This policy is informed by the Mission Statement of St Louis Community School which aims to develop the physical, intellectual, moral and emotional well-being of the students and to foster a sense of community in the school.

Statement of Rights
Every person in St Louis Community School has the right to pursue his or her learning, teaching, work and leisure free from intimidation from any other person in the school and in the surrounding community.

Policy Objectives

• To create an awareness of bullying as a form of unacceptable behaviour.
• To create a school ethos which encourages the disclosure and discussion of incidents of bullying behaviour.
• To develop procedures for noting and reporting incidents of bullying behaviour.
• To develop procedures for investigating and dealing with incidents of bullying behaviour.
• To develop programmes of support for those involved in bullying behaviour and those affected by it.

Definition of Bullying ‘Bullying is repeated aggression, verbal, physical or psychological, conducted by an individual or group against others.’ (D.E.S. Guidelines on Countering Bullying in Primary and Post Primary Schools. September 1993.) Bullying includes hurtful words or gestures, repeated name-calling, exclusion or isolation of a person by another person or group of people, physical aggression, mimicry, interference with property.

Bullying behaviour by any member of the school community will, by its very nature, undermine the necessary secure and safe teaching and learning environment to which St Louis Community School aspires.

Detection, Awareness and Reporting
The prevention of bullying requires the co-operation of students, staff, parents and Board of Management.

• Prefects are encouraged to report any incident of bullying which comes to their attention.
• Students are encouraged to report bullying to prefects, teachers, year heads or any adult in the school.
• Non-teaching staff members who are in contact with students will be asked to report incidents to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
• Teachers will report all incidents of bullying to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
• Supervisors are encouraged to be vigilant in areas of the school where bullying may occur such as locker areas, circulation areas, corridors.
• Awareness campaigns e.g. posters will be used to persuade the main body of students that silence and inaction of onlookers provides support for the bully.
• Awareness days will be designated, during which teachers will use aspects of the curriculum to raise awareness of the inappropriateness of bullying behaviour.
• The school newsletter will be used to raise the awareness of parents of the issue of bullying and to encourage the early reporting of incidents of alleged bullying to the Principal, Deputy Principal or Home/School Liaison officer.

Investigation Procedures
Where an incident of bullying is observed by or reported to a member of staff the following measures will be taken:

• A written report of the incident/allegation will be given to the Deputy Principal.
• The Deputy Principal or Principal will investigate reported incidents of alleged bullying at the earliest opportunity.
• Persons involved in or witnessing alleged incidents of bullying will be asked to write an account of the incident. This does not necessarily imply that these persons have engaged in bullying behaviour.
• Questioning and investigation will be sensitive to the needs of those involved.
• Parents are encouraged to contact the Deputy Principal/Principal immediately if they suspect or know that a child is being bullied. Parents are encouraged to keep a record of any incidents of bullying, noting who, what, when and where.
• Investigation of incidents of alleged bullying will be conducted in a manner that affords full rights to those concerned in accordance with natural justice.
• No absolute guarantee of confidentiality can be given to a person making a complaint.

Dealing with Bullying
These procedures are intended to reassure any student who is being bullied that he/she will be listened to and his/her case will be dealt with seriously. They are also intended to enable those involved to recognise the serious nature of bullying and to dissuade them from participating in or supporting bullying behaviour.

• A record of bullying incidents will be maintained by the Deputy Principal in a designated ‘Bullying Incident’ file.
• Parents will be informed their child’s involvement in serious incidents of bullying.
• Appropriate sanctions will be imposed in accordance with the school’s Code of Behaviour.
• Retaliation against students or others, following or during an investigation will be regarded as a very serious breach of discipline and will merit appropriate sanction.
• Those who have been subjected to bullying will be supported through the Pastoral Care structures in the school.
• Those who have been found to have engaged in bullying will be encouraged to recognise the inappropriateness of such behaviour and the seriousness of its effects on others.
• Parents may be involved in putting in place strategies to correct the offending behaviour and support those affected by it.
• Further intervention may be deemed appropriate when instances of bullying occur. This may involve counselling by outside professionals. The objective of such intervention will be the restoration of confidence and self-esteem in both perpetrator and victim.

Disciplinary Procedures
Sanctions and disciplinary procedures imposed in instances of bullying behaviour will have as their priority:

• The health and safety of the victim
• Preservation of the anti-bullying ethos of the school
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• The interests of the general student body
• Prevention of further occurrences
• Reconciliation between the parties to the bullying incident
• The effect on the perpetrator

Bullying of or by School Staff/ Adults
The following agreements and guidelines will apply:

• ACCS, ASTI and TUI Code of Practice for Processing Complaints made by Parents/Guardians or Students (who have reached the age of 18 years) against a Teacher in Community and Comprehensive Schools
• ACCS, ASTI and TUI Code of Practice for Dealing with Complaints of Sexual Harassment of a Member of Staff by a student in Community and Comprehensive Schools
• DES Child Protection Guidelines

Review
The Anti-Bullying Policy will be reviewed annually.