Anti Bullying
We believe in tackling incidents of bullying by encouraging an environment where individuality is celebrated and individuals can develop without fear. This involves including and engaging everyone’s perception of bullying.
If bullying does occur, all pupils and adults should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff and/ or their direct line manager. We use STOP (start telling other people) so everyone knows they will be listened to and taken seriously.
St. Clare’s Catholic Primary School adopts the following definition of bullying:
‘A physical, psychological or verbal attack against an individual or group of individuals by a person or groups of persons, causing physical or psychological harm to the victim’
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. It is conscious and wilful and commonly consists of repeated acts of aggression and/or manipulation. It can take a number of forms – both physical and non-physical, either in combination or in isolation.
Bullying can be:
Emotional e.g. being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures), being bossed, hurting people’s feelings, being nasty, mean, blackmailing.
Physical e.g. pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence, pushing people around.
Racial e.g. racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
Sexual e.g. unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
Gender e.g. harassment
Verbal e.g. name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing, being cheeky. Bullying by a third party.
Cyber e.g. all areas of internet such as email and internet chat room misuse. Mobile threats by text messaging and calls. Misuse of associated technology camera and video facilities
Homophobic e.g. because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality
Other concerns, that might not necessarily easily fit into these headings, will be taken seriously e.g. being picked on, taking advantage of another person.
St. Clare’s Catholic Primary School is aware that it is a possibility that the perpetrator may be an adult and will follow the local Child Protection procedures where this is the case.
From time to time, adults behave inappropriately towards each other. If any adult within the school community feels that they are being treated inappropriately they must report this to the Headteacher or Chair of Governors immediately.
All children, staff and parents are aware that bullying can be summarised as STOP (several times on purpose) as a working definition. This is communicated to all through staff CPD (provided by INSET, the Diocese and independent companies where appropriate), by School Council, in the policy, newsletters, as part of the curriculum and websites.
