Anti-bullying
Pupils placed at the Ramsden Hall School may have a history of being unkind or aggressive to other pupils. Also a number of pupils may have a history of being ‘victims’ of unkind treatment from other pupils. We therefore recognise that relationships at a school like ours can lead to pupils being involved in physical incidents. We endeavour through our levels of supervision to ensure adults are constantly intervening and trying to diffuse situations as they are occurring. Nevertheless there is a small core of pupils who indulge in bullying which we define as someone picking on other pupils, sometimes with the support of others, to intimidate, humiliate or even engineer a physical assault. We recognise that ‘bullies’ must be worked with and their ‘bullying’ behaviour must be addressed. We also have a duty of care to our other pupils and they must be protected from bullying. Below are listed some of the strategies the school have adopted to address bullying within the school: - To talk to the ‘bully’ in a counselling way and try to get him to recognise his problem as well as to assist in the resolution of his difficulties with the victim. |
- Within the 24-hour curriculum the issues of ‘bullying’ are addressed i.e. CPSHE/SEAL lessons, English, Social Skills Training, the Residential Social and Educational Programme.
- To raise these issues in the School Council Meetings, discussions in the residential provision as well as using the Anti-Bullying Board Game. - The school holds a ‘Secret Ballot’, carried out by the Acting Head Teacher / Care Standards Manager that identifies the pupils’ perception of the pupils who are classed as major school bullies. This is followed up by discussion with the bullies and letters being sent to Parents / Carers if they remain top of a second ballot. Parents of these pupils are advised by key-workers of strategies used in an attempt to address such issues and their support is sought. Fixed-term or even permanent exclusion would be the last resort, but if the school was unable to protect pupils from covert and overt bullying the psychological and physical well being of our vulnerable young people is paramount. Staff receive training in all the above procedures and methods for addressing bullying and the carrying out of these procedures is closely monitored by the Head Teacher / Care Standards Manager. |