Bullying
Reporting a Bullying Concern
To report a bullying incident click here.
Please be aware that concerns raised using this form will be dealt with during school hours. There may be several concerns that we need to deal with and we will try our hardest to prioritise them. Therefore, please do give us 3 school days to respond to your concerns.
Policy and Procedures
Bullying is not tolerated at Cheney School. It goes against our three school rules: be ready, be respectful and be your best. It also is the opposite of our school motto: think for yourself; act for others.
Bullying is a repetitive act towards another with the intention to cause harm. This is different from a single act of unkindness from one person to another, or a conflict where two parties are being unkind to each other. We recognise there may be times when there is overlap and these are likely to be complex cases.
Regardless of which category an incident might fall into, the school asks that students, parents and teachers report any incidents that might constitute an act of bullying. All incidents reported to the school are acted on.
Students, parents and teachers can all report incidents via the bullying reporting link above. They can do this anonymously if they would prefer. Concerns raised using this form will be dealt with during school hours. There may be several concerns that we need to deal with at once and we will try our hardest to prioritise them. We aim to respond to all concerns within 3 school days. Students can also approach a trusted adult in school if they are more comfortable in doing this.
Anti-Bullying
We work hard at Cheney to prevent bullying. Mutual respect is at the core of our school ethos summed up by our motto ‘think for yourself, act for others.’
We take a whole-school approach to preventing bullying, including:
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A behaviour curriculum that teaches kindness, empathy, and respectful communication
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Annual Anti-Bullying Week activities
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A team of 16 student Anti-Bullying Ambassadors (Years 7–10)
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Assemblies on bystander responsibility and why “snitch culture” harms community safety
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Ongoing staff training to promote inclusive classrooms
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Celebrating our diverse school community, where students are encouraged to express and share their identities, beliefs, and values
Acting on Reports
When a report is made, the Behaviour Improvement Manager is alerted, as well as the Deputy Head for Behaviour. The incident is read and triaged by the Behaviour Improvement Manager, and appropriate action is taken in discussion with the relevant year team. We take appropriate action in every case, even if that means we are required to be discreet. Every incident reported is tracked, and the outcome recorded.
Primarily, we aim to educate young people of the impact of their actions and our starting place is always to have an educational conversation with the student concerned.
We believe education is the most effective way to change behaviour. Our starting place is always to assume that a student does not understand the impact of their actions, over any student being deliberately malicious.
If bullying behaviour continues, it may be that a more serious consequence is appropriate, such as a detention, or a day in the Reflection and Learning Room, and in the most serious cases, bullying contracts and suspensions will be considered. Students who persistently engage in bullying behaviour, are put on bullying contracts, which are tracked by our Behaviour Improvement Manager. When a student is put on a bullying contract, this is shared with their parents/carers.
Students who are affected by bullying will be offered pastoral support and where appropriate, referred to a school counsellor. A month after an incident has been reported, we aim to check in with the person who reported the issue to see if it has got better or been resolved; this check-in is also recorded on our tracking sheet. Our check-ins inform us that in the vast majority of cases, a resolution is achieved. Students often give the reason “nothing happens” as to the reason why bullying is not reported. Our own internal reporting demonstrates this not to be true. We want everyone to report bullying; we will always take action.
