Introduction

Coláiste Choilm recognises the dignity and uniqueness of each member of its broad school community – student, teacher, parent, management, and ancillary staff. It acknowledges the right of each member of the school community to enjoy school in a secure environment. In accordance with our ethos, we will continue to promote responsibility, respect, tolerance and understanding. The school community welcomes all new students and staff to the school. This policy was formulated by a committee representative of the school community, namely: students, teachers, parents, chaplain and management.

Rationale

1) This policy has been formulated in order to create a community that respects the rights of all its members and ensures that all students can learn in a safe and caring environment.

2) The BOM has a statutory obligation to ensure that a policy is in place that reflects the principles and values of the religious and educational philosophy of the school.

3) Accordingly, in order to fulfil this obligation and this requirement, all members of the school community have been involved and encouraged to develop, formulate and review the policy.

4) In accordance with the requirements of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and the code of behaviour guidelines issued by the NEWB, the Board of Management of Colaiste Choilm has adopted the following anti-bullying policy within the framework of the school’s overall code of behaviour. This policy fully complies with the requirements of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools which were published in September 2013.

Mission Statement

The aim of Coláiste Choilm is to provide a holistic education which is driven by a Catholic ethos. We strive to create a safe environment which fosters inclusion, honesty, dignity and respect. The school community encourages the individual in the pursuit of excellence. We aim to promote among students a sense of pride in their school.

This anti-bullying policy and the ensuing anti-bullying strategies will support the creation of a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the school community.

Ethos

Coláste Choilm is a school in the Edmund Rice School Trustt that strives to live out the following five key elements of an Edmund Rice School as articulated in the ERST tradition.

  • Nurturing faith, Christian spirituality and gospel-based values
  • Promoting partnership in the school community
  • Excelling in teaching and learning
  • Creating a caring school community
  • Inspiring transformational leadership.

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Scope of Policy

This policy applies to the whole school community and their relationships with therefore to students, teachers, management, parents, administration and all support staff. It will apply whenever students are engaged in a school activity, i.e.,

  • School time (including break times)
  • Going to and from school
  • School tours/trips
  • Extra-curricular activities
  • Where a bullying incident is disclosed to the school

The Board of Management recognises the very serious nature of bullying and the negative impact that it can have on the lives of pupils and is therefore fully committed to the following key principles of best practice in preventing and tackling bullying behaviour:

  • A positive school culture and climate which
    • is welcoming of difference and diversity and is based on inclusivity;
    • encourages pupils to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour in a non-threatening environment; and
    • promotes respectful relationships across the school community;
  • Effective leadership;
  • A school-wide approach;
  • A shared understanding of what bullying is and its impact;
  • Implementation of education and prevention strategies (including awareness raising measures) that-
    • build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils;
    • Explicitly address the issues of cyber-bullying and identity-based bullying including in particular, homophobic and transphobic bullying.
  • Effective supervision and monitoring of pupils;
  • Supports for staff;
  • Consistent recording, investigation and follow up of bullying behaviour (including use of established intervention strategies);
  • On-going evaluation of the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy.

In accordance with the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools bullying is defined as follows:

Bullying is unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time.

The following types of bullying behaviour are included in the definition of bullying:

  • deliberate exclusion, malicious gossip and other forms of relational bullying,
  • cyber-bullying and
  • Identity-based bullying such as homophobic bullying, racist bullying, bullying based on a person’s membership of the Traveller community and bullying of those with disabilities or special educational needs.

Isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour, including a once-off offensive or hurtful text message or other private messaging, do not fall within the definition of bullying and should be dealt with, as appropriate, in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour.

However, in the context of this policy, placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network site or other public forum where that message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other people will be regarded as bullying behaviour.

Negative behaviour that does not meet this definition of bullying will be dealt with in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour.

Additional information on different types of bullying is set out in Section 2 of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.

The relevant teacher(s) for investigating and dealing with bullying is (are) as follow :
Coláiste Choilm has an excellent pastoral care system in place, whereby each class is assigned a tutor who is the student’s first point of reference in the school. The tutor takes the class from First-Year to Third Year where possible. Each year group has a Year Head who deals with all matters relating to discipline and care. Reports of all bullying incidents (wherever they may have been reported) will be submitted to the Year Head, who is the person with overall responsibility for all students in her/his year group. If the Year Head is named in the report as being responsible for the incident, or if there is a complaint regarding a staff member, then the incident will be reported directly to the Principal/Deputy Principal. (cf. Child Protection Guidelines).

  • Positive reinforcement of behaviour for the better good of the community is encouraged through the tutor/year head award system.
  • We have a Care Team in place which will have a role for ensuring the objectives of this policy are met. The team members represent the support system that exists for students within school.The following support systems exist:
  1. Student Council
  2. Tutor
  3. Year Head
  4. Guidance Counsellor/Anti-Bullying Coordinator
  5. Chaplain/ RE Teacher
  6. Deputy Principal/Principal

The education and prevention strategies (including strategies specifically aimed at cyber- bullying and identity-based bullying including in particular, homophobic and transphobic bullying) that will be used by the school are as follows :(see Section 6.5 of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools It is school policy to provide education on bullying in the following manner:

Formal curriculum provision:

  • All year groups at Junior Cycle and TY are facilitated through the S.P.H.E. programme, which incorporates a module on bullying. Senior Cycle students are facilitated through RE
  • Special Needs – As students with special needs can be more vulnerable, particularly in the initial transfer from primary to post-primary, we have put in place a mentoring system, organized between the SEN team Guidance Counsellor and Year Head. During the month of September SEN students are assigned a mentor who assists them in the transition. This programme includes activities and coping strategies/life skills around bullying behaviours.
  • Everyone is encouraged to participate in Anti-Bullying Week, which takes place on an annual basis. In line with health and safety regulations, students are supervised at all times, within classrooms and on school grounds, between the hours of 8.35 a.m. and 4.10 p.m. Students are also supervised while on any school related activity, unless otherwise advised in writing beforehand. Staff will also

monitor levels of bullying behaviour at specified times, using the bullying sociogram and observation sheet.

Parental Involvement

Because the school values the critical role parents play in the prevention of bullying, two parents from the   Parents’ Council were involved in the drafting of this policy. Information evenings are held on many issues relating to the welfare of our students and bullying will be addressed in this way. It is hoped that parenting courses will be made available in the future to support parents in the challenging role of parenting teenagers in the 21st century. Parents are encouraged to make contact with the school if they suspect their child is being bullied.

The school’s procedures for investigation, follow-up and recording of bullying behaviour and the established intervention strategies used by the school for dealing with cases of bullying behaviour Coláiste Choilm aims to facilitate a ‘telling school’ by making it easy for students to report incidents of bullying. The following are some of the ways a student can report bullying, either for himself or for another student

Whom To Tell Tutor

Year Head

Guidance Counsellor

Chaplain

Anti-Bullying Coordinator

Parent

Deputy Principal

Principal

Student Council Rep.

Any classroom teacher with whom student feels comfortable or any other member of school staff.

 

How to Tell Approach teacher before/after class

Hand up note with homework

Ask parent to ring school

Get friend to tell

Anti-bully letterbox

Confidential questionnaire will be administered at regular intervals to all students.

 

. Procedures to deal with reports

Once a report has been made the following steps will be taken to ensure the matter is dealt with:

Initial report/disclosure of bullying behaviour

 

Action taken by Procedure Support and/or sanction may include

 

Subject teacher or any teacher.

 

 

 

Complete incident report

Report to the Year Head

 

 

 

Serious talk with student(s) re effects of their behaviour.

 

Challenge the behaviour as being unacceptable.

 

Verbal warning. Student/s involved warned to stop.

 

Seek verbal agreement re future behaviour.

Inform parents

 

Outline a fair outcome if appropriate:

e.g. an apology, return of property etc.

Report to Care Team/ Guidance Counsellor

 
Subsequent report /disclosure

 

Action taken by Procedure Support and/or sanction may include:
Year Head involved

 

Incident investigated by the Year Head

 

Principal/ Deputy Principal and teachers informed.

 

Both sets of parents informed by the Year Head

 

Keep a record.

 

Year Head follows up progress with victim and bully, bystanders or others involved.

Serious talk with the student re: behaviour and future behaviour.

 

Sign written agreement re future behaviour.

 

Parents/guardians sign written agreement re future behaviour.

 

Speak with school counsellor.

 

Detention /other agreed sanction from school’s Code of Behaviour

 

Monitor future behaviour.

 

  Where bullying behaviour persists / serious incident of bullying

 

Action taken by Procedure Support and/or Sanction

 

Principal or Deputy Principal involved

 

 

 

The incident may be referred to the Board of Management at the discretion of the Principal.

Parents and student meet with Principal / Deputy Principal.

 

 

Use Restorative Approach

 

Feedback to Year Head.

 

Record kept.

 

Follow up progress with victim and bully, bystanders or others involved and continue to monitor the situation.

Detention / suspension / other agreed sanction from school’s Code of Behaviour.

 

Parents are met and conditions set regarding student’s future behaviour.

 

Counselling offered

 

Referral to child psychologist/ Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer if necessary

 

Contact with other support agencies e.g. re anger management, if necessary.

The future of the student in the school may be considered.

 

Referral of serious cases to the HSE

In relation to bullying in schools, Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011 (Children First) and the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools provide that in situations where “the incident is serious and where the behaviour is regarded as potentially abusive, the school must consult the HSE Children and Family Social Services with a view to drawing up an appropriate response, such as a management plan”.

6.8.13 Serious instances of bullying behaviour should, in accordance with the Children First and the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools, be referred to the HSE Children and Family Services and/or Gardaí as appropriate.

The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools also provide that where school personnel have concerns about a child but are not sure whether to report the matter to the HSE, the Designated Liaison Person must seek advice from the HSE Children and Family Social Services

Note: Records of bullying incidents will be kept in this school

The school’s programme of support for working with pupils affected by bullying is as follows (see Section 6.8 of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools) :

Provide individual support to all students that have been affected by bullying

Support positive anti bullying culture in the school through the SPHE programme

Develop a whole school approach through antio bullying awareness/ friendship days in the school

Monitor levels of bullying behaviour at specified times, using the bullying sociogram (Appendix 3, )

 

 Supervision and Monitoring of Pupils

The Board of Management confirms that appropriate supervision and monitoring policies and practices are in place to both prevent and deal with bullying behaviour and to facilitate early intervention where possible.

 

Prevention of Harassment

The Board of Management confirms that the school will, in accordance with its obligations under equality legislation, take all such steps that are reasonably practicable to prevent the sexual harassment of pupils or staff or the harassment of pupils or staff on any of the nine grounds specified i.e. gender including transgender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.

This policy was adopted by the Board of Management on ________________   [date].

This policy has been made available to school personnel, published on the school website (or where none exists, is otherwise readily accessible to parents and pupils on request) and provided to the Parents’ Association (where one exists). A copy of this policy will be made available to the Department and the patron if requested.

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed by the Board of Management once in every school year. Written notification that the review has been completed will be made available to school personnel, published on the school website (or where none exists, be otherwise readily accessible to parents and pupils on request) and provided to the Parents’ Association (where one exists). A record of the review and its outcome will be made available, if requested, to the patron and the Department.

 

Signed: ____________________________________                   Signed: ___________________________

(Chairperson of Board of Management)                                                   (Principal)

 

Date: ______________                                                                     Date: __________________

 

Date of next review: _______________

 

Appendix 2 Checklist for annual review of the anti-bullying policy and its implementation

The Board of Management (the Board) must undertake an annual review of the school’s anti-bullying policy and its implementation. The following checklist must be used for this purpose. The checklist is an aid to conducting this review and is not intended as an exhaustive list. In order to complete the checklist, an examination and review involving both quantitative and qualitative analysis, as appropriate across the various elements of the implementation of the school’s anti-bullying policy will be required.

Yes /No

Has the Board formally adopted an anti-bullying policy that fully complies with the requirements of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools?
Has the Board published the policy on the school website and provided a copy to the parents’ association?
Has the Board ensured that the policy has been made available to school staff (including new staff)?
Is the Board satisfied that school staff are sufficiently familiar with the policy and procedures to enable them to effectively and consistently apply the policy and procedures in their day to day work?
Has the Board ensured that the policy has been adequately communicated to all pupils?

 

Has the policy documented the prevention and education strategies that the school applies?

 

Have all of the prevention and education strategies been implemented?

 

Has the effectiveness of the prevention and education strategies that have been implemented been examined?
Is the Board satisfied that all teachers are recording and dealing with incidents in accordance with the policy?
Has the Board received and minuted the periodic summary reports of the Principal?

 

Has the Board discussed how well the school is handling all reports of bullying including those addressed at an early stage and not therefore included in the Principal’s periodic report to the Board?
Has the Board received any complaints from parents regarding the school’s handling of bullying incidents?
Have any parents withdrawn their child from the school citing dissatisfaction with the school’s handling of a bullying situation?
Have any Ombudsman for Children investigations into the school’s handling of a bullying case been initiated or completed?
Has the data available from cases reported to the Principal (by the bullying recording template) been analysed to identify any issues, trends or patterns in bullying behaviour?
Has the Board identified any aspects of the school’s policy and/or its implementation that require further improvement?
Has the Board put in place an action plan to address any areas for improvement?

 

 

Signed _____________________________________                      Date ________________

Chairperson, Board of Management

 

Signed _____________________________________                 Date ________________

Principal

 

Notification regarding the Board of Management’s annual review of the anti-bullying policy

 

 

To: _____________________________________

 

The Board of Management of ____________________ wishes to inform you that:

 

 

o   The Board of Management’s annual review of the school’s anti-bullying policy and its implementation was completed at the Board meeting of _______________ [date].

 

o   This review was conducted in accordance with the checklist set out in Appendix 4 of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.

 

 

Signed _____________________________________                      Date ________________

Chairperson, Board of Management

 

Signed _____________________________________                       Date ________________

Principal

 

 

 

APPENDIX 1                         Incident Report Form

       Name of pupil being bullied and class group

Name _________________________________________Class__________________

 

  1. Name(s) and class(es) of pupil(s) engaged in bullying behaviour
_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

3. Source of bullying concern/report (tick relevant box(es))* 4. Location of incidents (tick relevant box(es))*
Pupil concerned Playground
Other Pupil Classroom
Parent Corridor
Teacher Toilets
Other School Bus
Other
  1. Name of person(s) who reported the bullying concern
 

 

 

  1. Type of Bullying Behaviour (tick relevant box(es)) *
Physical Aggression Cyber-bullying
Damage to Property Intimidation
Isolation/Exclusion Malicious Gossip
Name Calling Other (specify)

 

  1. Where behaviour is regarded as identity-based bullying, indicate the relevant category:

 

Homophobic Disability/SEN related Racist Membership of Traveller community Other (specify)

 

 

  1. Brief Description of bullying behaviour and its impact
 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Details of actions taken
 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed ______________________________ (Relevant Teacher)   Date ___________________________

 

Date submitted to Principal/Deputy Principal ___________________

* Note: The categories listed in the tables 3, 4 & 6 are suggested and schools may add to or amend these to suit their own circumstances.

 

APPENDIX 3

 

Appendix 4

Anti-Bullying Agreement

 

BULLYING IS UNACCEPTABLE

AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN

COLÁISTE CHOILM

 

·       Persistent bullying is considered a very serious breach of the school’s code of behaviour

 

·       Procedures as described in our Anti-Bullying Policy will be followed

 

 

·       Everyone involved in bullying will receive help

 

 

·       A record of incidents will be kept

 

 

You must not:

 

·       Hurt another person physically or emotionally

·       Threaten or intimidate

·       Deliberately exclude or isolate

 

Signed:

 

Student ……………..

 

Parent……………….

 

Principal……………….               Date……………

 

Appendix  5