Our School Response

We try to tackle bullying whenever it surfaces so that our children can feel safe. Our staff are around and about on corridors, stairwells and in the playground acting promptly and firmly whenever problems arise. As a result most of our pupils thankfully experience little, if any, bullying. Many of our older pupils have been trained as prefects and “mentors” and help to keep a protective eye on the younger pupils to whom they have individually been assigned. We want our pupils to feel secure in a community which encourages them to speak up against bullying and where they know they’ll be properly protected afterwards. If children keep quiet when they’re being picked on, bullies keep getting away with it. Bullies and their mates are always quick to accuse a child who reports a problem as “grassing” on them. We must encourage our children to be assertive. The good news is that many more of them are now standing up for themselves. They realise that telling us rather than keeping quiet or hitting back with violence or hurtful language is the best way to deal with bullying. Sometimes it might be easier for a child if they can get a friend to tell a teacher about what has been happening. We know that parents will always support and reinforce this message at home as well: Never hit back. Telling a teacher will protect you.