Bullying is a very sad fact of life. Any school that says they have no bullying is not being honest. Our view is that there are always some instances of bullying but at Staveley these are very few and very far between.

Your child cannot be bullied once and they cannot be bullied accidentally. The vast majority of cases of bullying turn out to be much less sinister. Bullying has to be deliberate, it has to be serious and it has to be sustained. The bulk of cases notified turn out to be fallings out, accidents or mistaken intentions.  However, once in a while more serious instances do occur. It is over two years since we had a confirmed incident and only 3 in the last 6 years. This gives an indication of the likely frequency. All cases where there is a suspicion of bullying are referred to and dealt with by the head teacher.

AimsThe development of a positive culture characterised by high quality relationships reduces the likelihood of incidents of bullying. Where they do occur our response is sensitive to ensure that the victim and perpetrator are able to return to equitable relations afterwards. We promise our children that if they report an incident, they will be listened to and we will progress subtly and with their involvement. We promise them that we won’t do anything that will make things worse. Sometimes our route has to be a quiet one and other children are not always aware that we are dealing with the issues. We always aim to find a solution that allows some dignity and that prevents any recurrence.  

Spotting the signsOften the most noise is made by the least affected. Check with your child to see that they have not simply fallen out or that they aren’t getting their own way. Try to search for their actions – are they trying to avoid the other child? Who’s following who? The most worrying cases are often the ones where least or nothing is said. The changes in behaviour, quietness, early nights, resistance to school or visiting someone’s house are all significant indicators. Often these things emerge at bedtime.  

Next steps

Always involve your child’s class teacher in the first instance. Our wish is for every child to be able to enjoy coming to school and to be happy learning here. If that is not the case we will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that they are safe and able to enjoy their education.

Further information

There is a great deal of information on the internet about bullying. A good starting point is Childline. Their website can be found at   http://www.childline.org.uk/bullying.asp

Another excellent source of information is at  http://www.bullying.co.uk/

The following information is produced by Staveley School

What if my child is being bullied? A leaflet for parents and children. This is in Word format and can be downloaded here. It is also available in PDF format here.

Am I being bullied? - Short guide for children. Download here.

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