Bullying
Bullying affects everyone, not just the bullies and the victims. It affects those other students who watch and those who witness the victim’s distress. It can damage the atmosphere of a class and even the climate of a school. Furthermore, less aggressive students can be drawn in by group pressure and begin participating in the bullying themselves.
Prince Rupert School believes that its students have the right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without the fear of being bullied. The school has procedures in place to deal with allegations of bullying in a firm, fair and prompt manner.
What is bullying?
The school defines bullying as “deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for the victim to defend him or herself.”
Bullying can manifest itself in one or more of the following ways:
- Physical: Students may be physically punched, kicked, hit or spat at.
- Verbal: Students may be called names or threatened with physical violence. Sometimes students are called names or made fun of because of their physical appearance, their social background, their ethnic origin, their religion or their perceived sexuality. Gossip and spreading rumours about someone can also be ways in which verbal bullying takes place.
- Exclusion: Students may be excluded from discussions or activities and made to feel isolated and unwanted.
- Extortion: Students may have their property damaged or stolen.
- Sexual harassment: A student may receive unwanted attention from someone else or may be picked on because of his or her gender.
- Textual harassment: Students may receive threatening or abusive texts or e-mails.
Having fun at someone else’s expense is bullying.
Prince Rupert School is against bullying in all its forms
and will treat all allegations of bullying seriously.
Signs of bullying
The following may be signs that your child is being bullied:
- An unwillingness to attend school
- Damaged clothing
- Unexplained bruises or other signs of injury
- Requests for extra money
- Property which has gone missing
- Loss of appetite and not being able to sleep at night
- Change of personality e.g. quieter than usual or withdrawn
What should students do?
- Don’t suffer in silence - tell a teacher, parent or any adult you can trust. Phone a helpline for advice.
- Don’t blame yourself - tell yourself you do not deserve to be bullied and be proud of who you are.
- Don’t react - try not to show that you are upset. Try not to retaliate. Walk away.
- Avoid danger zones - if possible, stay away from places the bully is likely to be. Stay with a group of friends who can help and support you.
What should parents do?
- Take an active role in your son or daughter’s education. Ask them about their day at school.
- Watch out for any of the signs of bullying outlined above.
- Talk to a member of staff immediately you know or suspect something is wrong. Your concern will be taken seriously and appropriate action will follow.
- It is important to tell your son or daughter not to fight back or to retaliate. This can make matters worse!
- Tell your son or daughter that there is nothing wrong with them and that they do not deserve to be bullied.
- Allow the school to handle the situation.
- Maintain regular contact with the school until the problem is solved.
What will the school do?
- Deal promptly, firmly and fairly with any complaint.
- Offer continuing support to the victim.
- Check the facts and try to find other witnesses.
- Confront the bully.
- Warn the bully of the possible sanctions they may face if their behaviour continues. Tell them the bullying must stop.
- Depending on the seriousness of the situation, it may be necessary to apply a suitable sanction immediately.
- In some cases, the bully and the victim will be interviewed together unless the victim is unwilling to allow this to happen. Both parties will be made aware of the effects of bullying and will be reminded of the school policy on bullying.
- If bullying continues, appropriate sanctions will be applied and the parents of the bully may be required to attend a meeting at school.
- Parents of both the victim and the bully will be informed of any sanctions taken.
- Help the bully to accept responsibility for their actions and help them to change their attitudes and behaviours in order to prevent them ever becoming involved in bullying again.
Contacts
At school, your son or daughter’s House Leader should be contacted in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the way in which your concern has been handled, you should then contact
Mr Smithson, Assistant Head Teacher (Student Support and Inclusion).
Prince Rupert School: 05751 970320 or 84 2320
| Kendal House | Leader | Mr. S. Jones | 05751 970329 or 84 2329 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant | Mrs. A. Thompson | ||
| Rinteln House | Leader | Mrs. K Rossiter | 05751 970200 or 84 2200 |
| Assistant | Mrs. G McDonald |
Kidscape: 0044 8451 205204 or www.kidscape.org.uk
Childline: 0044 800 1111