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Anti-Bullying

Anti-Bullying at City of Rochester School

City of Rochester School is a happy and caring school where expectations of behaviour are high. We provide a safe, inclusive, and positive learning environment where our pupils can understand and express their feelings and respect those of others. We work together as a community with our pupils, parents staff, trustees and the wider community to share and enjoy our values.

In providing a safe environment for children, the school does not tolerate any form of bullying behaviour including repeated acts of discrimination. All acts of bullying are taken seriously and will be dealt with in accordance with our anti-bullying policy. As a school we are proud to take place in the annual Anti-Bullying Week as part of our Cultural and Diversity calendar. We provide a range of activities to raise awareness, promote a culture of inclusion and acceptance, and highlight the impact of bullying and the role that we all take in preventing it. This is supported with by our PSHE curriculum through which children learn the value of diversity, difference, and acceptance. Our pupil mentors support their peers and help ensure that our pupils know they are safe and can embrace their individuality.

 

Anti Bullying Policy
Anti-Bullying Leaflet
Child-Friendly Safeguarding Policy
Key Information

The education and inspections act 2006 outlines several legal obligations regarding the schools response to bullying. Under section 89, schools must have measures in place to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. These measures are part of the schools behavioural policy, which is communicated to all pupils, school staff and parents.

All staff, parents and pupils work together to prevent and reduce any instances of bullying at the school. There is a zero-tolerance policy for bullying at the school.

The Anti-Bullying policy has been written in accordance with guidance, including, but not limited to:
DfE (2017) ‘Preventing and tackling bullying’
DfE (2018) ‘Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and
colleges’
DfE (2018) ‘Mental health and wellbeing provision in schools’.

Meet the Anti-Bullying Team
Alison Barton
Becci Dunn
Kaylee Ben-Hania
Kelly Lovell
Kirstine Boon
Useful links
Anti-Bullying Week

Anti-Bullying Week 2024 will take place from Monday 11th – Friday 15th November – coordinated in England & Wales by the Anti-Bullying Aliance; with the theme: Choose Respect. Odd Socks Day is taking place on Tuesday 12th November, with adults and children being encouraged to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

Antibullying-2023
Anti-bullying flowchart
Peer Mentor
What is Bullying
Types of Bullying
  • Physical – A child can be physically punched, kicked, hit, spat at etc.
  • Verbal – Verbal abuse can take the form of name calling.It may be directed towards gender, ethic origin, physical/social disability, or personality etc.
  • Emotional – Isolating others, tormenting, hiding things, threatening gestures, ridicule, humiliation, intimidating, excluding, manipulation and coercion.
  • Online/Cyber – Posting on social media, sharing photos, sending inappropriate text messages, social exclusion.
  • Indirect – Can include the exploitation of individuals.
  • Racial, Religious/Cultural – racial, religious or cultural taunts, graffiti or gestures
  • Special Educational Needs & Disability – Negative or abusive comments to anyone who appears to be ‘different’ mentally of physically.
  • Homophobic – Because of, of focussing on the issue of homosexuality, homophobic abuse/ language.
  • Exclusion – A child can be bullied simply by being repeatedly excluded from discussions or activities, with those they believe to be their friends.
  • Damage to property or theft – Pupils may have their property damaged or stolen. Physical threats may be used by the bully in order that the pupil hands over property to them.
Bullying Outside of School

Schools are not directly responsible for bullying that occurs off the premises but we know that bullying can occur outside the school gates and on journeys to and from school.

The bullying may be perpetrated by children from our own school, by children from other schools or by people who are not at school at all.

Where a child or parent/Carer informs us of bullying off the School premises we will:

  • Talk to the children about how to avoid or handle bullying outside of the school.
  • Talk to the Headteacher of any other school whose children are bullying.
  • Talk to the Police where it is deemed necessary.
Suspected Bullying-Action Taken

If bullying is suspected we talk to the suspected victim, the suspected bully and any witnesses. Help, support and counselling will be given as is appropriate to both the victims and bullies. If any degree of bullying is identified, the following action will be taken;


To support the victims we will:


Offer immediate opportunities to talk about the experience with the class teacher, support staff, Head of Pastoral Care, or any other adult the child may choose.
Inform the victim’s parents/guardians.
The class teacher and support staff will monitor and support the situation, working closely with the Head of Pastoral Care.
The pupil will be offered a 1:1 session with the Head of Pastoral Care.
External referral for support may be made.
Arrange for the children to be escorted to and from the school premises
Apply one or more of the disciplinary steps described below to prevent
further incidents.
In all cases we will try to empower the victim to seek help and feel confident and safe in resolving the issue.


Perpetrator:


All incidents will be investigated fully by the head teacher and Head of Pastoral Care.
The class teams will monitor and support the situation, working closely with the Head of Pastoral Care;(also DeputyDesignated Safeguarding Lead).