Anti-Bullying
Anti-Bullying Procedures
- Objectives of this Policy
This Policy outlines what Oasis Academy Oldham will do to prevent and tackle bullying. This policy has been drawn up through the involvement of the whole Academy community and we are committed to developing an anti-bullying culture whereby no bullying will be tolerated between adults or adults and children and young people.
- Our Academy Community
- Discusses, monitors and reviews our anti-bullying policy on a regular basis
- Supports all staff to promote positive relationships and identify and tackle bullying appropriately
- Ensures that students are aware that all bullying concerns will be dealt with sensitively and effectively: that students feel safe to learn: and that students abide by the anti-bullying policy.
- Reports back to parents/carers regarding their concerns on bullying and deals promptly with complaints. Parents/carers in turn work with the Academy to uphold the anti-bullying policy.
- Seeks to learn from good anti-bullying practice elsewhere and utilises support from the Local Authority and other relevant organisations when appropriate.
- Definition of bullying
Bullying is behaviour by an individual or a group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally causes harm to another individual either physically or emotionally.
Bullying can include: name calling, taunting, mocking, making offensive comments, kicking, hitting, taking belongings, producing offensive graffiti, gossiping, excluding people from groups and spreading hurtful and untruthful rumours. This includes the same inappropriate and harmful behaviours expressed via digital devises (cyberbullying) such as the sending of inappropriate messages by phone, text, instant Messenger, through web-sites and social networking sites and sending offensive or degrading images by phone or via the internet.
- Forms of bullying covered by this policy
Bullying can happen to anyone. This policy covers all types of bullying including:
- Bullying related to race, religion or culture
- Bullying related to learning difficulties or disabilities
- Bullying related to appearance or health conditions
- Bullying related to sexual orientation (homophobic bullying)
- Bullying of young carers or looked after children or otherwise related to home circumstances
- Sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying
- Preventing, identifying and responding to bullying
The Academy community will:
- Work with staff and outside agencies to identify all forms of prejudice-driven bullying
- Actively provide systematic opportunities to develop students’ social and emotional skills including their resilience
- Consider all opportunities for addressing bullying including through the curriculum, through displays, through peer support and any other areas of the wider community
- Train all staff to identify bullying and follow Academy policy and procedures on bullying, including recording incidents of bullying
- Actively create ‘safe spaces’ for vulnerable students
- Use a variety of techniques to resolve the issues between those who bully and those who have been bullied
- Involvement of students
We will:
- Regularly canvas students’ views on the extent and nature of bullying
- Ensure students know how to express worries and anxieties about bullying
- Ensure all students are aware of the range of sanctions which may be applied against those engaging in bullying behaviour
- Involve student in anti-bullying campaigns in the Academy
- Offer support to students who have been bullied and to those who are bullying in order to address the problems they have
- Liaison with parents and carers
We will:
- Ensure that all parents / carers know who to contact if they are worried about bullying
- Ensure all parents / carers know about our complaints procedure and how to use it effectively
- Ensure all parents / carers know where to access independent advice about bullying
- Work with all parents / carers and the local community to address issues beyond the Academy gates that give rise to bullying
- Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of:
- The Academy Council to take a lead role in monitoring and reviewing this policy
- Academy Council members, the Principal, Academy Leadership Team, Teaching staff and Co professionals to be aware of this policy and implement it accordingly
- Students to abide by this policy
The named member of staff with lead responsibility for this policy is Tracy Rice.
Counselling Directory is a confidential service that encourages those in distress to seek help. More information and advice available at : http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/bullying.html