Anti-Bullying

Goodwin Academy is a learning community where staff and students feel safe and secure. Academy life is characterised by a calm, purposeful environment underpinned by relationships built upon mutual respect. Our expectation is that all students and staff will behave in appropriate and socially acceptable ways.

Every member of staff has a key role to play in promoting and sustaining the highest standards of behaviour for learning. We aim to provide a safe learning environment where everyone feels able to enjoy, achieve and fulfil their potential, free from any form of bullying, physical, verbal, emotional or cyber.

The well-being of every young person is of paramount importance; every learner has the right to a high-quality learning experience at school, free from harm, neglect and abuse. All staff have a duty of care and a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the well-being of students.

Goodwin Academy Pledge

Bullying is: ‘Persistent behaviour by an individual or group with the intention of verbally, physically or emotionally harming another’.

A bully is: ‘A person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.

Bullying typically demonstrates the following characteristics:

  • Repetition – not one-off incidents; frequent over a prolonged period of time
  • Intent – behaviour deemed purposeful, not accidental
  • Clear victim – behaviour targeted at specific individual or group
  • Power imbalance – unequal power causing stress to one party

Categories of bullying:

  • Verbal: name calling, mimicry, teasing, insulting, spreading rumours, swearing, verbal abuse, victimisation following reports of bullying by victim or bystanders (retribution).
  • Physical: Any unwanted or inappropriate touching, physical intimidation, hitting, pushing, kicking, pinching, poking, damaging or taking of belongings, deliberate pushing and shoving, threats of violence and extortion.
  • Emotional: Damage to reputation, rumour spreading, deliberate exclusion from groups, torment, mimicry, ridicule, isolation, refusal to work with another student, threats, revealing personal information, inciting or coercing others.
  • Cyber: Using social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Google+), web-based games consoles, mobile phones, messaging mediums to verbally or emotionally harm or embarrass another.

At Goodwin Academy, we have a zero tolerance attitude towards bullying.

It is important that students report any bullying behaviour and act us ‘upstanders’ to actively support any student who is being bullied.

A range of approaches will be used to support the victim of bullying and help them build resilience. These include:

  • Peer buddies
  • Anti-Bullying Ambassadors offering support or escalating to a member of staff
  • Coaching
  • Restorative justice conversations

A range of approaches will be used to support the bully to avoid repeating the bullying behaviour. These include:

  • 1:1 meetings
  • Anti-Bullying Ambassadors to support to correct their bullying behaviours
  • Restorative justice conversations
  • Parent/carer meetings
  • Setting appropriate sanctions to demonstrate our zero tolerance approach

Useful Websites: