At Malbank School we believe that everyone has a right to enjoy school life in a safe, friendly environment. We encourage respect for others and their property and we strive to ensure that everyone is valued equally and treated with respect, regardless of aptitude, ethnic origin, gender, disability or social status.

Bullying of all kinds is unacceptable whether it is between students and students, staff and students or staff and staff.

Bullies are people who get involved in a range of activities including:

IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED

DON'T

• BLAME YOURSELF
• SUFFER IN SILENCE
• FEEL THAT BY TELLING SOMEONE IT WILL MAKE MATTERS WORSE
• PRE-JUDGE HOW YOUR PARENTS OR STAFF WILL REACT OR HANDLE THINGS
• SKIP LESSONS OR SCHOOL

DO

• TELL A FRIEND OR RELATIVE 

OR

• SEEK HELP AND SUPPORT IN SCHOOL

FROM

• ANY MEMBER OF STAFF
• THE INCLUSION MENTOR
• CONNEXIONS PA
• A PREFECT
• THE BUDDY TEAM 

OR

CONTACT A HELPLINE SUCH AS

• CHILDLINE

‘Buddies are a dedicated group of Year 10 students who are committed to helping younger members of the school in order to ensure their smooth transition from primary school and through Key Stage 3. We are assigned to Year 7 forms and will visit during morning registrations. We run a games club and assist with the Year 7 Quiet Area. As trained peer mentors we are happy to assist with any problems that might arise and offer guidance on a range of issues.

We are available every Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime in B18.

No problem is too big or too small. Look out for our yellow badges and feel free to talk to us!

Your problem is our problem!

Royah Darabi 10T, William Emerton 10T, Luke Robinson 10C, Holly Arteton 10C, Sophie Marr 10H, Alex Fjodor 10K.

What you might do if you are being bullied:

• Tell someone straight away
• Try to look the bully in the eye and tell them to stop
• Ignore the bully – walk away
• Avoid handing over any possessions e.g. money
• Check your body language – head up, shoulders back, walk tall, smile
• Avoid making counter-threats
• Avoid bringing siblings or others into your problem, especially if they are older than you, it usually only makes matter worse
• Practise answers/responses in your head
• Keep a log of all incidents with names, times, witnesses etc
• Don't let the bully see you are upset
• Avoid walking round on your own – go round in a group
• Change your patterns of behaviour – choose different routes or places to sit
• Join a lunchtime club or extra - activity

What we can do:

• Listen to you and make further discrete enquiries
• Agree with you how best to proceed
• Encourage you to make an incident log
• Encourage you to tell your parents
• Discuss tactics and set hourly/daily targets
• Talk to the bully/bullies and discuss their behaviour, tell them to stop and explain the consequences of continued bullying
• Arrange to mediate between you and the bullies
• Enlist the support of friends or the Buddies to discuss helpful strategies
• Consider changing tutor groups or sets if absolutely necessary
• Provide you with a temporary ‘safe haven' to help you cope
• Review your progress daily/weekly/monthly
• Give practical advice to those involved
• Contact the parents of those involved
• Refer you to other people for counselling/advice e.g. The School nurse, Connexions PA, Inclusion Mentor, CAMHS
• Use the School's Code of Conduct to deal with the bully/bullies
• Fill in bullying reports, log and file all incidents
• Contact the police, if necessary.

NO TWO CASES ARE THE SAME; WE ACT AT YOUR PACE; WE LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WANT; WE ARE DISCREET. WE WILL ALWAYS TAKE ACTION. 

THERE IS NO PLACE AT MALBANK SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM COLLEGE FOR BULLYING OR BULLIES

What parents can do:

• Look out for signs that your child may be being bullied
• Listen to what they say
• Don't dismiss bullying as part of growing up
• Don't rush in and demand to see the Head/bully/bully's parents
• Talk to your child about what to do next e.g. keep a diary of incidents, copies of emails, text messages etc
• Discuss possible responses and role play them with your child
• Encourage your child to tell someone at school
• Work with the school
• Have realistic expectations about what the school can/cannot accomplish within the school setting
• Monitor your child's use of his/her mobile phone and computer
• Access advice from internet sites e.g. www.parentlineplus.org.uk
• In extreme cases involving serious threats of violence, actual violence, abuse of mobile phones and internet sites, racial abuse, it may be necessary to inform the police.

STAFF GUIDELINES
If a child reports an incident to you, or you witness one:

• Listen effectively
• Record the incident
• Talk to the victim(s) and perpetrators separately
• Suggest steps to address bullying that empower the young person
• Contact the Key Sage Team to seek advice/background knowledge
• Contact the parents, if appropriate
• Set short term targets with both the victim and perpetrator
• encourage both sides to empathise and resolve the conflict
• Always set a review date
• Follow up and ensure the victim is safe.
• Up date your records and pass them on to the Key Stage Office.
• In the event of a repeat incident, refer to the Key Stage Team immediately.
• If kyou are on duty refer in the first instance to the Duty Team Leader.
• Pass all racist incidents to the Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion) - but complete witness statements first.
• Refer all concerns about safeguarding/child protection to the Designated Leads.

Useful websites/numbers

CHILDLINE
A confidential and free telephone line, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 080011 11

KIDSCAPE A national charity dedicated to preventing bullying and child abuse 0207 730 3300 www.kidscape.org.uk Kidscape Parents Helpline (Mon-Fri, 10-4) 0845 1 205 204

Connexions Direct for young people 13-19 080 800 13219

EACH for children experiencing homophobic bullying (Mon-Fri 10-5) 0808 1000 143

Links with other policies:
Racial Equality, Disability Equality, Inclusion, Equal Opportunity Policy