Woodmill Anti-Bullying Policy
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 25
INTRODUCTION
Woodmill High School’s Anti-Bullying Policy has been developed in conjunction with: pupils, colleagues, parents, Fife Local Authority’s Anti-Bullying Policy , the Relationships and Behaviour Strategy and also within the guidelines of Scotland’s anti-bullying service ‘respectme’.
“Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be addressed promptly and effectively. Bullying should never be seen as an inevitable part of growing up. Children and young people living in Scotland should have equal opportunities to succeed; bullying compromises this ambition. Our vision is that:
- Every child and young person in Scotland will grow up free from bullying and will develop respectful, responsible and confident relationships with other children, young people and adults;
- Children and young people and their parent(s), will have the skills and knowledge to prevent and/or respond appropriately to bullying;
- Every child and young person who requires help will know who can help them and what support is available;
- Adults working with, or caring for, children and young people will follow a consistent and coherent approach in preventing and responding to bullying ...”
(Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People. Update 2024)
DEFINITION OF BULLYING
The Nationally agreed definition of bullying is as follows:
Children’s rights
It is every child’s right not to be bullied. Although children and 
young people are covered under the Human Rights Act 1998, their rights are more clearly specified under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Although neither specifically mentions bullying, bullying behaviour does breach a number of the articles in both. Alongside this, both outline the responsibilities of adults to protect and safeguard children and young people from bullying behaviour.
WOODMILL HIGH SCHOOL
Woodmill High School is committed to the wellbeing of all and in addressing the issue of bullying we recognise that children and young people will naturally fall in and out of friendships while growing up. Such difficulties, disagreements or conflicts might be relatively minor and short-lived, but at other times may lead to serious conflict requiring direct intervention to ensure resolution. At whatever level such conflict occurs it is important to distinguish it from bullying, and to ensure that children and their parents and carers understand this distinction. It should also be recognised of course that unresolved conflict might, in time, lead to bullying.
We believe it is important to make a distinction between conflict and bullying as describing all relationship difficulties as ‘bullying’ is likely to devalue the term and obscure the very real risks which we know are associated with children and young people being bullied. It can also create confusion around the nature of response or intervention which is required to get best outcomes for children. Bullying is a mixture of behaviours and impacts, and adult intervention should be guided by the impact on a child or young person, using our wider relationships & positive behaviour strategy following a trauma-informed approach.
EXPECTATIONS
The Woodmill Community are expected to follow the ethos of We Learn, We Respect, We Succeed. We are committed to ensuring that all of our young people are supported to achieve the most that they can from their time with us, and this includes ensuring that they are respected, included, are supported in their wellbeing and are able to develop into well rounded and successful adults. As part of this, we recognise that schools are complex learning environments and within our diverse culture, we work hard to ensure that we question and challenge any signs of bullying behaviour.
PREVENTION
At Woodmill we are committed to ensure that all pupils are supported to develop bothpositive relationships and behaviour. This will be achieved through raising awareness and understanding of behaviours and choices and supporting the development of essential skills and knowledge, enabling our young people to make the right choices in all aspects of their social behaviour.
The topics of relationships, understanding conflict and bullying are explored in detail through Personal and Social Education classes and are also reinforced daily through all staff interactions with our young people every day. The Woodmill community will challenge any signs of conflict, bullying or prejudiced behaviour.
Woodmill anti-bullying team monitor the instances and types of bullying behaviour across the school and from the local and national trends, and we look to respond to these as they occur. We work closely with partners and other professionals to assist in the education and delivery of universal and targeted support to ensure that they are respectful as well as relevant and up to date.
PREJUDICE BASED BEHAVIOURS
At Woodmill we recognise equality and diversity and the need and responsibility to ensure the safety and protection of all pupils who may be vulnerable to bullying as a result of real or perceived difference affecting them or any member of their family, as identified as protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010:
- Age
- Disability (including the behaviours where the young person may not be able to identify that they are being bullied)
- Gender reassignment (including identity and transphobic bullying)
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation (including perceptions of orientation; LGBTQI parents(s); sexist attitudes)
- Material deprivation
We also identify that prejudices and marginalisation can also extend to the following groups:
Additional support needs; Age; Asylum Seekers and Refugees; Body Image and Physical Appearance; Care Experienced young people; Gypsy/Travellers; Young Carers; Socio-economic circumstances; Family circumstances (single parent families; family with persons in prison).
INTERVENTIONS
Instances of bullying or conflict, reported by any Woodmill Community member (pupil(s), member of staff, parent/carer) are investigated by the most appropriate person/persons to the situation; usually this will be the guidance teacher.
All reported instances are investigated fully with communication maintained with the young person(s) involved, as well as the parent/carer(s). If the outcome of the investigation is found to be a bullying incident, the incident will be recorded as such via SEEMIS referral. The approach taken by staff when addressing these instances will take account of the pupils’ past experiences and any additional support needs.
We aim to ensure that our young people do not bully others because they understand the harm it causes and choose not to cause such harm. It follows, therefore, that where children do not make this choice, we need to engage with them educationally, supportively, and restoratively. Our firm belief is that all staff, young people and parents play an active role in developing and maintaining our anti-bullying policy based on this principle.
Support planning will encompass the GIRFEC wellbeing indicators for all the young persons involved in the incident and parent/carers will be notified. All of our young people are monitored after the incident has been resolved to ensure that their wellbeing is not impaired.
INFORMATION FOR PUPILS
If you are being bullied you should speak to your Guidance Teacher, a trusted member of staff, or prefect, who will advise you on the process. It is ok not to be ok and want to chat over issues.
If you think that you have witnessed bullying behaviour, please report this to your Guidance Teacher, a trusted member of staff, or prefect, who will advise you on the process.
Woodmill has a lot of people who can help to support you if you think that you need help. Please just ask a trusted adult or member of the Woodmill community, including prefects and senior pupils.
For more information and practical support click on the link below
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS
Woodmill High School are committed to working in partnership with parents, identifying shared responsibilities in preventing bullying, ensuring the welfare of young people who have been bullied, and supporting and challenging those who have bullied. Families have a crucial role in supporting children and young people, and increasingly in managing the bullying behaviour associated with social media used out with school.
Bullying situations can be a stressful time for all involved and there are times when young people do not want to discuss it. It is worth remembering that if there are changes to your young person’s behaviours, they may be communicating that there is something underlying that is not right.
If you are concerned about your young person, do not hesitate to contact the school to discuss these concerns with your young person’s Guidance teacher.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF SUPPORT AND INFORMATION
There is a wealth of information on the signs of bullying and practical tips on how to advise your young person to build their resilience and ability to cope with difficultsituations on www.resepctme.org.uk.
If your child is being bullied and would like to speak to an adult in confidence, they can contact:
ChildLine on 0800 1111.
If you are worried about your child and would like to talk to someone in confidence, you can call: ParentLine Scotland on 08000 28 22 33.
ChildLine
ChildLine’s website has a bullying section for young people and adults. www.childline.org.uk
Childnet International
Childnet International works in partnership with other organisations to help make the internet a safe place for children and young people. www.childnet.com
Cybermentors
A social networking place where children and young people can talk about bullying with mentors their own age. www.cybermentors.org.uk
CEOP
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre website provides information and advice for online safety. www.ceop.police.uk
LGBT Youth Scotland www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
Families on the Outside www.familiesoutside.org.uk.
