Anti-Bullying Policy In VIS , it is recognised that bullying is an unpleasant and unacceptable feature of school life. The whole school staff, in conjunction with Parents are committed to reducing the number of incidents of bullying in school and associated problems within the immediate school environment.
What is bullying? Bullying takes a variety of forms. It can be defined as repeated and systematic harassment or attack on others. It may be by individuals or groups. It can include many different behaviours, such as:
1. Physical violence or attacks
2. Verbal taunts, name-calling, put-downs, ridicule
3. Threats and intimidation
4. Extortion or stealing of money / possessions
5. Damage of personal property
6. Exclusion from a particular group.
All of these may cause real distress or upset for the victims. This can affect their learning and general well-being.
In the school, Circle Time/PSE helps ease the transition process with one of the main focuses on “anti-bullying”
The “Buddy System” is well established, as an initiative to help support the new intake, again with a view to highlighting any bullying problems in the early stages.
Senior Students are now to have the opportunity to extend their roles as Buddies, to become involved in Peer Mediation, specifically to address the problem of bullying. Training will be provided for this initiative.
All pupils have a Key Teacher and/or a guardian Teacher who is the first point of contact for pupils and parents, if there are any concerns.
All members of staff must adhere to a discipline Code of Conduct for pupils which ensures consistency of approach towards pupil behaviour across subject departments.
Ground rules for acceptable pupil behaviour are re-enforced in P.S.E classes.
Vulnerable pupils are identified and participate in group work, focusing on self-awareness.
Individual work and group work take place for pupils who have been bullies themselves, to look at their behaviour and its effects on others.
School staff work closely together to tackle the problem of bullying.