7. Manifestations: Similarly, bullying may manifest itself in a variety of different forms.  These include:

• Physical – all forms such as hitting, kicking or pushing; spitting; or taking, damaging or hiding another child’s possessions;
• Verbal – including repeated name calling, taunting, teasing, insulting behaviour or demanding from them money or other tangible items of value;
• Exclusionary behaviour – including intimidating, isolating or excluding a person from a group;
• General acts of unkindness – including spreading rumours
• Cyber bullying – including using the internet, mobile telephones, texts, emails and social networking sites.
  

8. Cyber bullying:  Co-op Academy New Islington has an Acceptable Use Policy which deals with ‘cyber bullying’. This can be defined as the deliberate use of information and communications technology (ICT), particularly mobile telephones and the internet, to upset someone else.
9. Intention:  Not all bullying is deliberate or intended to hurt.  Some individuals may see their hurtful conduct as ‘teasing’  ‘banter’ or ‘a game’.  Whilst these forms of bullying are equally unacceptable, they may not be malicious and, as a result, can be corrected quickly with advice and without disciplinary sanctions.  However, it should be understood that a bully who does not respond appropriately to advice will face sanctions provided for by our Relationships and Behaviour Policy and/or our Exclusions Policy
10. Responsibility:  It is everyone's responsibility to ensure, whatever the circumstances, that no-one becomes a victim of bullying.  
11. Legal aspects:  Bullying behaviour also may be regarded as threatening behaviour or harassment, which again can be either a criminal offence or a civil wrong.

Anti-Bullying Culture

12. Ethos:  Our expectation of all members of our school community is that:

• Everyone will uphold our school values which are shared with families and discussed everyday by all staff; our core values are respect, kindness, cooperation and resilience which fall under the umbrella statement ‘We do the right thing’.
• A pupil or a member of staff who witnesses or hears of an incident of bullying will report it;
• A complaint of bullying always will be taken seriously; and
• No one will tolerate unkind actions or remarks or stand by when someone else is being bullied.

Parents are also encouraged to report any incidents of bullying which they witness or of which they become aware.

13. Equal opportunities:  Across all our classes:

• Discriminatory words and behaviour are unacceptable;
• Positive attitudes are fostered towards people who are disabled and towards the different ethnic, cultural and linguistic group; and
• Positive attitudes are fostered towards both sexes and those with different sexual orientations through our ‘Co-op Academy New IslingtonCurriculum 2020’ and our PHSE Scheme of Work. We have a positive ethos that is reflected through posters around school
  

14. Staff:  Through their training and experience, members of staff are expected to promote an anti-bullying culture by:

• Celebrating achievement;
• Anticipating problems and providing support;
• Disciplining sensibly and fairly;
• Making opportunities to listen to pupils; and
• Acting as advocates of pupils.
  

15. Pupils: Pupils are informed and taught that bullying will not be tolerated at Co-op Academy Co-op Academy New IslingtonThey are encouraged: to celebrate the effort and achievements of others; to hold and promote positive attitudes; to feel able to share problems with staff; to turn to someone they trust, if they have a problem; and not to feel guilty when making complaints.

Anti-Bullying Strategy

16. Approach:  Our strategy for detecting and dealing with bullying is designed to operate both consistently throughout the whole school
17. Vigilance:  Members of staff are vigilant at all times.  However, this is particularly so when pupils are participating in less structured sessions such as play time and lunchtime.
18. Meetings:  How we identify and address bullying is discussed in staff meetings and briefings.
19. Education:  A wide-ranging programme exists across all classes and ages to educate pupils about bullying and the implications of this policy. PHSE is incorporated into our Curriculum.
20. Assemblies and meetings with parents: Bullying is also the subject of assemblies conducted in school.  Anti-Bullying messages are reinforced in class and around school. Finally, we regularly advise and inform parents about keeping their child safe when online.
21. Staff training:  The prevention of bullying is one of a number of pastoral issues discussed with all staff. Appropriate training is arranged to ensure that staff have the necessary professional skills, especially awareness of the risk and indications of child abuse and bullying. In addition, we ensure that:

• There is an adequate staff presence at all times, including periods when pupils are not engaged in lessons;
• Staff are actively involved with pupils when they are on duty;
• Measures are taken to avoid boredom and lack of purpose among pupils, including the provision of a range of clubs and other organised activities during the lunch break and after school;
• Good behaviour and discipline is maintained at all times.
  

22. Pupils' responsibilities:  It is our aim for pupils to contribute to the success of this policy. We emphasise to all pupils the role which is expected of them in setting a good example and being helpful to younger pupils and each other and when to report concerns to staff.  
23. Record keeping and monitoring:  We maintain records of the welfare and development of individual pupils. Every complaint or report of bullying must be recorded on CPOMS, it being the responsibility of the class teacher to complete this report, in conjunction with the Head Teacher as required. However, our staff are aware of the many possible reasons why incidents of bullying might not be reported and advises staff and pupils accordingly.
24. Culture:  The failure of a victim or witness to report an incident of bullying would be contrary to the anti-bullying culture New Islington. A key goal of our anti-bullying strategy is to encourage every pupil to understand that:

• The primary aim will be for the bullying to cease rather than the punishment of the bully, though there will be circumstances where the latter is necessary.  Every complaint of bullying will be taken seriously;
• Members of staff will deal with a complaint correctly and effectively;
• There is a solution to nearly every problem of bullying; and
• A pupil who complains will receive support and advice and in many cases the problem can be dealt with on a ‘no-names’ basis.

Review

25. Review: This Policy will be reviewed annually by the Head Teacher in consultation with the Governors and others, and updated as necessary.  In undertaking the review, an account will be taken of the results of the monitoring as set out above, as well as any changes in legislation and/or statutory guidance and other relevant information gathered.

APPENDIX 1

Procedures for investigating reports of bullying

1. Guidelines:  The following procedures serve as a guideline, except where expressed in the terms "should' or "must".  When responding to individual cases, staff will draw upon their experience and training, together with the wealth of advice available from the Pastoral Team.

2. Reporting complaints of bullying:

Pupils: A pupil who is being bullied, or who is worried about another pupil being bullied, should complain without delay and inform a responsible adult.

Parents: Parents who are concerned that their child is being bullied should inform the class teacher in the first instance without delay.

Staff: Whilst this policy focuses on the bullying of pupils, it is recognised that staff can be the victims of bullying. 

3. Initial complaint:  A person in authority who learns of alleged bullying behaviour must respond quickly and sensitively by offering advice, support and reassurance to the alleged victim.  The allegation must be reported to the class teacher and to the Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher who must fully investigate this at the first opportunity but within three days at the most.

4. Response of the Class teacher: The class teacher must:  record the complaint; consult with the Head Teacher or Deputy Head teacher to agree on a strategy, and on who will take the lead. Where the allegation is particularly serious (e.g. where there are a large number of people involved either as victims or as bullies) the Head Teacher will then supervise the investigation (see para. 6 below).

5. Assessment:  The victim's classteacher, typically accompanied by another member of staff, will normally meet with the alleged victim and (unless the case is very serious) any other witnesses without delay – on the day itself or within three days at the most.  A full transcript of the meeting will be taken. This assessment will consider:

• The nature of the incident(s);
• The extent to which it is a ‘one-off’ or whether it forms a pattern of behaviour;
• The extent to which it involves an individual or a group;
• Whether any physical injury has been caused;  

6. Serious incident:  By contrast, if a class teacher believes that either serious bullying behaviour has occurred, or that serious bullying behaviour has recurred after warnings have been given to the bully, (s)he must inform the Head Teacher.  The Head Teacher will then interview the alleged victim, bully and any witnesses separately, in order to establish the facts of the case.  Other members of staff may be present. This should take place on the day or within three days or the incident being highlighted.

7. Liaising with parents: The staff member managing the investigation will notify the parents of the victim and bully, giving them appropriate information concerning the case and reassuring them that action is being taken. This should take place on the day of the incident, or on the day of notification of the incident, or within three days of this at the most.

8. Range of action:  When an allegation is upheld, the action will be recorded by the Head Teacher. The range of responses will include one or more of the following:

• Advice and support for the victim and, where appropriate, establishing a course of action to help the victim;
• Advice and support to the bully in trying to change his behaviour.  This may include clear instructions and a warning or final warning.
• A disciplinary sanction against the bully, in accordance with the our Relationships and Behaviour Policy and our Exclusions Policy such as a temporary exclusion;  
• In a very serious case or a case of persistent bullying, a pupil may be required to leave Co-op Academy New Islington permanently in accordance with the our Exclusions Policy;
• Involving social services or the police;
• Notifying the parents of one or both pupils about the case, providing details of the action taken as appropriate;
• Such other action as may appear to the senior management to be appropriate.

9. Monitoring:  The position should be monitored for as long as necessary thereafter.  Action may include: sharing information with colleagues and pupils on a ‘need to know’ basis so that they may be alert to the need to monitor certain pupils closely and provide reassurance and support to the victim; ongoing counselling and support; vigilance; discussing the incident at staff meetings; reviewing vulnerable individuals and areas of the school building.

10. Formal complaint:  If the victim or his parents are not satisfied with the action taken, they should be advised to make a formal complaint, according to our Complaints Procedure, which is accessible via the School website and available on request from the school office.

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