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.