A School Policy on Bullying Having a policy helps to combat bullying if:
- everyone knows what the policy is
- the policy is applied consistently
- everyone believes in the policy.
Things to discuss in developing a policy: What counts as bullying in your school? What are the aims of your policy to consist of? Think about:
- preventing bullying
- dealing with bullying if it occurs
- building on your school discipline policy
- fitting in with your social education policy.
What is the policy to consist of? Think about:
- raising awareness through the curriculum
- giving pupils opportunities to talk about bullying in general
- supervision of key areas of the school
- procedures for investigating incidents
- guidelines for listening to victims, witnesses and bullies.
Who is going to do what? Can you identify specific responsibilities for specific people: teachers, pupils, parents, ancillary staff? How are you going to get the policy over to all concerned? Can you involve the school board, teaching/non-teaching staff, pupils and others? |
