What We Do About Bullying
We at Newbridge know that bullying is not widespread and we organise the school
in such a way as to minimise it.
- Bullying/anti-bullying involves everyone. Preventing it and solving problems involves a true partnership between all members of the school community, including parents.
- We listen to everyone without placing blame.
- We accept that, at times, direct action may be necessary.
- We believe everyone has a personal responsibility to prevent bullying.
What you can do if you are feeling threatened is:
Tell yourself that you do not deserve to be bullied.
- If you are different in some way, be proud of it.
- Ignore it if it’s not upsetting you.
- Try not to show that you are upset, even though it is sometimes difficult.
- Try to be assertive – say “NO!” loudly! Walk away confidently even if you don’t feel that way inside. Practise this.
- Avoid the bullies.
- Avoid lonely areas of the school.
- Choose a different way to school.
- Stay with groups of people. There is safety in numbers.
- Fighting back may make things worse.
Who can help if you are being bullied:
- Talk to an adult you trust. We promise to listen to you in confidence and to take you seriously. We are experienced in dealing with bullies in a way which will end the bullying and will not make things worse for you.
- Talk to your parents.
- Talk to the School Counsellor.
- Ask your friends to help.
What you can do if bullying is going on is to:
- Remember, bullying hurts the victim and destroys our respect for the bully.
- Talk with an adult. You will be supported.
- Talk to your parents.
- Talk to the bully.
- Be friendly to anyone who is being bullied.
REMEMBER – YOUR SILENCE IS THE BULLY’S GREATEST WEAPON.
What you can do if people think you are a bully is:
- Tell yourself that bullying is wrong.
- Talk to an adult at school. We will try to help.
- Talk to your parents.
- Talk to a friend.
- Make every effort to put the feelings of others before your own.
What parents can do is:
- Watch for signs of distress in your children. For instance, they could be
unwilling to attend school, feel unwell regularly, have missing equipment or be “losing” money. - Take an active interest in your child’s social life – discuss friendships, how Lunchtime is spent, and the journey to and from school.
- Inform the school immediately if you feel your child may be a victim of bullying behaviour. Your complaint will be taken seriously and a plan of campaign worked out together. Keep a record of who you told.
- Keep a written record if incidents persist. It will be painful but it will provide supportive evidence regarding WHO, WHAT, WHERE and WHEN. Keep us informed.
- Don’t encourage your child to hit back. It often makes matters worse.
- Make sure your own son or daughter knows there is nothing wrong with him or her. It is not his or her fault.
- Know that the school welcomes and appreciates your involvement whether you suspect or know your child is being bullied or is bullying.
- The school has materials available for you to have or borrow, such as ‘Kidscape’ leaflets, and give you contact numbers of helplines, etc. Call the school on (01530) 831561.
- If you feel your child may be bullying please get in touch. We can help.
What We Do When Bullying Occurs:
- Listen to all who are involved.
- Inform the parent.
- Involve appropriate people.
– the Form Tutor
– the Pastoral Co-ordinator - Provide safe and supervised areas.
- Provide counselling to all concerned.
- Draw up a contract of agreed behaviour.
- Make people aware of the consequences of their actions and remind them of
the Code of Conduct. - Remove privileges or place pupils in detention.
- Move pupils within a year group.
- Exclude pupils if required.
Very rarely will all of these strategies be used for one particular incident.