Definition

Bullying refers to an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical, and social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social, and psychological harm.

Rationale

The aim of Warwick SHS’s Bullying Prevention Policy is to provide a school community that is safe and supportive with a positive learning environment where all students can achieve positive outcomes and Aspire, Learn and Grow. The school will provide a positive culture where bullying is not accepted, and in so doing, all will have the right to learn or to teach, and a right to feel safe and secure in their school environment.

Aims

  • To reinforce within the school community what bullying is and the fact that it is unacceptable.
  • Everyone within the school community to be alert to signs and evidence of bullying and to have a responsibility to report it to staff whether as observer or victim.
  • To ensure that all reported incidents of bullying are followed up appropriately and that support is given to both bullied student and perpetrators.
  • To seek parental and peer-group support and co-operation at all times.

Implementation

  • Parents, teachers, students, and the community will be aware of the school’s position on bullying.
  • The school will adopt a multi-level approach to bullying.

Informal Processes

Low level cases are never ignored and are dealt with at the point of occurrence by the classroom/duty teacher. A restorative approach may be used at this stage.

  • More serious or repeated incidents are referred to the Student Services team.
  • A method of shared concern is employed at this stage and parents are notified.

Formal Processes

  • Should the problem persist, or those concerned refuse to participate in the informal processes, then consequences will be imposed in accordance with the school’s Student Behaviour Policy.
  • The student will be formally counselled by a member of the Student Services team. An individual Behaviour Support Plan or Student Safety Contract may be required until the targeted behaviour ceases.

Parent and Community Support

We encourage our parents and community to support our policy through:

  • Watch for possible signs of bullying e.g., school avoidance, changes in behaviour, stomach aches
  • Make time to talk with your child and take an interest in what is going on in his/her life
  • Listen calmly and seriously if your child shares a problem
  • Never over-react and use positive language with your child reassuring them that the problem can be solved
  • Contacting the school as soon as you are concerned. Do not leave it until a minor problem has become a bigger problem

Types of Bullying

  • Verbal Bullying: The repeated use of words to hurt or humiliate another individual or group. Verbal bullying includes using put-downs, insulting language, name-calling, swearing, nasty notes and homophobic, racist, or sexist comments.
  • Emotional/Psychological Bullying: Includes repeated stalking, threats or implied threats, unwanted email or text messaging, abusive websites, threatening gestures, manipulation, emotional blackmail, and threats to an individual’s reputation and sense of safety.
  • Relational Bullying: Usually involves repeatedly ostracising others by leaving them out or convincing others to exclude or reject another individual or group, making up or spreading rumours, and sharing or threatening to share another’s personal information.
  • Physical Bullying: Includes repetitive low level hitting, kicking, pinching, pushing, tripping, ‘ganging up’, unwanted physical or sexual touching and damage to personal property. More serious violent behaviours are not necessarily treated as bullying and may be better managed through the school’s discipline processes.
  • Cyber Bullying: Involves the repeated use of information and communication technologies such as email, text messages, instant messaging, and websites to engage in the bullying of other individuals or groups. This technology provides an alternative means for verbal, relational and psychological forms of bullying.
  • Bystanders: Bystanders are those who are aware of, or witnesses to, bullying but are not directly involved in bullying or being bullied themselves. All members of a school community need to know how to support those who are being bullied and how to discourage bullying behaviours. Any member of the school community can be a bystander and can learn ways to act successfully in preventing or stopping bullying.