Through our research, which incidentally, commenced 13 years ago, we found that the biggest deterrent to tackling bullying, was creating a space for the person who was being bullied to tell someone about their suffering. Therefore, our Anti Bullying Policy had to and does, make it easier for the victim to tell, without the worry, stress and anxiety that the perpetrator (bully) may seek retribution.

There are 2 strands to our Anti Bullying Policy

Strand 1-Education

The students are taught explicitly about what bullying is and what does not constitute bullying.

A simple acronym is used to remind students that Bullying is H.A.R.D

• Hurtful 
• Aggressive 
• Repeated  
• Deliberate
  1st years in particular need to be educated in the area of bullying, given the fact that they are coming from different primary schools (who all exhibit varying methods of dealing with bullying) and indeed homes, which inevitably exhibit varying levels of behavioural tolerance. What is tolerated as acceptable behaviour in one household may be totally unacceptable in another household. Very often some of our 1st years come to us from primary school with bullying traits and behaviours. Once we speak to the students it is obvious that they assume that what they are doing is acceptable. These students now have to learn new behaviour patterns. We are consistently vigilant regarding bullying behaviour and have a team of 15 teachers who work daily on surveys, interviews and raising awareness. We are so fortunate to have a team of teachers (who are timetabled twice a week and the rest of the time give up their free classes) who care so much for our boys welfare, that they are willing to give up their free time to ensure that all of our boys feel safe and comfortable in school. It is therefore, hugely important that parents too, speak to their son’s around the topic of bullying and encourage their boys to report negative/inappropriate behaviour
  How do we educate the students on the topic of Bullying?
  
• 1)We teach the students about the different types of bullying verbal, non-verbal, physical, extortion and cyber bulling. These phrases are fully unpacked for the students and specific examples are given in the talk to alert students to their behaviour and also to ensure that the Anti-Bullying message is communicated clearly and transparently.

  2) We run an annual Anti -Bullying Week dedicated to raising awareness of Anti- Bullying procedures. During that week, age and stage appropriate resources are used to teach the students about the different aspects of bullying. In the past, topics centred on cyber bullying, LGBT bullying and last year we focussed on encouraging the boys to speak out about bullying.

  3)Students are taught about bullying and the negative impacts that this behaviour can have on the victim and the perpetrator, in Well Being class, SPHE, CSPE and Religion.

  4)We speak not only to students abut bullying behaviour but also to you as parents. Usually the Anti- Bullying talk takes place at the 1^st year parent information evening, however, this evening will not go ahead this year so we are informing our new 1^st year parents by e mail.
  
  

• Strand 2-Information Gathering
• In order to make it easier for the victim to tell (this is always our main aim as if we know that a child is being bullied, we can solve the issue) we carry our regular class surveys (copy of the survey used is attached). This is something that happens throughout the school in all year groups from 1st to 6th year. Teachers will only meet the class for 40 minutes, in a controlled formal setting, and then the class move on. Very often teachers may miss subtle bullying behaviour. The students however are together all day. Students see and hear everything, so they are the best resource available to us to report bullying and they do (once that culture of telling is fostered). In older year groups the culture of Anti -Bullying has become so progressed in our school, that it is not unusual for students to approach the Anti -Bullying coordinators Ms. Collins/ Mr. Slattery or Mr. Quilter or myself and state that they are concerned that a particular student is getting a hard time. In addition, many of our parents will ring the school and report any concerns that they may have. They may have overheard a conversation going home in the car and are, as a result, willing to give us information that will serve to help a child who is suffering.

  Regular Class Survey

  Any information that we ever receive regarding bullying behaviour is always treated with the strictest of confidence.

  First Promise

  If a child is found to be bullying and has been named on a survey several times as being a perpetrator, they will then be interviewed by a member of the Anti- Bullying team (15 members of staff make up this team). There are set questions that the student is asked(a copy of the questions asked in the interview is attached) . The student is made aware of the negative impact that his behaviour is having, and subsequently signs a promise stating, that he will never carry out bullying behaviour again on that child or any other child in the school. The student then signs his first promise (copy of the promise is attached) (at this point, only the student and the Anti Bullying team member carrying out the interview are aware that this student is being interviewed). Parents of the student, Year Heads, Tutors, Deputy Principal or Principal are not made aware of this promise, as this would make it a discipline issue and our aim is to stop the bullying and give the perpetrator an opportunity to change his ways-(not blaming behaviour changing behaviour)

  Student Promise

  95% of the time we never interview that student again. The bullying stops and the student displaying bullying characteristics is stopped in his tracks. The severity of the bullying is always a factor that is taken into consideration and every situation dealt with is case specific. If a student is violent towards another student, as aforementioned, then that is assault and will be dealt with under our Code of Behaviour.
  Second Promise

  If, having spoken to the student (perpetrator) the student’s name comes up again as bullying, then the student is again interviewed to clarify the facts and again he will be expected to sign a second promise. This time his parents will co- sign the 2nd promise and are at this point made aware of the first promise. (parents, as mentioned are not made aware of the 1^st promise as we try to remain true to our “NO BLAME” philosophy. It is important to note that we have very few students in the school who move onto a 2nd promise.
  Breaking of 2nd Promise

  Should the student break a second promise they now move away from the Anti -Bullying policy and their behaviour is dealt with through our Code of Behaviour and in some cases the Board of Management.

  For too long, boys in particular,  were told to “man-up” and “toughen up”. That is not the message that your son will hear in this College. To report bullying is a sign of strength. We are not interested in punishing any student we simply want the bullying to stop- NOW. When a student reports a bullying incident, it shows that he is taking responsible action- which is a life skill. Your son will eventually go on to College and the workplace and bullying occurs there too, so he needs to be able to recognise it and deal with- not hide it away and “bottle it up”. Boys by their nature do not talk so if we want to preserve their mental and physical health, we need to encourage them to talk.