Bullying

WHOLE SCHOOL POLICIES

Bullying

Rationale

Bullying is defined as unwanted and unwarranted behaviour that another person finds offensive, intimidating or humiliating which is often repeated so as to have a detrimental effect upon a person’s dignity, safety, and well-being. ACG will seek to ensure that no action or inaction in an ACG environment leads to harm, physical or emotional, of any person. Young people, as a vulnerable population, have an added need for protection and promotion of their rights. ACG aims to provide a safe physical and emotional environment for all. It is axiomatic that ACG should be committed to eliminating bullying. ACG believes that its school communities should be protected through clear policy and procedure regarding bullying, harassment and technology, and their intersection in cyber-bullying. ACG notes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These rights include the child’s right to: • protection from physical, emotional and sexual harassment, discrimination, or abuse from peers or others while in the school environment

• be treated with respect and dignity by other people • be disciplined in ways which are positive • express their views, have a say in matters which affect them, present their side of the story and be treated fairly according to the principles of natural justice • have matters of privacy protected.

Aims

1. ACG seeks to promote and protect the rights of all to a working environment free from harassment and acts of bullying. 2. ACG acknowledges that acts of bullying will occur and that clear and consistent procedures should be in place to deal with these.

Any form of bullying behaviour is viewed as anti-social and is unacceptable. 3. All ACG schools should seek to educate their school communities that the rights of victims of bullying will be asserted while all perpetrators of bullying shall be required to change their behaviours.

Guidelines

Bullying may be seen as any deliberate action committed by one or more persons with the intention or result of causing discomfort or fear or a feeling of defencelessness in another person/s. 1. Each ACG school should have in place a clear school-wide ‘code of conduct’ so that staff, students and parents feel safe and where everyone is expected to follow the same rules of conduct and where eliminating bullying is everyone’s responsibility. 2. ACG recognises that bullying activity may occur while students are not in the school environment and/or outside normal school hours. Nevertheless, the school accepts that upon becoming aware of bullying activity, it should address it in order to support a

3. Each ACG school shall ensure that students are made aware of the dangers regarding internet use and information sharing, including students’ private use of social networking, and that ‘safe’ use is paramount. 4. ACG acknowledges that although schools have limited control over the pervasive reach of internet use and technology and the ease with which students may use it, there is nevertheless a moral duty to educate students and parents in safe uses, and abuses and legal consequences. 5. Each ACG school shall seek and share best practice in regularly reviewing policy and procedure in line with research and legislation and other stakeholder services.

6. The Principal/designated deputy will inform parents of both victim/s and perpetrator/s of a bullying incident which is considered serious by the school within the parameters of Privacy law and ACG policy. 7. Intervention/ investigation into an allegation or report of bullying shall be conducted as soon as practicable and record keeping of investigation into acts of alleged bullying shall be accurate with all instances of alleged bullying being treated seriously, confidentially, and on a case-by-case basis, bullying may lead to suspension or a recommendation to the Disciplinary Committee. 8. Where a bullying incident is considered to be severe such that the school considers the student victim/s and/or perpetrator/s could be seriously harmed or do harm, the Police shall be informed. 9. Teaching staff and managers shall receive appropriate training as required.