What should my child do, if they are being bullied?

Students should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible. This may be their tutor, Head of Year, a member of the pastoral team or any member of staff. Students can also use the school’s online reporting system.

What should my child do, if bullying happens online?

Students should:

• Tell an adult immediately
• Save evidence such as screenshots or messages
• Avoid responding
• Block and report the user on the platform

The school will support students through this process.

Will the School the a student's phone?

Where there are safeguarding concerns, the school may confiscate a mobile phone or digital device to:

• Protect students from harm
• Preserve evidence
• Support safeguarding investigations

Parents/carers will be informed, and the device will be returned via parental collection.

How quickly will concerns be investigated?

All reports are taken seriously and acted upon promptly. Timescales may vary depending on the nature of the incident, but students and families will be kept informed throughout.

What support is available for students?

Support may include:

• Regular pastoral check-ins
• Mentoring
• Peer support
• Counselling or wellbeing support
• Restorative work

Support is provided for both those experiencing bullying and those whose behaviour is being addressed.

What support is available for parents/carers?

QE recognises the vital role parents and carers play in supporting young people.

The school offers parental workshops delivered through our Mental Health Coach,

These workshops aim to strengthen home–school partnerships and ensure families feel informed, supported and empowered.

Further information about upcoming workshops is shared via school communications.

What happens if bullying continues?

The school follows a clear staged anti-bullying process, which includes:

• Monitoring and early intervention
• Formal staged letters and meetings
• Behaviour contracts and targeted interventions
• Offer of Offsite Direction where appropriate
• Senior leadership involvement

What happens if bullying continues?

Parents and carers can contact:

• Their child’s tutor
• Head of Year
• Pastoral team
• Safeguarding team

We strongly encourage early communication so concerns can be addressed quickly.

Cyber bullying is any form of bullying that takes place online or through digital technology.

This may include bullying through:

• Social media platforms
• Messaging apps
• Online gaming and chat functions
• Mobile phones
• Email or online forums

Cyber bullying can happen at any time and can feel particularly distressing because it may:

• Reach a wide audience quickly
• Be difficult to escape from
• Involve anonymous users
• Leave a permanent digital footprint

Examples of Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying may include:

• Sending threatening, abusive or insulting messages
• Sharing or forwarding images or videos without consent
• Posting harmful or humiliating comments online
• Creating fake accounts to target others
• Encouraging others to exclude someone online
• Repeatedly messaging or contacting someone against their wishes

Our Approach to Cyber Bullying

At QE, cyber bullying is treated as seriously as face-to-face bullying, even when incidents occur outside of the school day.

Where online behaviour:

• Impacts the wellbeing or safety of students
• Disrupts learning
• Involves members of the school community

The school will investigate and take appropriate action in line with our behaviour and safeguarding policies.

What Students should do

Students are encouraged to:

• Save evidence (screenshots, messages, usernames)
• Block and report the user on the platform
• Avoid responding to harmful messages
• Contact the police if appropriate
• Use the school’s reporting systems

Students will always be supported and listened to.

How Parents and Carers can help

Parents and carers are encouraged to:

• Talk regularly with children about online activity
• Encourage privacy settings on social media accounts
• Monitor app use and age restrictions
• Report concerns to the school promptly
• Contact the platform directly where appropriate

The school will work closely with families to resolve concerns.

Education and Prevention

Cyber safety and online behaviour are taught through:

• PSHE and RSHE curriculum
• Tutor time programmes
• Assemblies and awareness events
• Safer Internet Day

Students are taught:

• How to stay safe online
• How to report concerns
• The impact of online behaviour
• Their legal and digital responsibilities

Serious Online Concerns

In cases involving:

• Threats of harm
• Sexting or sharing of indecent images
• Hate crime
• Harassment or stalking
• Serious safeguarding concerns

The school may involve external agencies, including the police or Children’s Social Care, in line with safeguarding guidance.

Where there are immediate safeguarding concerns, the school may:

• Confiscate a student’s mobile phone or digital device
• Secure the device safely in line with safeguarding procedures
• Request parental/carer collection of the device

This action is taken to:

• Preserve evidence
• Protect students from further harm
• Support safeguarding investigations

All actions will be proportionate, recorded and communicated clearly with parents/carers.

Anti-bullying education is embedded across school life, including:

• PSHE and RSHE curriculum
• Tutor-time programmes focused on belonging and respect
• Assemblies linked to national events such as:
  • Anti-Bullying Week
  • Safer Internet Day
  • Mental Health Awareness Week

Students are taught: - How to recognise bullying - How to report concerns - How to be active bystanders - How to treat others with empathy and respect

We encourage all members of our community to speak out.

Students can report bullying by:

• Speaking to a tutor
• Talking to a Head of Year
• Speaking to any trusted adult
• Using the school’s online reporting system
• Completing the —

Reporting an Incident

🔴 Reporting an incident – click here

This online form can be used to report concerns relating to: - Bullying or cyber bullying - Discrimination or prejudice-based behaviour - Harassment or hate-related incidents - Inequality or unfair treatment

Students can choose to stay anonymous when submitting the form if they do not feel comfortable reporting.

All reports are taken seriously and will be followed up by the appropriate pastoral or safeguarding staff.

Parents and carers can report concerns by:

• Contacting the tutor or Head of Year
• Emailing the school directly
• Using the school’s online reporting system

All reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly.

At Queen Elizabeth’s School, we have a clear, graduated anti-bullying process that ensures concerns are addressed promptly, consistently and fairly.

This process allows us to:

• Identify patterns of behaviour
• Intervene early
• Support all students involved
• Escalate appropriately when concerns persist

Step 1: Monitoring and Early Intervention

• All concerns, incidents and reports of unkind behaviour are logged and monitored.
• After more than one incident of unkind behaviour or intimidation, students may be placed on a Head of Year (HOY) Watch List.
• This stage focuses on early support, behaviour education and monitoring.

If the behaviour continues, the student formally enters the Anti-Bullying Process.

Stage One

Anti-Bullying Letter One

• Issued following continued incidents of bullying behaviour
• Head of Year meeting with parents/carers
• Behaviour expectations clearly outlined
• Monitoring period put in place
• Support offered to all students involved

Stage Two

Anti-Bullying Letter Two

• Triggered if bullying behaviour continues
• Meeting with Jack Fahy, Assistant Headteacher – Pastoral Development
• Implementation of:
  • Targeted bullying intervention
  • Behaviour contract
  • Increased monitoring

Offer of Offsite Direction (OOD)

At this stage, the school may also make an Offer of Offsite Direction.

This may include: - A temporary placement at an alternative provision - A personalised programme focused on behaviour, reflection and reintegration.

The purpose of Offsite Direction is to:

• Provide intensive support to address bullying behaviour
• Reduce risk to others
• Support long-term positive change

Parents/carers will be fully consulted, and reintegration plans will be agreed prior to the student’s return to QE.

Stage Three

Anti-Bullying Letter Three

• Triggered if behaviour persists despite previous interventions
• Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher (Inclusion) meeting with parents/carers
• Outcomes may include:
  • Final written warning
  • Consideration of alternative provision
  • Managed move or permanent exclusion (as a last resort)

Throughout all stages:

• Victims are supported and regularly checked in with
• Behaviour is closely monitored
• Records are maintained centrally
• Safeguarding procedures are followed where required

This graduated approach ensures that bullying is challenged firmly, while maintaining a strong focus on education, accountability and positive change.

When bullying is reported, we will:

1. Listen carefully to all involved
2. Investigate fully, gathering information and evidence
3. Support the student(s) affected, ensuring they feel safe
4. Address the behaviour of those responsible
5. Apply appropriate consequences in line with the behaviour policy
6. Educate and restore relationships wherever possible
7. Monitor and review to ensure bullying does not continue

Our approach is both supportive and firm, focusing on learning, accountability and long-term change.

Supporting Students

Support may include:

• Pastoral mentoring
• Peer support
• Restorative conversations
• Behaviour support plans
• Counselling or wellbeing support
• Involvement of external agencies where appropriate

We work closely with families throughout this process.