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St Augustine's Priory
Statements of Policy & Practice (S.P.P)

Apart from information covered on these web pages and in our prospectus, a number of issues are dealt with in our Statements of Policy and Practice (S.P.P), which we have developed over the last few years.

Not all of the S.P.P will be of interest to parents; but we believe our Statement of Practice on the Prevention of Bullying, below, may be of interest, and we aim to publish our Statement of Practice on the Handling of Complaints here shortly.

A copy of St Augustine’s Priory S.P.P. (Volume I) in its entirety is kept in the Almoner’s Office for inspection during the School day.

STATEMENT OF PRACTICE ON THE PREVENTION OF BULLYING AT ST AUGUSTINE’S PRIORY

Introduction

1.

Bullying is not tolerated at St Augustine's Priory, and if detected will be treated in accordance with the provisions of this statement of practice and the disciplinary code set out in the School Rules and Regulations.

2.

No pupil at St Augustine's should feel either that she has to put up with being bullied, or that bullying is part of the natural order of things. Any pupil who becomes aware that another pupil is being bullied must report it to a member of staff

3.

Copies of this statement will be circulated to parents from time to time, and its provisions will be made known to pupils through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons

Definition of Bullying

4.

For the purposes of this statement, bullying is defined as any act that hurts, frightens or threatens a fellow pupil, or is intended to have such effect. Bullying may include (but need not necessarily be limited to) one or more of the following acts:
a) mocking, tormenting or otherwise picking on a fellow pupil;
b) striking or pushing a fellow pupil, or other forms of offensive or inappropriate physical contact;
c) using offensive or abusive language or gestures;
d) ostracizing a fellow pupil;
e) using text messages, e-mails or other media to intimidate or cause distress to another pupil, or with intent to intimidate or cause distress.


Action to be taken in Response to Bullying

5.

The pupil concerned should either
a) tell the bully to stop, or
b) tell her friends, parents or a School prefect about it, or
c) report it to a member of staff.

Prevention of Bullying

6.

Pupils are expected to be friendly to and tolerant of each other, particularly in the case of pupils who are shy and have few friends. Pupils must recognise that to condone bullying is as unacceptable as bullying itself.

7.

Bullying is dealt with in the School’s PSHE lessons, and these lessons are supported in practical ways – by awarding plus marks for acts of kindness, and by more formal awards for pupils who have exemplified in their dealings with fellow pupils those values on which the School was founded: truth, justice, compassion and forgiveness

Help From Parents

8.

Parents should be alert to signs of bullying, some examples of which are given below, and should encourage their daughters to report bullying, either of themselves or fellow pupils. Parents should themselves report any instances of bullying of which they may become aware regardless of whether or not the matter has already been reported by their daughter or a fellow pupil.

Signs to Look Out For

9.

A pupil who is being bullied may
a) become unwilling to go to School;
b) become prone to illnesses such as headaches;
c) lose self-confidence, or
d) become uncharacteristically subdued.


Reporting Procedure

10.

Bullying should in the first instance be reported to the Junior Department Magistra (for Preps and Juniors) or to the pupil’s Senior Form Mistress or Master (for Seniors).

11.

If practicable, such reports will be dealt with locally – that is, by the Form Mistress or Master of the pupil or pupils concerned, and the Form Mistress or Master will also carry out such interviews as may be required. The parents of the pupil or pupils concerned may, if appropriate, be asked to attend the School for a meeting or meetings.

12.

The outcome of any report made in accordance with paragraph (10) will be communicated, in writing, to the parents of the pupil or pupils concerned.

13.

The Headmistress may intervene at any time after a report has been made in accordance with paragraph (10) if, in her opinion, the circumstances of a particular case warrant such intervention.


Sanctions

14.

A pupil found to have bullied a fellow pupil or pupils will be treated in accordance with the provisions of the disciplinary code, as set out in the School Rules and Regulations.

15.

If the bullying has been significant either in duration or intensity, the pupil or pupils responsible will, in the absence of mitigating circumstances, be suspended or expelled. Suspension or expulsion may also be prescribed if, in the opinion of the Headmistress, the bullying has been, or is likely to be, detrimental to the interests of the School, its standing or reputation.