Anti-Bullying
We recognise the potential for bullying exists in all schools. It is a complex issue that has many dimensions to it. The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as "the intentional hurting of one person by another, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power". Brimsham School supports the above definition of bullying and also recognises that bullying is usually repetitive or persistent behaviour which can sometimes be unintentional.
Different types of Bullying
What is bullying behaviour?
Bullying or bullying behaviour can be divided into the following:
Physical
Assault, pushing shouldering, elbowing, tripping, slapping, kicking, hair pulling, unacceptable touching (including that of a sexual nature), throwing missiles, blocking i.e. preventing movement through an access point, pinching, stabbing, burning, spitting or any other form of physical activity that makes another person feel threatened or intimidated.
Verbal
Racist, sexual, homophobic words, any words used in a sexual or aggressive manner designed to hurt or cause deliberate offence, comments about size, appearance, odour, clothing, academic or other abilities, home life, social circumstances, financial circumstances, spreading rumours or any other comments designed to be hurtful or sued to intimidate.
Written
Any insults contained in note-passing, threatening letters, graffiti, defacing any property belonging to another individual.
Interference with another individual
Theft, extortion, vandalism, defacing of property, ruling games, blackmail or any other activity designed to intimidate or hurt.
Psychological pressure - silent bullying
Social exclusion, rude gestures, lying, slander, passing or starting rumours, name calling, reorganising or pressurising friendship groups or any other activity designed to intimidate or hurt an individual.
Cyber bullying
Cyberbullying is the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else.
Cyberbullying is an issue for the whole school community and here at Brimsham Green School we have policies and procedures in place to help keep you safe whilst you are in school, and to give you as much information and guidance as possible to keep you safe when not in school.
Take a look at www.thinkyouknow.co.uk. This CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) website gives you up to date on line information and tells you what to do if things go wrong, or you are worried.
Racist bullying
Name calling, incitement, making comments about a person's country or culture or appearance, commenting on parents, spreading rumours.
Homophobic bullying
Name calling, making hurtful comments regarding a particular lifestyle, commenting on or slandering parents or other relations/friends, spreading rumours.
Subtle bullying
Looking at a person in a particular way, swearing at or about a person.
Incitement of others
To become involved e.g. by blackmailing, excluding, or threatening behaviours.
What should you do?
Students:
If you are being bullied in school:
- Talk to an adult in school that you trust, use your safeguarding stickers and take a friend if it helps
- Don't listen to the bully when they say that you will be in trouble if you talk to someone. You aren't doing anything wrong - they are
- What you say will be passed on to your Head of House - you will be taken seriously
- If you need somewhere safe, there will be a place for you to go while the problem is being sorted out. Your Head of House will organise this for you.
If you see someone being bullied at school:
- The best thing you can do to help is to talk to someone
- Look at your safeguarding sticker and speak to the appropriate adult
- Speak to your parents or other member of your family
Report bullying by: e-mail: jhewitt@brimsham.com Remember to put your name on any message you send, we cannot help you if we don't know who you are.
Parents:
If your child is being bullied or is bullying in school:
- Talk to your child about their worries and concerns
- Contact the school and ask to speak to the child's Head of House or email Ms Hewitt (Assistant Head Teacher) at jhewitt@brimsham.com
- Talk over the problem with us and help us be sure of our facts. In particular, children who are being bullied can become upset, anxious and confused about what has actually happened
- Don't let your child talk you out of contacting school if the problem is to be solved
Bullying by text message on mobile phones
Independent research has suggested that this may be an increasing problem. Children should be careful whom they give their phone number to, and keep a record of the date and time of any offensive message. Teachers need to encourage victims to save messages they are concerned about and let a member of staff see them. When students report a bullying text message the school needs to take the complaint seriously; the child's family might also need to contact the police. If one or more students on a persistent basis have carried out such bullying, or there has been a threat of violence, it will need to be dealt with firmly. The same also applies to malicious e-mails sent by other pupils. (DfES)
Advice on protection from mobile phone bullying
How to protect yourself:
- Be careful when giving out your telephone number
- Mobile phones are relatively inexpensive and if you start getting abusive calls or text messages then it might be better to get another phone/SIM card than to keep using one which is causing you distress, unfair though this may be
- Keep a note of the times and dates of abusive messages
- Report it to the police
Advice on protection from email bullying in school
- Inform a member of staff
- Do not delete the message