Anti-Bullying
Bullying is behaviour by an individual or group, repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally.
At George Eliot Academy, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment where every member of our community feels valued, supported and able to thrive. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Reporting Bullying Concerns
If a pupil is experiencing bullying, witnessing bullying behaviour, or is concerned about another pupil, they are encouraged to report it as soon as possible.
Concerns can be reported to:
- Any trusted member of staff
- A Form Tutor
- A Head of Year
- A Director of Key Stage
- A member of the Safeguarding Team
- A member of the Senior Leadership Team
- An Anti-Bullying Ambassador
Pupils can also report concerns through the Academy's concern boxes, by email, or by contacting the School Counsellor via the school website.
The Anti-Bullying Alliance website provides a wide range of resources and advice for pupils, parents and carers:
https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Additional online safety advice can be found at:
https://saferinternet.org.uk
There are many different types of bullying that can occur
Name Calling
Persistent name-calling directed at an individual or group which causes hurt, humiliation, distress or intimidation.
Physical Aggression
This may include hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, damaging property, stealing belongings or any form of physical intimidation.
Isolation/Exclusion and Other Relational Bullying
This occurs when an individual is deliberately excluded, ignored or isolated by others. It can also involve spreading rumours, manipulating friendships, gossiping or deliberately undermining a person's relationships with their peers.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is bullying carried out through technology and digital communication, including:
- Social media platforms
- Messaging services
- Email
- Online gaming platforms
- Websites and apps
- Artificial intelligence (AI) tools and image manipulation software
Cyberbullying can occur at any time, reach a wider audience and have a significant impact on a young person's wellbeing.
Prejudice-Based Bullying
Bullying can be motivated by prejudice or discrimination relating to:
- Race or ethnicity
- Religion or belief
- Disability
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Gender reassignment
- Looked-after or adopted status
- Any other protected characteristic
Extortion and Intimidation
Some bullying behaviour takes the form of intimidation through threatening language, actions or body language. Bullying may also involve extortion, where demands for money, possessions or other items are accompanied by threats or coercion.
Dealing with Bullying Behaviour in Schools
George Eliot Academy is committed to promoting a culture of kindness, respect and inclusion. We work proactively to prevent bullying through education, awareness, early intervention and strong pastoral support.
We are proud to promote an upstanding community, where pupils are encouraged to be upstanders rather than bystanders.
An upstander is someone who recognises when something is wrong and takes action by supporting others and reporting concerns to a trusted adult.
All reports of bullying are taken seriously and investigated fairly. The Academy will work with pupils, parents and carers to ensure that appropriate support, intervention and education are provided.
What if My Child Tells Me They Are Being Bullied?
- Listen carefully and reassure your child that they have done the right thing by speaking to you.
- Encourage your child to share as much information as possible.
- Avoid immediately trying to solve the problem yourself or confronting other pupils or families.
- Help your child build confidence and maintain positive friendships and interests.
- Contact the Academy so that concerns can be investigated and support can be provided.
- Allow the Academy sufficient time to investigate concerns thoroughly and fairly, ensuring that all parties involved have the opportunity to share their account of events.
It is important to recognise that not all incidents between pupils constitute bullying. While all concerns will be taken seriously, some situations may be more accurately described as friendship difficulties, disagreements, fallouts or peer conflict. These situations may still require support and intervention from staff but may not meet the definition of bullying, which typically involves behaviour that is intentional, repeated over time and characterised by an imbalance of power.
Regardless of whether an incident is identified as bullying or peer conflict, the Academy will investigate concerns, provide support where needed and take appropriate action to maintain a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all pupils.
What if My Child Is Bullying?
Try to remain calm and work with your child to understand the reasons behind their behaviour.
- Listen carefully to your child's account.
- Focus on the behaviour rather than labelling the child.
- Encourage accountability and empathy.
- Support your child in understanding the impact of their actions on others.
- Work in partnership with the Academy to help your child make positive changes and rebuild relationships.
The Academy's primary aim is to educate, support and promote lasting behavioural change while ensuring that all pupils feel safe, respected and able to succeed.
For Assistance from School
If you have any concerns regarding bullying, please contact your child's Form Tutor in the first instance. Where appropriate, concerns may then be supported by the Head of Year, Director of Key Stage, Safeguarding Team or other relevant members of staff.
For full details of the Academy's approach to preventing and responding to bullying, please refer to the Academy's Anti-Bullying Policy.