Anti-Bullying

Saint Mary's Primary School is a happy and caring school where expectations of behaviour are high. We provide a safe and positive learning environment within which we seek to develop a mutually supportive culture where children can understand and express their feelings and respect those of others. We aim to build a community based on partnership with parents, children, staff, governors and the wider community.

In providing a safe environment for children, the school does not tolerate any form of bullying behaviour, including repeated acts of aggression and/or discrimination. All acts of bullying are taken seriously and will be dealt with in accordance with our anti-bullying policy.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is hurtful or unkind behaviour which is deliberate and repeated. Bullying can be carried out by an individual or a group of people towards an individual or group. 

No form of bullying will be tolerated and all incidents will be taken seriously.

Bullying can take different forms and it is important that we know these:
Physical - touching somebody in an unkind way for example, punching, kicking
Emotional - hurting other peoples feelings and leaving someone out on purpose.
Racial - calling somebody names because of the colour of their skin.
Cyber - saying unkind things by instant messages, social media and texts.
Verbal - being teased or called names you do not like.

How to spot if someone is being bullied

Pupils who are being bullied may show changes in behaviour, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and investigate further if they feel a child is being bullied.
Sometimes they may not want you to know that they are being bullied but you can see that they are being bullied because of how they look.
Do they look sad? Worried? Upset?

Useful links and resources

Is it bullying? - A useful resource when speaking to your child about issues before reporting them to the school.
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Is-it-Bullying-1.pdf

National bullying helpline - This website has a number of useful resources including instructions on how to block and report instances of bullying on social media platforms:
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/social-media.html

Anti-Bullying Alliance - This website has a number of resources on a range of topics including spotting the signs of bullying and what to do if your child is accused of being a bully.
http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/advice-parents
There are also useful anti-bullying videos to access through their YouTube channel.
Click on this link to view the videos.

Anti-Bullying Week at St. Mary's Primary School

Every year we celebrate Anti Bullying week at St. Mary's Primary School.

Anti-Bullying Week 2023

Make a Noise About Bullying

Anti-Bullying Award

We have been awarded the prestigious Silver United Against Bullying Award!  Only 16% of the schools who take part in the United Against Bullying Project managed to achieve silver.  This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all our children. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire school community.  In particular, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Mrs. Armstrong, who has been instrumental in leading our anti-bullying initiatives. Her dedication and tireless work in educating our students about kindness, empathy, and standing up against bullying have made a significant impact on our school's culture.