Bullying

Promoting Respect and Safety at Gable Hall School

At Gable Hall School, we are committed to fostering a community where every member treats each other with courtesy and respect. Our mission is to ensure that everyone feels safe, secure, and protected from unfair treatment or harassment. We firmly believe that when everyone is treated with kindness and empathy, our entire community can flourish without fear. To reinforce these principles, we have established an Anti-Bullying Policy that guides our actions and response to bullying incidents.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying falls under the category of Child on Child Abuse, as outlined in "Keeping Children Safe in Education," which is reviewed and updated annually. We define bullying as the repetitive, intentional harm inflicted by one person or group upon another, involving an imbalance of power. This harmful behaviour can manifest in various forms, both in-person and online.

Key elements of our bullying definition include:

• Hurtful: Actions or words that cause harm or distress.
• Repetition: Consistent, ongoing behaviour.
• Power imbalance: One party holds an advantage over the other.
• Intentional: Deliberate actions to cause harm (Anti-Bullying Alliance).

Forms of Bullying

Bullying can manifest in various ways, including:

• Physical: Acts such as pushing, kicking, hitting, or threats of violence.
• Verbal: Name-calling, teasing, spreading rumours, and hurtful messages through texts or other means.
• Emotional: Exclusion, unfriendliness, tormenting, racial taunting, threatening gestures, negative comments about appearance, religion, disability, gender, or sexuality.
• Intimidation: Demanding money or possessions, copying homework, creating a climate of fear.
• Cyberbullying: Using digital tools, including mobile phones, email, social media, text messages, cameras, and the Internet, to upset someone.
• Exclusion: Deliberately excluding individuals from activities or discussions.
• Homophobic: Behaviour or language that makes someone feel unwelcome or marginalised due to their sexual orientation.

Support and Reporting

If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, we encourage taking the following steps:

• Tell someone: Reach out to a parent, friend, teacher, LSA, Pastoral Manager, Head of Year, or Vice Principals.
• Avoid retaliation: While it's important not to give in to bullies, responding with aggression is not the solution.
• Stay in groups: Whenever possible, avoid being alone or going to less supervised areas where bullying may occur.
• Seek a support network: Surround yourself with friends who can provide assistance and emotional support.
• Remember help is available: There is always someone willing to help you through these challenging situations.

If you are aware of someone being bullied:

• Take action: Silence can be interpreted as complicity with the bully. Act to help the victim and make them feel less isolated.
• Seek adult assistance: If you can't directly intervene, inform a trusted adult immediately. Teachers have effective strategies for addressing bullies while keeping you safe.
• Keep records: Document any recurring bullying incidents.
• Do not associate with bullies: Avoid befriending or pretending to be friends with those engaging in bullying behaviour.

Ongoing Efforts

At Gable Hall School, we continually monitor and track various forms of bullying, particularly prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying. These incidents are categorised under protected characteristics, and we educate and train both students and staff to recognize and challenge bullying within these specific groups.

Intervention and Support

We take the well-being of all our students seriously. In cases of bullying, our Head of Year is responsible for ensuring appropriate intervention and support for both the victim and perpetrator. Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Additional Resources for Support and Guidance

For further support and guidance, we recommend exploring the following resources:

• Readings: Consider reading books and articles on bullying prevention and understanding its impact on individuals and communities. Check your school library or local bookstores for relevant titles.

• Magazines: Look for magazines or periodicals that address bullying issues and provide tips for combating it. Public libraries often have a wide selection of magazines.

• YouTube Videos: Search for educational YouTube channels and videos that discuss bullying, its effects, and strategies for prevention. Organisations like the Anti-Bullying Alliance often share informative content on their channels.

• Anti-Bullying Policy: Familiarise yourself with our school's Anti-Bullying Policy by clicking here.

Remember, your well-being and safety are our top priorities, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can create a caring and respectful community where everyone can thrive without fear of bullying or harassment.