All members of the NLCS community, students, staff and parents, are valued as individuals and have the right to feel safe and happy within the school environment. Bullying is not acceptable.

The aim is to raise awareness among staff and girls of the vulnerable individual who has low self-esteem and who is excluded or humiliated by others, and to promote in the school an ethos which deplores anyone being left out, being unsupported or being humiliated.

BULLYING BEHAVIOUR

Pupils, staff and parents may be perpetrators or victims of bullying.

What students, staff and parents should know

• be aware that no one has to put up with bullying.
• bullying can cause psychological damage to victims and even, in extreme cases, suicide.
• although bullying is not a specific criminal offence, there are criminal laws which apply to harassment and threatening behaviour.
• every person has the right to tell an individual who is bullying that the behaviour unacceptable.
• report the bullying to a trusted adult/teacher.
• be confident that the matter will be dealt with appropriately.

The following are examples of bullying behaviour:

Verbal: name calling, "put-downs", offensive language, "nuisance" phone calls, spreading malicious rumours, tone of voice.

Visual: offensive notes, cyber (social websites, mobile'phones, text messages, photographs, e-mail) and graffiti.

Victimisation: damage or theft of others' possessions, threats to "get" people, repeated social exclusion, being ignored.

Physical: fighting, pushing, shoving, gestures, invasion of personal space.

Bullying may include racial, religious, cultural, sexual/sexist, homophobic, disability.

IDENTIFYING BULLYING

Victims may often:       be late

                         lose belongings

                         under-achieve 

                         produce careless work

                         be isolated 

                         change behaviour e.g. outburst of temper, withdrawal, illness

What parents should do

If you are aware your daughter is being bullied you should:

• listen and try to provide an open, non-judgemental environment for your daughter to talk about her problem.
• tell her you understand and give her support. Remind her she has the right to feel safe.
• suggest your daughter speak to a member of staff.
• if the problem seems particularly serious, or ongoing, contact the Form Tutor or Section Head immediately.
• try to avoid an angry or emotional response.
• parents should realise that actions such as phoning the parent of the bully and discussing the matter with other parents can inflame the situation.
• contact the school straight away if the issue continues to be unresolved.
• trust the school to carry through actions that will solve the problem.

ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVES

A unit of lessons on good relationships is included in the Personal, Social and Health Education programme. The unacceptable nature of bullying is introduced into form discussion, circle time and assemblies and into lessons where appropriate, e.g. drama improvisation.

Girls work with their form tutors to agree a code of conduct which is displayed in each tutor room.

Academic and extra curricular success alike are praised and celebrated through feedback in lessons, awards in assemblies and commendation meetings with Senior staff, which raises self esteem and helps to create a positive atmosphere.

The school discourages overt disapproval by staff or any exclusive or unfriendly behaviour.

Members of staff are discouraged from using sarcasm towards a pupil or humiliating a pupil.

School encourages staff to use seating plans in lessons and free choice activities should be limited e.g. groups or teams should in general be arbitrarily assigned by the member of staff.

The importance of good relationships is emphasised in the Handbooks for girls and parents and guidance given to pupils about what to do if they are bullied or are aware of others being bullied.  Girls are encouraged to confide in their form tutors or to speak directly to their Section Head. Alternatively they may seek help from the school nurse, the school counsellor or the peer counsellors. Training in detecting bullying is given to the sixth form students who volunteer to act as form assistants and peer counsellors.

All new staff take part in an induction programme which makes them aware of the anti-bullying policy and emphasises the importance of identifying and reporting any bullying incident.

PROCEDURE TO DEAL WITH BULLYING

All reported incidents will be treated seriously and fully investigated; all parties will be heard and given appropriate support.

If a member of staff witnesses overt bullying, the incident should immediately be reported to the Section Head or Head of Junior School. A member of staff who is informed of any bullying should report the incident to the Section Head or Head of Junior School who will then investigate by interviewing all the parties concerned and document the incident. If the incident is of a serious nature or repeated, the Deputy Head Pastoral will be informed immediately. Any incidents involving members of staff should be reported directly to the Deputy Head Pastoral. Written records of all proceedings should be kept in school files to enable patterns to be identified.

When bullying is found to have occurred appropriate action will be taken to:

• ensure the immediate safety and well being of those involved.
• provide on-going support and counselling for the individual being bullied.
• inform the individual who has been responsible for the bullying that this behaviour is unacceptable.
• counsel the individual to understand the implications of bullying.
• establish whether further support and/or counselling are required to rectify behaviour.
• advise the individual of the consequences of further bullying.
• discipline the offender.
• inform the parents.
• follow up with the individuals to provide any necessary support.

DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

Usually parents will be invited in and appropriate action will be taken which may include a disciplinary hearing. Disciplinary sanctions may include a formal warning and contract of good behaviour, community service or suspension, and there may also be a requirement that the bully has specialist counselling.

In serious or repeated incidents the outcome of the disciplinary hearing may be required removal or expulsion.

MONITORING AND REVIEW

The anti-bullying policy is the governors' responsibility, and they review its effectiveness annually through an incident report presented to the Governors' Personnel Committee.