Bullying hurts and no-one deserves to be bullied. In our academy we recognise that bullying, especially if left unaddressed, can have a devasting effect on individuals. It can be a barrier to learning and have serious consequences on mental health. Bullying which takes place at school can have a lasting effect on a young person’s life into adulthood. We aim to provide a safe, caring and friendly climate for learning for all our students to allow them to improve their life chances, and help them maximise their potential. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect, to feel welcome, secure and happy. We also aim to produce an inclusive environment for all students which openly discusses differences between people and celebrates diversity. We expect students to act safely and feel safe in the academy. We also want parents to feel confident that their children are safe and cared for in the academy and incidents, where they do arise, are dealt with promptly and effectively. There is no legal definition of bullying but at The St Leonards Academy, we have adopted a definition developed and agreed by students, which is: ‘The intentional, repeated act of behaving negatively towards another person or group, where an imbalance of power is involved’. An occasional conflict or disagreement is not bullying. These are an inevitable part of group dynamics and it is normal for people to have a difference of opinion. However, we recognise that repeated friendship problems can sometimes lead to bullying behaviour.What is bullying?
What does bullying look like?
Bullying can take many forms and can be:
- Physical – including pushing, hitting, kicking or any use of violence
- Verbal – including name calling, insulting, making offensive remarks, spreading rumours
- Emotional – including unfriendly or unkind behaviour, behaviour that excludes people, tormenting behaviour
- Cyber – including all areas of online activity, including email, text, group chats and social media to say, write or share hurtful things about others
- Racist – including racial comments, taunts, gestures and harassment
- Sexual – including unwanted physical contact, sexualised comments or gestures
- Gender and identity-based – including homophobic language, bi-phobic and transphobic comments
- Religion or belief-based
- Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) – targeting students who have special educational needs or disabilities
Preventing bullying
We employ a number of strategies to help our students feel safe in school and prevent bullying. This starts with a clear Anti-Bullying policy, which all staff know and understand, ensuring they are competent and confident in responding to incidents of bullying, and do so effectively and consistently. We also encourage students and parents to familiarise themselves with the policy which, as well as being found in the key documents section of this website, can be accessed via the link at the bottom of this page.
Students undertake anonymous surveys so we can collate information about their experiences of bullying and use that to inform decisions about our practice and provision. They also help us to measure results of our efforts over time to ensure they are working. We also enable staff, students and parents to have an input into our anti-bullying provision through our strategy groups.
The academy raises awareness of bullying and managing relationships in numerous ways but notably through PSHE lessons, tutor times and assemblies. Anti-Bullying Week, Safer Internet Day and Mental Health Awareness Week are acknowledged and used as opportunities to do so. How to respond to online bullying is taught as part of our online safety curriculum which is taught weekly in tutor time.
Students are consistently reminded how to report bullying through tutor time and assemblies as well as through our safeguarding posters which are prevalent around the academy. Parents are also provided with guidance, in addition to this webpage, with the academy newsletter regularly containing advice on bullying and online safety.
How to report bullying
We encourage all bullying to be reported. Students can report incidents of bullying to any member of staff or by emailing needtotalk@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk. There are also postboxes available at each head of year’s office that students can drop their concern into.
If a parent/carer wishes to report an incident of bullying they should contact their child’s head of year, all of whom have completed designated safeguarding lead training.
| Year | Head of year | Contact email |
|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Emily Fogg | e.fogg@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk |
| Year 8 | Lucy Bradley | l.bradley@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk |
| Year 9 | Emma Jury | e.jury@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk |
| Year 10 | Samantha Reeve | s.reeve@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk |
| Year 11 | Kelle Vezey | k.vezey@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk |
Students who see others being bullied should report this to a member of staff or use our anonymous reporting tool using the link below. Speaking directly to a member of staff can sometimes make a student feel uncomfortable due to worries about potential consequences, but anonymous reporting empowers students to speak up and voice concerns without fear of repercussions.
All reports will be taken seriously and investigated. We will work towards finding a resolution and an end to the bullying.
Peer support scheme
In September 2024, we will be launching a new Peer Support Scheme. Between now and then, a group of students will be trained for the role of Peer Mediators with the aim of helping other students resolve conflict or arguments peacefully. This follows feedback from students who expressed a belief that having a trained student mediate would be preferable to a member of staff in some cases. We have witnessed some older students having already helped mediate with younger years in an unofficial capacity with positive results. More information on the scheme will be added here once launched.
Anti-Bullying Quality Mark UK (ABQM UK)
At The Hastings Academy we are working towards obtaining the Anti-Bullying Quality Mark UK Award and we encourage input from staff, students and parents. We have staff and student strategy groups in place who are consulted on, and contribute to, the academy’s anti-bullying provision. We are also seeking parents and would welcome your involvement if your child attends the academy.
Leading the academy’s work on the ABQM-UK is Ms Kate Heitzman, Assistant Principal. Should you wish to join a strategy group, or just consult with him regarding anti-bullying policy and strategies, he can be contacted by email at k.heitzman@thestleonardsacademy.org.uk
Mr Charles McGeachie is our governor who supports on anti-bullying. Should you wish to consult him about the strategic development of anti-bullying in the academy, he can be contacted by email at C.McGeachie@brightonacademiestrust.org.uk
To find out more about the quality mark, please visit their website via the button below
To view our bullying policy, please visit our policies page