Grange School stands for Anti-Bullying Week
The 15th to the 19th November 2021 is Anti-Bullying Week. It is officially coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and is an annual event which is held in the 3rd week of November each year.
The prevention of bullying must be a priority for us all. Adults, as well as children, can be subjected to bullying. Workplaces as well as schools and educational institutions have a duty of care to protect employees/students from bullying in all of its various forms
What is Bullying?
Our definition of bullying is based on how an individual child feels. If a student reports that they ‘feel’ bullied, then we treat that as a case of bullying and will always investigate. Very often the student who is perceived as bullying is not aware of the consequences of their actions. Very often bullying in schools is around friendship groups. The friends from primary school get mixed in with new friends from other schools and, during Year 7 and Year 8, we spend a lot of time helping our students understand how isolating someone or calling them names to make them go away is wrong, rude and unacceptable to us. We also try to show them that “what goes around comes around” and that by displaying bullying behavior, they are more likely to be bullied them in the future.
Types of Bullying
Bullying behavior can be:
* Physical – pushing, poking, kicking, hitting, biting, pinching etc.
* Verbal – name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, threats, teasing, belittling.
* Emotional – isolating others, tormenting, hiding books, threatening gestures, ridicule, humiliation, intimidating, excluding, manipulation and coercion.
* Sexual – unwanted physical contact, inappropriate touching, abusive comments, homophobic abuse, exposure to inappropriate films etc.
* Online/cyber – posting on social media, sharing photos, sending nasty text messages, social exclusion
* Indirect – Can include the exploitation of individuals.
The effect of Bullying.
Bullying causes unimaginable distress to a person, including anxiety, stress and depression. It affects all areas of your emotional well-being and has a major impact on your mental health. And it’s not just those being bullied that it affects. Bullying also affects the bystanders who see it happen, the families, the friendship groups and also the bully themselves.
In school, there will be times when conflict takes place between you and another. You need to be able to understand the difference between a conflict and an example of bullying
Conflict:
• A disagreement or difference of opinion.
• An inevitable part of group dynamics.
• Equal power between those involved.
• Usually, an isolated incident or it’s occasional.
• All involved make an effort to resolve the situation.
Bullying:
• Based on an imbalance of power.
• The intent to harm – on purpose.
• Happens repeatedly.
• Serious – Cause physical or emotional harm.
• Does not stop when asked.
• Should always be reported.
Getting help
It’s important to seek help and support if you are experiencing any form of bullying. You can speak to the School Counselor, family and friends. Although we understand that doing so can be more difficult than confronting the bully themselves.
Try speaking to someone at your school first; this could be a counselor, head of school (primary or secondary). A personal tutor or a student union rep, or any member of school staff you feel comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to have a chat with any of our friendly team in the Boarding House. Our on-site teams really do care about you. Your wellbeing and happiness are important to us all.
No one deserves to be bullied and you have the right to make a formal complaint to the school. Once you take those vital first steps to report the bullying, the university is obligated to safeguard your interests. Meaning they will be there to support you. And you can enjoy your studying in a safe and respectable environment.
In making a complaint to the school, the school must undertake a full investigation which may lead to disciplinary action being taken against the perpetrator. The school should have a clear anti-bullying policy in place. Click here to read our ANTI-BULLYING policy
For More Information please visit www.grangeschool.com or send an email to: info@grangeschool.com
