Every student deserves to feel safe, respected and included. Our values of bravery, love and legacy guide how we treat one another. We teach students to value differences, speak up about harmful behaviour and support others.

What is bullying?

“The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.”

Anti-Bullying Alliance, Definition of bullying

Bullying may include name-calling, threats, physical harm, deliberate exclusion, spreading rumours, or hurtful messages, images and videos online. It may target a real or perceived difference, including race, religion, disability, special educational need, gender, sexual orientation or appearance.

Please tell us if you experience or witness behaviour that worries you, even if it has happened only once, or you are unsure whether it is bullying. We will listen, take appropriate action and support the students affected. Concerns involving sexual harassment, sexual violence, exploitation, or the sharing of intimate images will be handled under our safeguarding procedures.

Reporting a concern

Please contact your child’s Head of Year in the first instance. You can use our contact form and select Year Lead, or email [email protected]. Students can also speak to any trusted member of staff. For a safeguarding concern, please use the safeguarding email rather than the general contact form.

When contacting us, please share what happened, when and where it happened, and any relevant messages or screenshots. Please do not forward intimate images of a child. The safeguarding team can advise on how to handle those safely. Let us know if your child feels unsafe or whether the behaviour is continuing.

We will listen to the student, record the concern, decide what support and action are needed, and check back with them. Our response will reflect the circumstances and our behaviour and safeguarding policies.

Whisper anonymous reporting: We will soon introduce Whisper, an anonymous tool for students to report bullying or other concerns. Details of how to use it will be published here when it is ready. Until then, please use the contacts above.

Read our anti-bullying policy here.

Support for families:

• Anti-Bullying Alliance: advice for parents and carers
• NSPCC: bullying and cyberbullying advice
• Childline: bullying advice for young people — young people can also call 0800 1111.