GSO Test

Anti Bullying Statement

The Anti-bullying strategy statement is an accompanying statement to go alongside the antibullying Policy (the procedures) and the Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults at Risk Policy

In Horizons College we recognise that bullying happens, and it could happen here. Bullying is not acceptable, no matter what form it takes and we will address concerns as they arise. The negative impact of bullying can be lifelong as well as impacting on short term outcomes and engagement and attendance at Horizons College

To help our learners understand what bullying is, why is it shouldn’t happen and how to deal with situations of bullying as they arise, we believe we need to educate our learners well. They need to know what the different types of bullying are and be confident in reporting their concerns to staff and know that their concerns will be heard and acted upon. In turn our staff need to know what to do when a learners raises a concern and how to report it so that appropriate help and support can be provided to the learners.

We also as an organisation need to understand the scale of the problem in our setting, the nature of any bullying that occurs and have in place an agreed approach to dealing with it which is deeply understood. The approach and steps we take to addressing bullying as we discover it is contained in our Anti-bullying Policy. Our approach to helping learners understand about bullying is found within our curriculum policies and documents. (For further information please see records of our Safeguarding and Anti-Bullying policy, RSHE Curriculum, Tutorial Programme)

There is no legal definition of bullying. However, it’s usually defined as behaviour that is:

  • Repeated (although not always)
  • intended to hurt someone either physically or emotionally
  • often aimed at certain groups, for example because of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation

This can include:

  • physical assault
  • teasing
  • making threats
  • name calling
  • cyberbullying - bullying via mobile phone or online (for example via email, social networks and chat rooms on gaming platforms)
  • racist and religious bullying: A range of hurtful behaviour, both physical and psychological, that makes a person feel unwelcome, marginalised, excluded, powerless or worthless because of their colour, ethnicity, culture, faith community, national origin or national status;
  • sexual, sexist and transphobic bullying: includes any behaviour, whether physical or nonphysical, where sexuality is used as a weapon by boys or girls;
  • homophobic bullying: targets someone because of their sexual orientation (or perceived sexual orientation);
  • disablist bullying: targets a young person based on their disability, special needs or health needs. This can include manipulative bullying where a perpetrator forces the victim to act in a certain way or exploiting a certain aspect of the victim’s disability.

To establish whether the bullying behaviour is sexual or sexist in nature it’s important to understand the different types of harmful sexual behaviours along with what we mean by sexism.

Bullying and sexual and sexist behaviours also overlap and it is possible that behaviours can be sexual bullying, sexist bullying and sexual harassment. For example, sexual bullying taking place may also be a sign that there is a heightened risk of harmful sexual behaviour, sexual exploitation and/or sexual violence.

For the purposes of our statement, we focus on child-on-child sexual and sexist bullying in schools in England but please refer to the Horizons College Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults at Risk Policy and Department for Education’s Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance on how to safeguard children from all forms of abuse.

Responding to concerns about bullying

Learners who attend our college have the right to learn in safety. We do not tolerate bullying of any kind and will challenge derogatory language and behaviour towards others, whether this is an isolated incident or a pattern of behaviours.

College follows a zero policy towards bullying

Where bullying does occur, learners and parents/carers are encouraged to report it. All reports will be followed up and the Principal undertakes to: 

  • operate a reporting and recording procedure
  • deal with all reports speedily, fairly and positively
  • take account of the evidence and all views
  • provide anonymity for all involved parties whenever possible
  • offer advice and support to the person/s being bullied
  • offer advice and support to the person/s demonstrating bullying behaviour, in order to support them to change their behaviour by addressing the underlying causes
  • ensure that all involved are kept informed • implement appropriate strategies to address the situation, in accordance with the Positive Behaviour Policy
  • if cyber bullying has occurred, inform the E-Safety co-ordinator
  • Bullying incidents are recorded on Databridge and analysed to identify trends and how this information is linked to work completed with learners to educate them about the impact of bullying.

Our strategy to educate learner about bullying

Our curriculum provides all (children/pupils/students/learners) with specific content related to the types and signs of bullying. Dedicated lessons give learners opportunities to learn and test out their understanding about each type of bullying. They are also provided with information about how to report bullying.

Our college also gives learners opportunities to gain information about bullying and for leaders to ensure that conversations about types of bullying happen regularly. We do this through tutorial, RSHE curriculum, student union, safeguarding Wednesday, specific Training, Links with community police anti-bullying week, focus groups and every other opportunity when specific issues arise.

How we find out the scale of the issues and monitor bullying

We draw together information from our reporting systems termly, both from that which staff place on our recording systems but also that drawn from our forensic software. This allows us to understand what the nature of the bullying is, who is doing it and the severity of the concern.

Our staff reporting systems Databridge are a vehicle for all staff to record concerns as they arise, and they are trained to do so at induction and through ongoing refresher training.

Forensic software tracks all staff and pupils use of the internet and documents and captures phrases or terminology of concern. Reports are routinely sent to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and their Deputies to review and to consider what action to take next.

Should marker comments related to bullying be seen through either reporting mechanism, leaders will address this using our anti bullying policy and safeguarding procedures. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead and their Deputies lead on this work.

Reporting and Oversight

Staff must be prepared to record and report every incidence of bullying.

Racist, sexual or homophobic bullying, and bullying related to religious belief or creed, must be reported directly to the Principal and the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Incidents involving an immediate threat to the safety of a pupil/student e.g. physical violence or threats of imminent harm must also be reported directly to the Principal and the DSL, and consideration given to involving the Police.

All staff have a responsibility to report general incidences of suspected bullying via the College’s safeguarding system; this would include incidents where staff have had to get involved and speak with learners, and/or where parents/carers have raised concerns regarding bullying.

Confirmed cases of bullying must be recorded and monitored by Principals and their Senior Leadership Teams. All incidents of bullying will be discussed with all relevant staff and parents/carers of the learners involved, in order to ensure that the incident is resolved positively and that vigilance against further bullying is maintained.

Incidents of bullying, as with other behavioural incidents, are reported to the Local Governing Body of each setting as part of termly monitoring. Bullying also forms part of the regular safeguarding monitoring undertaken by Brunel Board of Trustees.

Leaders reflect on all safeguarding and bullying matters routinely in their leadership and safeguarding meetings. The Principal will then additionally formally report on the types, frequency and severity of bullying at local governor meetings.