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Contents Aim of the Policy
Message from the Head Teacher
Eight Steps to Dealing with Bullying at Minster College
Guide to the Approaches
Our Commitment
Further Advice
Dated: October 2004 Review Date: July 2005 1. Aim of the Policy Minster College sees bullying as a serious issue. We believe that every student should have the right to learning free from intimidation and violence. ‘It was only a joke’ doesn’t count. What is bullying? Bullying is deliberately hurtful behaviour and could be: Physical violence - hitting, punching, kicking, pinching, pulling, flicking, hitting by throwing something at someone, spitting or similar acts. Intimidation - name calling, racist or sexual remarks, ridiculing, threats of violence or threats of any kind, forcing someone to hand over something e.g. money. Indirect - spreading rumours, excluding somebody from social groups, graffiti designed to intimidate or embarrass, hiding or taking property and malicious emails or text messages.
Minster College is dedicated to preventing this anti-social behaviour and aims to tackle bullying with five different approaches: Using a new approach to bullying, the ‘No Blame Approach’
Support from PM Listeners (Peer Mentors)
Group support and assertive training for some victims
Education through Citizenship and tutor classes
Final action
2. Message from the Headteacher All bullying is insidious based on one person, or a group of people demonising others. Any good school, which cares for individuals, has a systematic and planned approach to tackle bullying. We have developed this at Minster College in conjunction with key groups, students, parents and staff. We are determined to tackle bullying whenever it occurs in the belief that everyone has the right to feel safe, secure and valued. Mr Klee 3. Eight Steps to Dealing with Bullying at Minster College These eight steps are a quick guide to show how Minster College plans to put a stop to bullying. It is hoped that few will progress beyond step three however, where, an incident is of a violent or extreme nature it may be necessary to go straight to step eight. 
4. Guide to the Approaches 'No Blame Approach': A solution based on mature problem solving This approach was developed by Maines and Robinson (1991) and has proved so successful many schools are now using it across the country. 'No Blame' may sound soft but it isn't, it focuses on the future and puts the responsibility back onto the students. This method is unlike traditional approaches as it doesn't blame or accuse anyone, but involves mature problem solving to stop the behaviour. This approach will be used after initial support/advice has failed to stop the behaviour. All Pastoral Managers and Year Managers will be trained in leading this approach and conducting these steps after bullying has been reported: 1- Pre-stages Meet the victim - When a teacher finds out that bullying has happened they start by talking to the victim about their feelings. The teacher does not question them about the incidents but does need to know who was involved. Convene a meeting with all the people involved - The teacher arranges to meet with the people involved. This will include some bystanders and even friends of the victim who joined in but did not initiate bullying.
2- The meeting Explain the problem - The teacher tells them about the way the victim is feeling but does not discuss the detail of the incidents or allocate blame to the group. Share responsibility - The teacher does not attribute blame but states the group can do something about it. Ask the group for ideas - Each member of the group is encouraged to suggest a way that they could make the victim feel happier. Leave it up to them - The teacher ends the meeting by passing over the responsibility to the students to solve the problem and arranges to meet with them again.
3- Monitoring (The No Blame Approach) By Maines and Robinson PM Listeners (Peer Mentors) PM Listeners encourage and support students to take responsibility for their relationships and behaviour and is an approach to resolving bullying and conflict. Many students may not wish to speak to a member of staff about bullying and may prefer to speak to someone their own age. How does it work? Students have volunteered and been selected to train as PM Listeners. These students are from years 10, 11, 12 and 13. After their training they receive a certificate and badge. These PM Listeners will volunteer some of their lunch times to work in the Student Services block. The PM Listener tem will be supported on a fortnightly basis by a teacher, Connexions PA and Kent Safe Schools. Kent Safe Schools helped us to set up the programme and provides the training. PM Listeners are assessed to ensure quality and will receive further training.
What are PM Listeners trained in? How does a PM Listener help a student? Anyone can go to a PM Listener no matter what their age. When you see a Mentor you can expect to meet a trustworthy student who is trained to listen and help students to find solutions to being bullied. Anything you say to a PM Listener is confidential (unless it involves Child Protection).
If you are interested in training as a PM Listener or you would like to speak to someone then you can find your PM Listener in the new Student Services block on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes. Group support and Assertive Training for some Victims Minster College recognises that some students may need some further support to prevent bullying in the school. The 'Social Development Group' runs three times a year with one group each term (autumn, spring and summer). This gourp aims to support students to develop assertiveness skills and covers the following: Raising self-esteem and confidence Enhancing positive thinking Increasing assertive behaviour Developing support for others in the group Decreasing anxiety Enabling students to find solutions to bullying problems
This group is currently led by Connexions and you can be referred onto it by speaking to your Year Manager. Education Minster College is committed to preventing bullying in the school through learning. Bullying is intensely covered during Citizenship lessons in Year 9 by looking at the rights of pupils, parents and schools. This is supported by Connexions looking at the issue of bullying, it forms, and how to respond to bullying and how to help someone else. In lessons throughout the year bullying will be re-discussed at regular intervals to improve learning. Mr Sivyer - Head of Citizenship Final Action Minster College is committed to creating a safe and enjoyable environment for all students. In the unusual circumstances where approaches have failed or they are of a more serious nature, further more serious steps will be taken by the school: Partnership meeting with parents/carers: Parents/carers will be invited tot he school for a discussion with a member of staff. This meeting is to develop a partnership between school and home and aims to find other solutions to stopping the bullying behaviour. Internal isolation: Where a student bullies again they will receive a period of internal isolation within the school. Partnership meeting with parents/carers: A second meeting is called with parents/carers to look for further solutions. Exclusion: Students failing to change their behaviour will receive a fixed term exclusion from the school. Where this continues and or an incident is of a very serious nature, students may be permanently excluded from the school.
5. Our Commitment Review Minster College is committed to preventing bullying in the school using this policy as its procedure. Before the policy was written students, parents/carers and staff were asked to comment on bullying. Over 200 comment slips were returned. The same survey will be carried out in the summer term of 2005 to ensure its effectiveness. Training Minster College is committed to training its staff in preventing bullying. All new staff will be given a training session on this policy and asked to sign it as a commitment to preventing bullying. Safe Environment Minster College staff are committed to providing a safe environment. Therefore all main areas are supervised during breaktimes and staff patrol the grounds to prevent as many accidents as possible. Information Every September, talks on bullying and its consequences, will be given to all year 9 tutor groups and or assemblies. Students will be informed of the policy and a copy will be sent home to every parent/carer. 6. Further Advice Reporting Bullying Staff at Minster College understand how difficult but important it is that bullying is reported. If staff aren't aware bullying is taking place it is impossible to prevent it. Students can report bullying to any member of staff, Year Manager or Pastoral Manager. If you are finding this difficult you can talk to your parents or carers who can contact the Year Manager on your behalf. You can also speak to a PM Listener who can be identified by their badges. If you see someone else being bullied you can also report this to your Year Manager or you could ask the student if they would like your support to go with them to tell someone. Remember, bullying is too important not to report Other people who can help in school: Connexions Personal Advisers The Police Community Support Officer The School Nurse The School Counsellor Any member of staff School Child Protection Officer
Keeping Safe Online Bullying can take place online with malicious emails. You should report this to your Year Manager who can liase with the school IT team. Remember to always keep your password a secret. Further advice about safety online can be found on: Preventing Text Bullying Where possible it is advisable to leave any valuable possessions at home. However if you have to bring your mobile into school you can prevent malicious texts by not giving out your number. Report all malicious texts to either your Year Manager or the Police Community Support Officer based in the Student Service block. Keep a diary if ti happens more than once. The Police Community Support Officer can also mark your mobile phone so if stolen or lost it can be identified. Getting To and From School Bullying can occur anywhere but may happen when there are fewer adults around. Tips to prevent bullying on your journey are: Travel with other students that you know Discuss your journey with your parents/carers and try to take the safest route e.g. near main roads avoiding alleys Try and sit near the bus driver if travelling on a bus Try not to carry any valuable possessions with you Don't fight back as it could make things worse Report all incidents to your Year Manager
Out of School It is important to keep safe no matter where you are. Tips to prevent bullying out of school are: Always tell an adult if you get bullied out of school Try and always tell an adult where you are and how long you will be Talk to your local Community Wardens Contact the police if the bullying continues or you receive any threats or violence
Other Advice Available
Many thanks to the Anti-bullying Steering Group for all their hard work. You can download a copy of Minster College's Anti-Bullying Policy by clicking here.
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