WREKIN COLLEGE ANTI- POLICY (This policy applies to all pupils)

This policy should be read in conjunction with Standard 12 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships, and Standard 11 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding schools, Child Protection. Standard 12 states: 12.1 The school has and consistently implements a written policy to promote good behaviour amongst pupils. This policy includes: • measures to combat bullying and to promote positive behaviour; • school rules; • disciplinary sanctions; when restraint is to be used; and • arrangements for searching pupils and their possessions. 12.2 The policy complies with relevant legislation and guidance and is understood by staff and pupils.

This policy is published on the school’s website and in the Student Planner.

The school takes bullying very seriously. The governors and staff recognise the contribution it makes to safeguarding children. We recognise that all staff have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm.

At Wrekin we create a culture and communication network where young people are easily able to confide to staff if they are being bullied.

DEFINITION Bullying will not be tolerated in any form and is defined to mean:

“Deliberate hurtful behaviour repeated over a period of time and in circumstances where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves”.

Bullying can take the form of physical actions, words (written or verbal, including words communicated electronically) or being excluded from a group for various improper reasons.

Bullying, whether physical or mental, is completely unacceptable and the strongest possible action will be taken against anyone at Wrekin found guilty of such behaviour. One of Wrekin’s great strengths is its friendly atmosphere and community spirit, but bullying can occur in any school environment and we must be constantly on our guard to prevent it.

1 AIMS The aims of this policy are: • To provide a caring, friendly and safe environment for all pupils so that they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere; • To raise awareness of all staff of the need to safeguard bullied children, and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of this form of abuse; • To provide a systematic means of monitoring pupils known or thought to be at risk of harm from bullying; • To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff; • To develop a structured procedure within the which will be followed by all members of the community in cases of suspected bullying abuse; • To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the Police and Social Services; • To ensure that all adults within our school who have access to children have been checked as to their suitability, and make them aware that bullying has no place in or out of school.

If bullying does occur, all pupils should feel that they are able to tell a member of staff or senior pupil, and know that incidents will be investigated promptly and effectively.

THE PROBLEM Bullying by its very nature is insidious because young people are likely to feel that “telling” will only make matters worse for themselves, and leave them even more at the mercy of the bully/bullies.

Any strategy for dealing with bullying must ensure that it protects the child or young person being bullied. For example, it is more appropriate for a member of staff to approach the bully on the basis “We know what is going on” rather than to say that it was the victim who brought the matter to their notice.

BULLYING CAN BE: • Verbal • Electronic • Psychological • Physical • Social • An abuse of power

2 Examples of bullying include: * Hitting or punching another child * kicking * Spitting * Spoiling someone else’s belongings * Calling names * * Giving nasty looks * Making racist remarks * Making remarks about someone’s disability * Spreading rumours * Not letting someone join in a game * Electronic communication – ‘’ * Not talking to someone or getting other people not to talk to an individual

DIRECT AND INDIRECT BULLYING It is important to distinguish between those who are bullies, those who are victims and those who are ‘onlookers’. Sometimes bullies operate in private, quiet places but on occasions they feel confident enough to bully in public, they believe that no one will stop them. If you simply remain an onlooker you are condoning the bully’s behaviour and in a sense you are part of the bullying.

Emotional and physical symptoms linked to bullying. The following symptoms might be observed in an individual who is being bullied. We realise that other things can cause similar symptoms.

Emotional Physical Lost confidence Sleeplessness Loss of self-esteem Nausea Irritability Shaking Aggression Heart racing Anxiety Laziness Panic attacks Skin complaints Stomach aches Suicidal thoughts Migraine and headaches

Cyberbullying • The school recognises that bullying increasingly takes place in cyber environments, such as on the internet and through the use of mobile ‘phones. In whatever form, the school will take action to prevent phones and computers that have been used for this purpose being allowed on the premises and parents will be informed of that ruling. As such these incidents will be treated as a Child Protection issue. • Upon any incident where cyberbullying has taken place in or out of school and made known to us, we will take matters seriously and action will be taken to reduce any further incidents. This will done with the Senior Designated Person for Child Protection and Safeguarding, the Deputy Head (Pastoral), and the Headmaster and, if appropriate, outside agencies. • The school recognises and will act in accordance with guidelines set down by the DfES on cyberbullying as specified on www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying. (Department for Education: www.education.gov.uk) • The Senior Designated Person for Child Protection and Safeguarding, Mrs Stella Clarke, is a CEOP registered trainer: December 2009, Telford & Wrekin Safeguarding Children Board, and updated in January 2011.

• There is a rolling programme of Child Protection and E-safety training for pupils. This began in Lent 2010 with Lancaster House.

3 • Parents Forums delivered by registered Thinkuknow trainers were held in the Lent terms of 2010 2012. • Teaching Staff CEOP Thinkuknow Training was completed in January 2011. An E-safety update for all teaching staff took place in January 2014.

Extract from the school’s procedure for conducting searches and confiscation:

• The school staff can search a pupil for any item if the pupil agrees. The ability for a pupil to give consent may be influenced by the child’s age and other factors. If a pupil refuses then: • The Headmaster and staff authorised by him (see below) have a statutory power to search pupils or their possessions without consent, where they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the pupil may have a prohibited item. Prohibited items are: o Knives or weapons o Alcohol o Illegal drugs o Stolen items o Tobacco and cigarette papers o Fireworks o Pornographic images o Any article that the member of staff reasonably suspects has been, or is likely to be, used to commit an offence, or to cause personal injury to, or damage to property.

The Headmaster and authorised staff can also search for any item banned by the school rules, which has been identified in the rules as an item, which may be searched for. The prohibited items above are included in the school rules.

Authorised staff The Headmaster decides whom to authorise to use these powers. There is no requirement to provide authorisation in writing. The following members of staff may search for all items listed above: • Headmaster • Deputy Head (Pastoral) • Deputy Head (Academic) Only the above members of staff are authorised to search without consent. In the event of all three being absent from school, the power to search without consent will be passed on to one of the designated persons for child protection and safeguarding, i.e. Stephen Hield or David Winterton.

4

BULLING AND DISABILITY Pupils with disabilities are at risk of having their body language and behaviour misinterpreted by other children and young people. This can lead them into difficulties as others may focus on their differences, or react to the individual’s odd behaviour.

THE SCHOOL’S RESPONSE TO BULLYING All pupils and staff have a role to play in preventing bullying at Wrekin. Staff vigilance is the most potent deterrent against bullying. Children and young people who bully will then know that it will be dealt with, and the victims of bullying will have confidence for the same reason.

The present pastoral system enables close contact between pupils and staff and it should be used to ensure that signs of bullying are noted at an early stage. The Tutor, Housemaster/Housemistress of a bully, or a victim, must be informed immediately if a member of staff has any suspicions about a possible problem. The Deputy Head (Pastoral) MUST also be informed. All pupils should be encouraged to pass on information to an adult. Any indication of bullying must be acted on as a matter of urgency and must not be tolerated in the school.

Tutors will use Tutor time as a means of checking that pupils feel safe and secure. Research has shown that bullying is most likely to take place when pupils are in unsupervised settings. Additional vigilance, including by senior pupils, is needed during free time for pupils.

Staff need to take seriously the concerns of our young people and to liaise with each other to support pupils accordingly.

The following general advice should be noted: 1. Watch for early signs of distress in pupils, such as deterioration of work, spurious illness, isolation, the desire to remain with adults, erratic attendance and organisation. Note changes in friendship groups; 2. Listen and watch carefully at all times. Observe the socialisation of new pupils; 3. Do not accept any form of verbal or non-verbal bullying. This may be specific to a disability or personal issue for the victim, it may also relate to race or religion and is not accepted in this school; 4. Be conscious of raising the awareness of bullying through their curriculum area, if possible; 5. Use all pupils as a positive resource in countering bullying and making newcomers feel welcome and accepted. Give all pupils opportunities to discuss bullying in a safe and supportive manner; 6. Be aware of the increasing use of ICT as a means of bullying, including text messages, email and mobile phones; 7. Make the unacceptable nature of such behaviour and the consequences of any repetition, clear to individuals and groups whenever possible;

5 8. Never be afraid to take action if someone is in distress. Communicate quickly with Deputy Head (Pastoral), Housemasters/Housemistresses and Tutors, or the Headmaster or any member of the Senior Management Team, about any suspicions or concerns about bullying; 9. Parents are also encouraged to raise the issue of bullying with members of the school. The staff expect parents to report instances of bullying and will investigate and if appropriate act upon their comments.

Members of staff at Wrekin all have access to the Anti-Bullying Policy and awareness of the issue will be given a priority. Within the classroom setting anti-bullying work will be addressed via the curriculum and in particular within PSHE lessons. Assemblies will be held on the subject from time to time through the year.

Copies of the following are available in the Deputy Head’s office for staff perusal: DfES/OO27/2004 Safeguarding Children in Education Working Together to Safeguard Children - HM Government March 2013

Useful websites include: www..org.uk www.childline.org.uk www.beatbullying.org www.thinkuknow.co.uk www.direct.gov.uk www.direct.gov.uk/cyberbullying The website for the Office of the Children's Rights Director is www.rights4me.org

Related Policies and Procedures: • Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy • Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures • Pupil Welfare Policy • Health and Safety Policy • Health and Safety Procedures • Health Promotion Policy • Anti-bullying Procedure • E-safety Policy and Procedures • Social Networking Media Policy and Procedure • PSHE Policy • Rewards and Sanctions Policy • Classroom Behaviour Policy • Permissible Sanctions Policy • Use of Physical Intervention Policy • Conducting Interviews Procedure • Confiscation and Conducting Searches Procedure

6 • Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure • Prefects’ Policy • Equal Opportunities Policy • Anti-racism Policy • Support Staff Policy • Complaints Policy • Complaints Procedure • Organisation and Conduct of Educational Visits and Journeys Policy • Recruitment Policy and Procedure

SEC: Updated January 2014

7