Anti-Bullying
and Cyberbulling Policy
DATE November 2025
REVIEW DATE November 2026
Owner Headteachers
Version Number: Ver07 (no change)
Working Date: N/A
Legal Sign off by: Date: N/A
Type of Policy: Exec
Authorised by Exec: 05/11/2025
Effective date of Policy: 28/02/2024
Circulation: Internal, Parent Portal, Staff Handbook
Page 2 of 6
1. RATIONAL
1.1 JESS aims to ensure that all students learn in a mutually supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. JESS defines bullying is an anti-social behaviour and is recognised as deliberate, hurtful behaviour which is repeated over a period of time.
1.2 We believe that bullying can take many forms but is generally recognised in the following categories:
Verbal: e.g. name calling, teasing, insulting, writing notes, making threats or abuse of any kind, including online or by electronic media.
Physical: e.g. hitting, kicking, spitting, removing belongings, damaging property.
Emotional: e.g. ostracising, tormenting, spreading rumours, gesturing.
Discrimination: e.g. the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, gender, or disability.
Social Exclusion: (also referred to as ‘ghosting’): e.g. deliberately excluding members of the community from social groups, school groups and /or digital groups.
Cyberbullying: e.g. bullying through digital platforms such as social media, texts or email.
2. EXPECTATIONS
2.1 Staff work to sustain an environment which inherently assumes a culture of mutual selfrespect within which bullying is not tolerated.
2.2 Close day to day working relationships between staff and students should facilitate relaxed and open contact where such disclosures can readily take place.
2.3 Staff should promote awareness of the nature of bullying through the curriculum e.g in MSC, PSHE, mentor time, assemblies, circle times and subject areas where appropriate to prevent such behaviour.
2.4 All staff should consistently follow the bullying report process (below) for Primary and Secondary.
2.5 If a child disclosed at home, or parents suspect that their child is a victim of bullying behaviour, they should inform the school without delay.
3. MANAGEMENT OF ANTI–BULLYING
3.1 Bullying is not tolerated at JESS and any reports of bullying will always be taken seriously Reports of bullying will follow the bullying report process which is closely linked to our behaviour procedures.
3.2 Confidentiality and sensitivity are essential in all reported cases of bullying
3.3 Staff will act as a voice for students of determination who, due to the nature of their learning needs, may be unable to advocate for themselves.
3.4 Where a student of determination is the perpetrator, staff must sensitively determine whether they are acting knowingly and wilfully and assign consequences accordingly.
3.5 The consequences assigned to a student of determination will be considered in line with their individual profile and if necessary, through close consultation with the Oasis department
3.6 We will keep an open mind. Bullying can be difficult to detect, so a lack of staff awareness does not mean bullying has not occurred
3.7 The Senior Leadership Team have a responsibility to ensure staff are kept up to date with current bullying trends, identification and support for bullies and victims through appropriate training in line with KCSIE 2023.
3.8 Students, Class Teachers/Form Teachers/Subject Teachers and Heads of Year will be regularly informed that the following staff will be available for discussion if any issue is bothering them:
Jumeirah/Primary/Secondary Headteacher
Deputy
Headteachers
School Nurse
School Counsellor
Assistant Headteachers
3.9 Together with the appropriate SLT member, a plan of action designed to support the victim and reform the behaviour of the student showcasing bullying behaviour will be issued and implemented.
3.10 In any case of bullying the student should continue to be monitored after action has been taken.
4. REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT
This policy will be reviewed and developed by the Deputy Headteachers/Assistant Headteachers of both Primary and Secondary on an annual basis
Non negotiable
All alleged reports of bullying are:
• Taken seriously and carefully recorded on iSAMS (Wellbeing Manager)
• Fed back to the class teacher/form tutor who, in conjunction with the DHT/AHT completes the following process.
YGL/HoY/FT & CT must gather all evidence, investigate and decide...
*DHT/AHT must be kept informed and involved as appropriate.
Is this a one-off incident?
Yes No
• Decide on a course of action.
• Inform parents of victim and aggressor.
• Course of action in line with Behaviour Policy
• Record of incident logged in iSAMS and subsequent follow ups.
Doesthisconstitutebullying (as per the School Definition)?
Yes
Form a plan of action that ensures the following areas have been covered:
• Appropriate teachers are aware of what has happened, whoisinvolvedandwhatisbeingdone.
• Appropriate consequences/sanctionsfor a student showcasing bullying behaviour and support strategies for the victim are implemented and recorded
• Parents and children of both the aggressor and the victim must be communicated with.
• Any curriculum support deemed necessary has been set up. For example:
o Circletime
o Buddies
o Special assemblies
o Mentor time
o MSC Time
o Social stories
o Designated staff – DHT/AHT, Nurse
• Check-in points have been established with the children/ parent involved to ensure the situation has stopped and that both victim and bully have slotted back into school life.
Behaviour Disciplinary process followed and a record has been attached to child’s iSAMS profile.
5. CYBERBULLYING
5.1 JESS defines cyberbullying as bullying through the use of digital technologies.
5.2 JESS promotes a clear and positive behavioural online culture.
5.3 All students are made aware of the impact of cyberbullying and the ways it differs from other bullying - including the risks of misinterpretation of comments posted.
5.4 Students and parents must sign the Student Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Acceptable Use Agreement (applicable to Years 3 to 13) which asks students to undertake that they will not use their device to intimidate, bully or otherwise harass other people and will report offensive or inappropriate content/images to my teacher in the event that the situation occurs.
5.5 A planned online safety education programme takes place and is fully embedded in all aspects of the curriculum in all years and in other school activities, including extended provision. Students understand the risks associated with the use of mobile technology and are encouraged to be responsible users, both in school and beyond.
5.6 Students are made aware that some cyberbullying activities could be criminal offences. Students and staff understand that the school may take action and intervene, where appropriate, in online incidents that take place beyond school.
5.7 Teachers may investigate a student's device and school account(s) if it believed to be involved in cyberbullying. Follow the same procedure and language outlined in the Behaviour Policy.
5.8 Strategies are regularly reviewed in the light of current practice and changes in technology and JESS is rigorous in monitoring and applying an appropriate and differentiated range of strategies
5.9 Restrictions and filters are in place on all student devices during the school day. Mechanisms are in place to monitor and intervene when issues arise.
5.10 There are clearly known and understood systems for reporting online safety incidents.
5.11 The culture of the School encourages all members of the School and its wider community to be vigilant in reporting issues, in the confidence that issues will be dealt with quickly and sensitively, through the school’s escalation processes.
5.12 JESS will take all reasonable steps to block access to unsuitable internet sites, including social networking sites, chat rooms and individual website owners/forums and message board hosts. JESS has control of the filter so can respond immediately to the emergence of new sites.
5.13 JESS can conduct a search of internet use records, and this is made known to students as a disincentive for students to misuse school equipment and systems.
5.14 JESS has carefully considered its approach to online safety and provides a consistent online safety message to all members of the school community, through a variety of media and activities that promote whole school input.
5.15 JESS reinforces statutory guidelines about the use of social network sites e.g. Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
5.16 Images and screenshots maybe recorded as evidence of cyberbullying but will not be shared outside of the organisation