Anti-Bullying @ RPCC
Our definition of bullying
As a school we work closely with the two leading areas on anti-bullying, The Anti-Bullying Alliance and The Diana Award. The Anti-Bullying Alliance and its members have an agreed shared definition of bullying based on research from across the world over the last 30 years.
‘The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online’.
ANTI-BULLYING ALLIANCE
Definition of bullying
There are four key elements to this definition that we take into consideration when looking into accusations of bullying:
- Hurtful – Emotionally and/or physically
- Repetition – More than once
- Power imbalance – Inequality of power between pupils
- Intentional – Deliberate and intended actions
We know that bullying behaviour can be:
- Physical – pushing, poking, kicking, hitting, biting, pinching etc.
- Verbal - name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, threats, teasing, belittling.
- Emotional – isolating others, tormenting, hiding books, threatening gestures, ridicule, humiliation, intimidating, excluding, manipulation and coercion.
- Sexual – unwanted physical contact, inappropriate touching, abusive comments, homophobic abuse, exposure to inappropriate films etc.
- Online /cyber – posting on social media, sharing photos, sending nasty text messages, social exclusion
- Indirect - Can include the exploitation of individuals.
There are many people you can report issues to within our school, but what’s most important is that you do.
You can report it to any member of staff within school who you feel comfortable talking to about the situation. Additionally you can report issues you experience or witness in the school to one of our anti bullying ambassadors.
We recommend talking to the following staff in the first instance if you are unaware of who to talk to:
- Anti-Bullying Ambassador
- Your Tutor
- Your Head of Year Support
- Head of Year
- Anti-Bullying Officer – Mr Ramshaw
Here at Regents Park Community College, we recognise that it may sometimes difficult to talk to members of staff about problems you may experience with regards to conflict and/or bullying. Additionally, members of staff cannot see or hear everything at all times throughout the school day.
For this reason, we have used the Diana Trust to select and train over 50 Anti-bullying Ambassadors throughout all year groups within the school.
The Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme equips students and staff with the tools needed to tackle bullying behaviour head on, transformed our school’s approach to anti-bullying and creates a safer, kinder school community. Our Programme is youth-led, with students leading their anti-bullying campaign as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors.
The ambassadors are identifiable within school from introduction assemblies and through recognisable badges that they wear within school.
If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, please speak to your Head of Year for more details and look out for information that comes out in tutor time and school notice boards.
Below you will find information and links to various sources of information that is updated throughout the academic year to support parents and pupils around the subject of bullying and safe practices.
Help and support if to report and speak to professionals about bullying:
Parents online guide to wellbeing and support for you and your child:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/cw9v6l8d0q6t
Spotting the signs that your child is being bullied:
I'm worried that my child is being Cyber-Bullied:
This poster is displayed in all classrooms throughout our school.
