Overview
This policy is informed by the The Board of Management of Coláiste Naomh Eoin, which aims to develop the physical, intellectual, moral and emotional well being of the students of our courses and to foster a sense of community & co-operation at Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Statement of Rights
Every person in Coláiste Naomh Eoin has the right to pursue his or her learning, teaching, work and leisure free from intimidation from any other person in the Coláiste and in the surrounding community.
Policy Objectives
- To create an awareness of bullying as a form of unacceptable behaviour.
- To create a course ethos which encourages the disclosure and discussion of incidents of bullying behaviour.
- To develop procedures for noting and reporting incidents of bullying behaviour.
- To develop procedures for investigating and dealing with incidents of bullying behaviour.
Definition of Bullying: ‘Bullying is repeated aggression, verbal, physical or psychological, conducted by an individual or group against others.’ (D.E.S. Guidelines on Countering Bullying in Primary and Post Primary Schools. September 1993.) Bullying includes hurtful words or gestures, repeated name-calling, exclusion or isolation of a person by another person or group of people, physical aggression, mimicry, interference with property.
Bullying behaviour by any member of the course community will, by its very nature, undermine the necessary secure and safe teaching and learning environment to which Coláiste Naomh Eoin aspires.
Awareness and Reporting
The prevention of bullying requires the co-operation of students, staff, parents and Board of Management.
- Students are encouraged to report bullying to principal, teachers, ceannarí or course director.
- Non-teaching staff members who are in contact with students will be asked to report incidents to the Principal & Course Director.
- Teachers will report all incidents of bullying to the Principal & Course Director.
- Supervisors are encouraged to be vigilant in areas of the school where bullying may occur such as circulation areas, corridors, in the yard, hall etc
- Awareness campaigns e.g. posters will be used to persuade the main body of students that silence and inaction of onlookers provides support for the bully.
Investigation Procedures
Where an incident of bullying is observed by or reported to a member of staff the following measures will be taken:
- A written report of the incident/allegation will be given to the Principal & Course Director.
Both the Principal & Course Director will investigate reported incidents of alleged bullying at the earliest opportunity. - Persons involved in or witnessing alleged incidents of bullying will be asked to write an account of the incident. This does not necessarily imply that these persons have engaged in bullying behaviour.
- Questioning and investigation will be sensitive to the needs of those involved.
Parents are encouraged to contact the Principal & Course Director immediately if they suspect or know that a child is being bullied. Parents are encouraged to keep a record of any incidents of bullying, noting who, what, when and where. - Investigation of incidents of alleged bullying will be conducted in a manner that affords full rights to those concerned in accordance with natural justice.
- No absolute guarantee of confidentiality can be given to a person making a complaint.
Dealing with Bullying
These procedures are intended to reassure any student who is being bullied that he/she will be listened to and his/her case will be dealt with seriously. They are also intended to enable those involved to recognise the serious nature of bullying and to dissuade them from participating in or supporting bullying behaviour.
- A record of bullying incidents will be maintained by the Principal & Course Director in a designated ‘Incident Report’ file.
- Parents will be informed their child’s involvement in serious incidents of bullying.
Appropriate sanctions will be imposed in accordance with the Coláiste Naomh Eoin’s Code of Behaviour. - Retaliation against students or others, following or during an investigation will be regarded as a very serious breach of discipline and will merit appropriate sanction.
- Those who have been found to have engaged in bullying will be encouraged to recognise the inappropriateness of such behaviour and the seriousness of its effects on others.
Disciplinary Procedures
Sanctions and disciplinary procedures imposed in instances of bullying behaviour will have as their priority:
- The health and safety of the victim
- Preservation of the anti-bullying ethos of the school
- Prevention of further occurrences
- Reconciliation between the parties to the bullying incident
- The effect on the perpetrator
Review
The Anti-Bullying Policy will be reviewed annually.
