Anti-bullying

What is bullying?

 At the Heys School, we define bullying as:

“The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.”

 

Learning to understand and manage conflict is an important part of growing up. However, bullying is not simply a ‘falling out’. Research shows that experiencing bullying can have a significant impact on a child’s life well into adulthood. To ensure we are able to prevent bullying, act quickly when it takes place and avoid misidentifying bullying, everyone who belongs to our community has to have a shared definition of bullying.

The Heys School has a zero tolerance approach to bullying and encourages compassionate behaviour.  The aim of our anti-bullying policy is to clarify for students and staff that bullying is always unacceptable. We aim to create an environment where everyone is welcome and where  tolerance and respect, including respect for difference and diversity, are promoted.  Every student and member of staff has the right to be safe and happy in school, and the right to be protected when they are feeling vulnerable.

What is bullying behaviour?

Physical bullying

Verbal bullying

Hitting

Name calling

Taking or deliberately damaging people’s things

Making insulting or offensive remarks

Kicking 

Making threats 

Banter or bullying?

Banter and bullying regularly get confused. However, it is important that children understand where to draw the line between acceptable language and unacceptable language and to recognise if and when banter goes too far?

https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/what-bullying/banter

What is online bullying?

Online bullying (often referred to as cyberbullying) is any form of bullying that is carried out through the use of electronic media devices, such as computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, or gaming consoles.

What makes online bullying different?

We know there is a strong link between online bullying and face to face bullying. Research has shown that 80% of victims of online bullying were also bullied face to face.

Bullying is far more wide spread now it is online – it doesn’t just happen in school. It affects your social life. Your social life is online. How many people like your status or your picture. Social pressures are just made worse.  People who cyberbully often don’t see the reaction of those experiencing it so it can sometimes be harder for them to see the impact of their actions

This short video shows can you how to be an “upstander”, not a “bystander”.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqQCyQOCPg

What does Cyberbullying look like?

 

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

1. Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok

2. Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

3. Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

4. Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

5. Email

6. Online gaming communities

What to do if you think you are being bullied?

If you think you might be the victim of bullying, please speak to your year team immediately. You can go to see them, email them or send them an Impero Confide message alert from any computer in school.

For online support, we recommend the following websites:

Anti-Bullying alliance

www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

Childline

www.childline.org.uk

Family lives

www.familylives.org.uk

Kidscape

www.kidscape.org.uk

MindEd

www.minded.org.uk

NSPCC

www.nspcc.org.uk

The Big Award

www.bullyinginterventiongroup.co.uk/index.php

PSHE association

www.pshe-association.org.uk

Restorative justice council

www.restorativejustice.org.uk

The Diana Award

www.diana-award.org.uk

Victim Support

www.victimsupport.org.uk

Young minds

www.youngminds.org.uk

Young carers

www.youngcarers.net

SEND changing faces

www.changingfaces.org.uk

Mencap

www.mencap.org.uk

Childnet International

www.childnet.com

Digizen

www.digizen.org

UK Safer Internet Centre

www.saferinternet.org.uk

Kick It Out

www.kickitout.org

Stop Hate

www.stophateuk.org

LGBT Barnardos LGBT Hub

www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_work/lgbtq.htm

The Proud Trust

www.theproudtrust.org

Stonewall

www.stonewall.org.uk