Anti-Bullying (Student) Policy

Adopted 17th June 2019
Next review date: June 2026 (Reviewed Triennially) 

Rationale
To develop a school culture in which bullying cannot take root. Where instances may occur, they will be addressed promptly and effectively. Children are able to learn most effectively in an atmosphere free of harassment and violence.

Policy Statement
All children have the right to live and learn in an environment where they feel valued and safe. KingsGate School is a PB4L-SW school. PB4L-SW stands for ‘Positive Behaviour for Learning—School Wide’. PB4L is a Ministry of Education framework that helps schools develop a positive school culture that supports learning and positive behaviour. The concept behind this is that, like learning, behaviour is a skill that needs to be taught. PB4L helps to change the environment, systems, and practices to support children's positive choices.
PB4L-SW is a framework that supports our school’s special character, vision and values. Our values are:
S – strength         
E – empathy           
R – respect           
V – vision            
E - endurance

Biblical Principles
Jesus makes it very clear in Mark 12:28-31 that loving each other comes second only to loving God. Bullying and dominant behaviour are the antithesis of God’s instruction and example to us. Kingsgate School is a community of care and manaakitanga (respect, humility, kindness and honesty), in which all people are to be loved and nurtured.

Definition of Bullying
To effectively prevent bullying, everyone (school leaders, teachers, students, whānau, and the community) must have a shared understanding of it. Whether bullying is physical, verbal, emotional or online (cyberbullying), four factors can be used to identify bullying:
Bullying is:
Deliberate: intentionally causing physical and/or psychological harm to another person.
Bullying involves a power imbalance, an actual (or perceived) unequal relationship between those being bullied and those who bully, e.g. due to physical size, age, gender, social status or digital capability and access.
Bullying is usually not a one-off;  it is repeated over time, with the threat of further incidents leading to fear and anxiety. People may bully one person many times, or different people each time.
Bullying is harmful. There is short- or long-term physical or psychological harm to the target (e.g. as a result of coercion or intimidation).
 
Bullying is not:
Mutual arguments and disagreements
Single episodes of social rejection or dislike
Single-episode acts of nastiness or spite.
Random acts of aggression or intimidation.

Response to Allegations of Bullying
All allegations of bullying, as defined in this policy, will be taken seriously by KingsGate School and addressed in accordance with the KingsGate School Behaviour Response Flow Chart. See: www.kingsgate.school.nz/pb4l/

All parents, whaanau, caregivers connected to each incident must be kept fully informed so they can be confident that school staff take this issue seriously and take action. They can, in turn, do their part to support our efforts to ensure that bullying does not take root at KingsGate School. 

Sources: bullyingfree.nz, ncab.org.au, pb4l.org.nz