Policies
Disability Statement
Homework Policy and Arrangements
SENCO Policy
Religious Education
Anti-bullying
Safety online
SENCO Policy
Special educational needs are identified at the start of Year 7. A director of learning, a support-for-learning curriculum leader, SENCO trained teachers, learning mentors and teaching assistants will provide support and advise teachers of the needs of students with learning difficulties. Extensive learning support resources including software packages are available.
Religious Education
RE is taught as part of our curriculum. Parents may withdraw their child from these studies on written application. The Academy is not affiliated with any religion.
Anti-bullying
To view the Anti-bullying booklet click here
The aim of the anti-bullying policy is to ensure that students learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Only when all issues of bullying are addressed will students be able to fully benefit from the opportunities available at Academy’s. Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. The three main types of bullying are:
- physical (hitting, kicking, theft)
- verbal (name calling, racist remarks)
- indirect (spreading rumours, excluding someone from social groups)
Students who are being bullied may show changes in behaviour, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults. There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, lacking concentration or truanting from the Academy. Students must be encouraged to report bullying in Academies. Academy's teaching and ancillary staff must be alert to the signs of bullying and act promptly and firmly against it in accordance with Academy policy.
Statutory duty of Academies
Headteachers have a legal duty under the Academy Standards and Framework Act 1998 to draw up procedures to prevent bullying among students and to bring these procedures to the attention of staff, parents and students.
Implementation Academies
The following steps may be taken when dealing with incidents:
- If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the member of staff who has been approached
- A clear account of the incident will be recorded and given to the Conflict Resolution Manager
- The Conflict Resolution Manager will interview all concerned and will record the incident
- Personalised Learning Tutors will be kept informed and if it persists the Personalised Learning Tutor will advise the appropriate subject teachers
- Parents will be kept informed
- Punitive measures will be used as appropriate and in consultation will all parties concerned
Students
Students who have been bullied will be supported by:
- Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with a Personalised Learning Tutor or member of staff of their choice
- Reassuring the pupil
- Offering continuous support
- Restoring self-esteem and confidence
Students who have bullied will be helped by:
- Discussing what happened
- Discovering why the pupil became involved
- Establishing the wrong doing and need to change
- Informing parents or guardians to help change the attitude of the pupil
The following disciplinary steps can be taken:
- Official warnings to cease offending
- Detention
- Seclusion - external
- Permanent exclusion
Within the curriculum the Academy will raise the awareness of the nature of bullying through inclusion in PSHE, Personalised Learning Tutorial time, assemblies and subject areas, as appropriate, in an attempt to eradicate such behaviour.
ABAT – The Student Voice
Members of the student voice volunteer to join ABAT, The Anti-Bullying Action Team. The team work closely with students who are experiencing problems within the Academy. Promoting anti-bullying through assemblies and publicity materials, the group have initiated an anonymous bully reporting system and operate drop-in sessions every break time in the Academy.
Monitoring, evaluation and review
The Academy will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the Academy.
Safety online
Whilst the internet and associated technologies are an excellent tool and resource to enrich learning there are still dangers related to their use, especially in relation to young students. Some examples of this are:
- Bullying via chat or email
- Obsessive internet use
- Exposure to inappropriate materials
- Inappropriate or illegal behaviour
- Physical danger of sexual abuse
As an Academy it is our duty of care alongside that of parents and other members of the community to protect our children from these dangers and this can be achieved by many different mechanisms working together.
To view our e-safety policy click here.