Anti Bullying Guidlines

ANTI-BULLYING GUIDELINES

Our Commitment

Every student has the right to attend Archway and feel safe, respected, valued and included.

Bullying is not tolerated. We are committed to preventing bullying, responding promptly and proportionately when it occurs, supporting students who experience bullying, and helping students who engage in bullying behaviour to understand the impact of their actions and make positive changes. We expect all members of our school community to contribute to creating a culture where bullying is challenged and reported.

Types of Bullying

Bullying can take many forms, including physical, verbal, racial, homophobic, religious, additional needs, sexualised, social and cyberbullying, examples as follows:

• Racist insults, slurs, or comments
• Mocking someone's race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, or accent
• Racist jokes or stereotypes
• Racist gestures, images or symbols
• Online racist abuse

Racist language is unacceptable regardless of whether it is described as "banter", "a joke" or "just messing around".

Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic Bullying

• Derogatory comments relating to sexual orientation or gender identity
• Using discriminatory language
• Deliberately misgendering someone to cause distress
• Making inappropriate comments or jokes about someone's perceived identity

Religious or Belief-Based Bullying

• Mocking someone's religion, faith, or beliefs
• Derogatory comments about religious practices or clothing
• Deliberately targeting a student because of their beliefs

Disability and SEND-Related Bullying

• Mocking or imitating a disability or additional need
• Deliberately excluding a student because of their needs
• Using a student's difficulties or vulnerabilities against them
• Making derogatory comments about a student's learning or physical needs

Sexual Harassment and Sex-Based Bullying

• Sexual comments or jokes
• Unwanted sexualised comments
• Making comments about someone's body or appearance
• Sexualised name-calling
• Sharing inappropriate sexual images or messages
• Targeting someone because of their sex or perceived gender

Social or Relational Bullying

• Deliberately excluding someone
• Encouraging others not to associate with someone
• Spreading rumours
• Manipulating friendships
• Turning groups of students against an individual

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying includes bullying conducted through:

• Social media
• Group chats
• Text messages
• Online gaming
• Messaging platforms
• Email
• Shared images, videos, or memes
• Fake accounts or profiles
• Online rumours or harassment

Online behaviour may be dealt with by the school where it has an impact on students, staff, or the wider school community, including where the behaviour takes place outside school.

Banter, Jokes and "Just Having a Laugh"

Students sometimes describe hurtful behaviour as "banter" or "just a joke".

Archway will not accept this as a justification for behaviour that causes another student distress, humiliation, fear, or intimidation.

Mr Wilson/Mr Steel will consider:

• What was said or done
• The context
• The intention
• The impact on the recipient
• Whether the behaviour was repeated;
• Whether there was an imbalance of power;
• Whether the behaviour relates to a protected characteristic or vulnerability.

The fact that someone says they were joking does not automatically make the behaviour acceptable.

Reporting Bullying

Students are encouraged to report bullying as soon as possible.

A student can report bullying to:

• Their Form Tutor
• A class teacher
• Designated safeguarding staff
• A member of Archway SLT
• A parent/carer who can contact the school.

Students should not feel that they have to deal with bullying alone.

Students who witness bullying are also expected to report it. "I wasn't involved" is not an appropriate reason to ignore bullying.

What Students Should Do

If you are being bullied:

1. Tell a trusted adult
2. Explain clearly what has happened
3. Tell staff where and when the behaviour is occurring
4. Keep evidence of online bullying where possible
5. Do not retaliate or respond with further abusive behaviour.
6. Continue to report concerns if the behaviour does not stop.

If you witness bullying:

• Do not encourage the behaviour;
• Do not join in;
• Do not share or repost harmful material;
• Support the student where it is safe to do so;
• Tell a member of staff. 

How the School Will Respond

All reports of bullying will be taken seriously.

The school will:

1. Listen to the student reporting the concern.
2. Establish the facts as fully as possible.
3. Speak with relevant students and staff.
4. Review available evidence, including online evidence where appropriate.
5. Consider the impact on the student.
6. Determine whether the behaviour meets the definition of bullying or constitutes another form of unacceptable behaviour.
7. Apply appropriate consequences and interventions.
8. Support the student who has experienced the behaviour.
9. Monitor the situation to ensure that the behaviour has stopped.
10. Keep parents/carers informed where appropriate.

The school will avoid making assumptions before the circumstances have been properly established.

Consequences and Interventions

Responses will be proportionate to the seriousness and circumstances of the incident.

These may include:

• Restorative conversations;
• Behaviour reflection;
• Parental contact;
• Pastoral intervention;
• Behaviour support
• Loss of privileges
• School-based sanction
• Removal from particular situations or activities
• Individual behaviour plans
• Suspension where appropriate
• Referral to external agencies or the police where appropriate

Where bullying involves racist abuse, sexual harassment, threats, violence, hate-related behaviour or other potentially criminal conduct, Archway will consider whether external agencies or the police need to be informed.

Supporting Students Who Experience Bullying

Students who experience bullying will be offered appropriate support.

This may include:

• A named member of staff as a point of contact
• Regular check-ins
• Support with rebuilding confidence and relationships
• Support with returning to lessons or areas of school where incidents have occurred;
• Appropriate adjustments to reduce the risk of further incidents;
• Communication with parents/carers
• Referral to appropriate internal or external support.

Students will not be expected to resolve bullying themselves.

Working With Students Who Bully

Archway recognises that consequences alone may not prevent future bullying.

Where appropriate, students who engage in bullying behaviour will receive support to:

• Understand the impact of their behaviour
• Take responsibility for their actions
• Develop empathy
• Understand appropriate boundaries
• Develop positive relationships 
• Identify triggers and patterns of behaviour;
• Make better choices in the future.

This does not remove the school's responsibility to apply appropriate consequences.

False or Malicious Allegations

The school will encourage students to report genuine concerns. However, deliberately making false or malicious allegations about another student may itself constitute unacceptable behaviour and may result in a school response. A student who reports bullying in good faith will not be treated as making a false allegation simply because an investigation does not substantiate the concern.

The Role of Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are encouraged to:

• Contact the school promptly if they believe their child is being bullied
• Provide factual information about concerns
• Encourage their child to report incidents to school
• Avoid encouraging retaliation
• Work constructively with the school
• Monitor online activity where appropriate
• Reinforce respectful behaviour at home

Parents/carers should not approach or confront another student involved. Concerns should be directed to Mr Wilson so that they can be dealt with appropriately.

Staff Responsibilities

All staff at Archway have a responsibility to:

• Model respectful behaviour
• Challenge inappropriate language and behaviour
• Take reports of bullying seriously
• Report concerns through the school's agreed systems
• Record incidents accurately
• Avoid dismissing behaviour as "just banter"
• Monitor students where concerns have been raised
• Follow safeguarding and behaviour procedures where appropriate

Staff should be particularly alert to bullying involving vulnerable students or behaviour relating to protected characteristics.

Preventing Bullying

Prevention is an important part of our approach.

Archway will promote:

• Respect and inclusion
• Positive relationships
• Diversity and equality
• Appropriate use of technology
• Anti-racism
• Respect for different cultures, religions, and identities
• Clear expectations regarding language and behaviour.

Anti-bullying messages will be reinforced through PSHE, tutor time, curriculum opportunities, and wider school activities.

October 2026