All children at Oakway Academy have the right to feel safe and respected at school. We believe that bullying of any kind is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community. All incidents of bullying will be taken seriously.
What is bullying?
In the DfE Guidance: Preventing and tackling bullying: Advice for head teachers, staff
and governing bodies (2017), bullying is defined as:
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, which can include
the use of images and video) 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, in care or has caring
responsibilities.
Bullying is repeated, unwanted, aggressive behaviour which hurts someone on purpose. Bullying can be social, physical, verbal or “cyber”.
Bullying can be/include:
- Physical: involving pushing, punching, hitting or kicking
- Verbal: involving name calling, teasing, taunting and threatening
- Silent Exclusion: involving the isolation of the victim by ignoring him or her or
by excluding him or her from group activities (may be as a result of conflict
within a friendship group and / or refusal to accept a request for a youth
produced sexual image etc.) - Emotional: being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, undermining
- Racist: racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
- Sexual: unwanted physical contact, sexually abusive comments or demands
for sexually explicit images (“Youth produced sexual imagery” – may also be cyber) - Homophobic: because of or focussing on the issue of sexuality or sexual preference
- Biphobic: because of or focussing on the issue of sexuality or sexual
preference - Transphobic: because of or focussing on the issue of gender identity or gender preference
- Cyber: all areas of the internet such as email, chat room misuse, mobile threats by text messaging and calls, misuse of associated technology (see ESafety policy)
- Thieving: taking other students property without their permission
The forms that bullying can take include:
- Rude gestures or mimicry of any kind
- Deliberate damage to the victim’s property
- Taking property without permission
- Extortion of money, sweets or other belongings
- Malicious gossip, negative ‘banter’ or the purposeful generation/spread of
rumour (including online / text) - Forcing (coercion) the victim to do something against their will (E.g. see
“Sexual” above) - Gangs or groups of students who gather in large groups with the sole purpose
of intimidation - Holding power over other students by the use of intimidation
What bullying is not?
It is important to understand that bullying is not the odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when the occasional trick or joke is played on someone. It is bullying if it is done several times on purpose.
Children sometimes fall out and say things because they are upset. When occasional problems of this kind arise it is not classed as bullying but all incidents of relational conflict are investigated and responded to.
Concerns about bullying should be reported at the earliest possible opportuntity to a member of school staff. Children should feel confident to report concerns to their teacher, teaching assistant, lunchtime assistant, phase leader or other senior member of staff.
A parent or guardian who is concerned about incidences of bullying are encouraged to ring into the Academy and speak to a phase leader or other senior member of staff.
All concerns will be treated seriously. Unpicking the incident will become an immediate priority, and will happen at the earliest possible time by a member of the senior leadership team.
How can you report concerns about bullying?
Responding to bullying?
Dealing With Cases of Bullying Behaviour (Supporting the Victim/s)
We believe that it is essential for problems to be resolved quickly. Children, parents/carers are regularly made aware of the necessity to report incidents of bullying behaviour to a member of staff as soon as possible. If bullying behaviour is reported to any member of staff, that staff member will find a quiet place to talk and:
1. Listen and continue to listen at all stages. This will reassure the victim that they have done the right thing by speaking up and their concerns are valid.
2. Inform the welfare team. At this stage either the member of staff or our Welfare Officers will continue with the procedure as appropriate.
3. Discuss support strategies, and the outcome the victim is seeking.
4. Record the incident on Class Charts and set in motion any support for the victim that will be reviewed. Inform the Principal.
5. Inform parents / carers so that we can work in partnership to support the child.
6. Inform other adults who work with the child (with the child’s consent).
Dealing With Cases of Bullying Behaviour (Supporting the Perpetrator/s)
Before taking any action we will hear both sides and assess the nature of the problem, keep an open mind and not jump to any conclusion. If after this we believe bullying behaviour has in fact taken place we will take action.
Curriculum Support & Preventative Measures
To prevent bullying behaviour we aim to:
- Emphasise to children which behaviours are acceptable
- Raise awareness of bullying behaviours through the Personal Development and
Assemblies curriculums and by supporting events and activities such as AntiBullying week - Teach children how to talk about their problems (using principles of Restorative
Approaches) - Empower children to solve some of their own problems, using restorative approaches: but to recognise when problems become too big for them to handle
- Teach children how to get help and advice, including the use of daily check-ins and worry boxes
- Empower bystanders to intervene appropriately and report bullying behaviour
- Demonstrate to children how we deal successfully with problems
- Promote inclusiveness and empathy towards other cultures, life styles and experiences, through the curriculum
- Provide a wide range of equipment and resources for children to engage with during lunch and break times
- Provide regular training for staff on anti-bullying