Reviewed by:
Previous Review: January 2024
Approved by the Board:
Aims:
At Jewels Leading Lights International, we are aware that bullying is unacceptable and can damage students’ individual and educational needs. We, therefore, do all we can to prevent it, by developing a school ethos in which bullying is not tolerated under any circumstances. This policy aims to:
• Provide a safe and secure environment for all students in our care
• Produce a consistent school response to any bullying incident that may occur
• Ensure that everyone is mutually valued and respected regardless of gender, race, beliefs and ability
• Encourage students to adopt agreed standards of behaviour and values to develop a sense of self-discipline and to take responsibility for their own actions
• Create a Christ-centred and joyful atmosphere in which both parents and staff work together for the welfare of the students
• Ensure that there is a clear understanding of the definition of bullying and the reasons for it
• Make all those connected with the school aware of our opposition to bullying
• Make clear, each person’s responsibilities concerning the eradication of bullying in our school
Policy Statement:
At Jewels Leading Lights International, we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to operate in a way that protects them. Therefore, our mission is:
• To develop a community of learning which is geared towards the holistic development of each student
· To prevent bullying from happening between children and young people who are a part of our organisation or take part in our activities.
· To make sure bullying is stopped as soon as possible if it does happen and that those involved receive the support they need
· To provide information to all staff, volunteers, students and their families about what we should all do to prevent and deal with bullying
· To foster the pursuit of academic excellence, respecting the specific potential and talents of each student
· To value, within the total school community, self-respect, respect for others and the environment
· To recognise and affirm the unique value and contribution of each student
· To nurture and empower our students to be confident and reliable guardians of their tomorrow
Guidance:
Roles and Responsibilities
The Head of School – Has overall responsibility for the policy and its implementation and liaising with the staff and parents/carers.
Key Contact Personnel – DSL, DDSL, , Heads of Department
The anti-bullying coordinator will have general responsibility for handling the implementation of this policy.
Their responsibilities are:
- Policy development and review
- Implementing the policy and monitoring and assessing its effectiveness in practice
- Ensuring evaluation takes place and that this informs policy review
- Managing bullying incidents
- Managing the reporting and recording of bullying incidents
- Assessing and coordinating training and support for staff and parents/carers where appropriate
- Coordinating strategies for preventing bullying behaviour
The Definition of Bullying
Bullying is an “unprovoked and repeated behaviour that meets a need for excitement, status, material gain or group process and does not meet the needs or rights of other people who are harmed, made to feel miserable or frightened by the behaviour.”
It is likely to occur between students, but also between staff and students within or outside the school premises. Teasing and exclusion are less serious in that no physical harm is caused but can lead to just as much distress and unhappiness. In every case, there is an imbalance and abuse of power: the stronger (not necessarily the older or bigger) inflicts an abuse of his/her power upon a person who is somehow perceived as weaker.
Friendship problems may be an occasional incident where both students disagree and find it difficult to resolve the disagreement without adult help. It is unlikely to be repeated behaviour and may even be accidental, where both children make an effort to resolve the problem.
However, we recognise that repeated friendship problems can sometimes lead to bullying behaviour.
The three common aspects in most definitions of bullying are:
• It is a deliberately hurtful behaviour
• It is usually repeated over time
• There is an imbalance of power, which makes it hard for those being bullied to defend themselves
With clear preventive steps and an open policy against bullying, we hope that Jewels Leading Lights International will remain as free as possible from the problem.
Bullying can take many forms:
· Physical bullying (hitting, punching, finger jabbing, any inappropriate touching, pinching, jostling)
· Verbal bullying (name-calling, threats, teasing, ridiculing, belittling, excessive criticism or sarcasm)
· Indirect bullying (rumours or stories, exclusion from a group, shunning, invading privacy, graffiti designed to embarrass, withholding friendship or affection.)
· Cyber (bullying by sending nasty phone calls, text, video or audio messages or e-mails/chat rooms)
The role of the school
However, sometimes children can be, and are, nasty to each other and the following guidelines offer help in how to deal with such situations. These guidelines are for the use of students and teachers who come across any form of bullying.
First steps for:
Students
a. If you feel you are being “picked on” (or teased) tell a member of staff (Class Teacher or any other) in confidence.
b. If you see anyone being bullied (or teased) inform a member of staff immediately.
c. Never support a bully.
d. Do not accept a bully as a friend.
e. Remember that you can hurt others by doing and saying unpleasant things as well as being a physical bully.
f. Remember also that by doing and saying nothing, you are helping the bully.
g. Cyberbullying on social media or other online means is equally as bad as in-person bullying.
Parents:
a. Talk to your child and gently find out as much information as possible. Listen attentively to your child when he or she talks about the bullying. Your child’s emotional expression is an important aspect of healing. Ask for details, but don’t push too hard.
b. To ensure that trust is maintained with your child, be discreet at all times when dealing with the information they may give you.
c. Try to see both sides of any situation.
d. Give your child positive and constructive advice on how to deal with the situation over the next few days.
e. If the problem persists make contact with your child’s Class Teacher. This could be done via email, a phone call through the school office or in person.
f. A meeting can be held with the relevant teacher to find a way forward to assist your child.
g. The school will always be willing to listen to any concerns that parents may have about the well-being of their child. Communication is very important.
Staff:
a. Remain calm; you are in charge. Reacting emotionally may add to the bully's fun and give the bully control of the situation.
b. Take the incident or report seriously. Incidents need to be resolved, not just smoothed over.
c. Take action as quickly as possible but give yourself time to think through the situation before reacting. Blame may not be one-sided. Both victim(s) and alleged bully(ies) must be spoken to. Do not jump to conclusions.
d. Remember that bullies have often been bullied themselves either in school or at home – are there any other underlying Safeguarding issues?
e. Think hard about whether your action needs to be private or public.
f. Reassure the victim(s). Please don't make them feel inadequate or foolish.
g. Offer concrete help, advice and support to the victim(s).
h. Make it plain to the bully that you disapprove.
i. Encourage the bully to see the victim’s point of view and put himself or herself in his/her place.
j. Deal with every bully appropriately according to the school’s disciplinary policy and procedures. Take into account your knowledge of him/her and which type of “punishment” would be effective for the bully. For example, some children will respond to a teacher’s anger/disapproval by being mortified and by changing their behaviour; whereas others might be so used to hearing angry and disapproving words from adults that a teacher’s anger would not be effective and so much more counselling could be necessary.
k. Remember it is known that the “blame-punishment” approach is flawed – the bully usually ends up feeling abused and vengeful. It does not encourage the bully to accept responsibility for their behaviour and try to change.
l. Record all incidents of bullying on the Conduct log in Scholarpack if you have been the main staff member dealing with the incident.
Measures designed to support the school’s policy
Students are taught that bullying is not tolerated at Jewels Leading Lights International. This is reinforced by all adults within the school especially teachers through Chapel, Spiritual formation classes, PSHE, Circle Time and Assemblies, which focus on aspects of bullying and interpersonal relationships. Openness is encouraged.
Staff are advised on measures to prevent, detect and deal with bullying, whilst non-academic staff are encouraged to report unacceptable behaviour they witness and students who seem anxious or unhappy. Parental support and communication are encouraged.
The “Who will listen to me?” poster is displayed around the school. Class Teachers explain it to students, emphasising the options open to them for communicating all problems to someone who will listen and help.
Reliance is placed on the Class Teachers who model the love of Jesus Christ in their classrooms, where students should feel they have access to a confidential ‘ear’ regularly as they will see the pupils daily. They are alert to pick up an ‘atmosphere’ and unusual patterns of behaviour. PSHE lessons also provide an open forum for discussion where concerns can be voiced, and support sought and offered. In addition, Duty Staff visit remote parts of the school regularly during the duty day. Children are also encouraged to talk to any member of staff they feel comfortable with if they feel they need someone to confide in. All pupils are encouraged to speak to any member of staff they feel they can trust.
Jewels Leading Lights International’s approach should be preventive, constructive and positive and not only punitive.
Involving others – DO
· Inform the Safe Guarding officers, Heads of Departments or Year Group Leaders
· Inform colleagues if the incident arises out of an unexpected situation where everyone should be vigilant in the future.
· Recording incidents of bullying on the Conduct log should be completed by the appropriate member of staff. Relatively low-level bullying will be dealt with and recorded by the teacher. Heads of Department would record moderate and continuing bullying if they are dealing with it and the Head of School, if it has reached that level of severity. There would likely be a history of logged incidents and strategies tried in the more serious cases.
Final steps- DO
· Make sure that the incident doesn't live on through reminders from you or others.
· Try to think ahead to prevent a recurrence of the incident, if you uncover the trigger factor.
If you have to deal with bullying, what should you avoid? DON'T
· Be over-protective and refuse to allow the victim to help him or herself
· Assume that the bully is bad through and through; try to look objectively at the behaviour of the bully. Deal with the incident, not with the person
· Keep the whole incident a secret because you have dealt with it or if the victim asks you to
· Call in the parents without speaking to the Head of School, Deputy Head of School or Heads of Department first and without having a constructive plan to offer either side.
The school’s Responsibility
The Head of School and his Staff take a severe view of bullying and will investigate all cases with vigour and urgency.
a. The school’s ethos encourages and supports an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
b. Pupils are assured that someone will listen to their version of events.
c. Systems are in place to allow all staff to report concerns about pupils to the senior staff or Class Teacher.
d. A meeting between the Head of School/Deputy Head of School/Head of Department and the parent (and if need be, the culprit or/and victim) will take place.
e. Counselling by an appropriate person will be offered to all sides.
f. Jewels Leading Lights International will undertake to remove from school on a temporary or permanent basis anyone who makes another person’s life miserable. These decisions will be made at the discretion of the Head of School.