Anti Bullying
Parkhead Community Primary School is an 'All Together Gold School' and has demonstrated its commitment to stopping bullying and improving the wellbeing of its pupils.
At Parkhead Community Primary School we believe that each individual has the right to feel and be safe, to learn, and to be treated with respect and valued. Everyone at Parkhead Primary School has pledged to prevent all forms of bullying. We aim to create a safe, happy, stimulating environment for all our children.
We believe that bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Staff are vigilant of bullying behaviours. We acknowledge that bullying can happen and does happen from time to time. When bullying does occur, everyone should feel able to tell and know that incidents of bullying will be taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and effectively with our school bullying policy.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying is anything that is intended to hurt or belittle someone; makes them feel ashamed, isolated, unhappy or afraid.
We define bullying as:
Repetitive, intentional hurting of one person by another, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. (Definition by Anti-Bullying Alliance)
Bullying can be short term or continuous over long periods of time.
Bullying can be:
- Emotional - being unfriendly, excluding,
- Physical - pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
- Racial - racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
- Sexual - unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
- Homophobic - because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
- Direct or indirect Verbal - name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
- Cyber bullying - All areas of internet, such as email & internet chat room misuse. Mobile threats by text messaging & calls. Misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera & video facilities, Ipad, games consoles.
Bullying is not:
It is important to understand that bullying is not the odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when the occasional trick or joke is played on someone. It is bullying if it is done several times on purpose.
Children sometimes fall out and say things because they are upset. When occasional problems of this kind arise, although unkind, it is not classed as bullying. It is an important part of children’s development to learn how to deal with friendship breakdowns or a childish prank. We all have to learn how to deal with these situations and develop skills to repair relationships.
Prevention
At Parkhead Community Primary School we use a variety of methods for helping children to prevent bullying through:
- class assemblies,
- PSHE and Citizenship lessons,
- the school Vision and Assembly Themes,
- Anti-bullying Alliance online training and workshops for staff and pupils,
- Anti-bullying week focus, E-Safety assemblies and workshops, Kidscape workshops, Worry Box,
- NSPCC
- Involvement from Show Racism the Red Card.
Children are also consulted through in-school pupil questionnaires. The results of these questionnaires are promptly responded to by staff and issues raised are discussed at Anti Bullying Ambassador meetings.
The ethos and working philosophy of Parkhead Community Primary School means that all staff actively encourage children to have respect for each other and for other people’s property.
Good and kind/polite behaviour is regularly acknowledged and rewarded through the use of Class Dojos.
Staff will regularly discuss bullying, this will inform children that we are serious about dealing with bullying and leads to open conversations and increased confidence in children to want to discuss bullying.
Useful websites:
www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
www.kidscape.org.uk. Visit the Kidscape website for a copy of their free leaflets and resources at Here you will also find further support, links and advice.
LGBT+ advice and support services:
www.humankindcharity.org.uk/service/lgbt-north-east