We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
At St Andrew's College we are committed to providing a physically and emotionally safe place that is free from bullying and harassment for students, staff, and the wider school community (Education and Training Act 2020, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Employment Relations Act 2000, NELP Objective 1, Priority 1). We take all reasonable steps to eliminate bullying and harassment within our school and to respond effectively to concerns and complaints, and/or incidents.
The Education and Training Act 2020 (s 10) defines the school community as:
the parents, families, and whānau of the school's students
the Māori community associated with the school
any other person, or group of persons, who the board or a sponsor considers is part of the school community for the purposes of the relevant provision.
New Zealand law defines harassment in the following ways:
Harassment is defined as a pattern of intimidating behaviour directed against another person that includes doing any specified act on at least two separate occasions within a period of 12 months. See the Harassment Act 1997 (s 3, 4).
Racial harassment is defined as harassment on the basis of race. See the Human Rights Act 1993 (s 63) and the Employment Relations Act 2000 (s 109).
Sexual harassment is defined as behaviour of a sexual nature that is unwelcome or offensive to the person receiving it and repeated, or of such a significant nature, that it has a detrimental effect on that person. It may also describe an implied or explicit threat or promise that accepting or rejecting this sexual behaviour will affect a person's education or employment. See the Human Rights Act 1993 (s 62) and the Employment Relations Act 2000 (s 108).
Bullying is defined as behaviour that is deliberate and can cause harm. Bullying is usually repeated or ongoing, and involves a misuse of power.See What is bullying? (Bullying-Free NZ).
We acknowledge that the WorkSafe definition of bullying includes behaviour that may not be deliberate and this should be considered when managing concerns of bullying involving staff. See WorkSafe.
Preventing bullying and harassment
We take a number of preventative actions to provide a safe learning and working environment free from bullying and harassment. These include:
promoting an inclusive school culture
providing guidance for acceptable behaviour through our school values, student behaviour management, staff code of conduct, and community conduct expectations
reinforcing a positive school culture through teaching and leadership
promoting safe and responsible digital technology use
raising awareness within our school community about bullying and harassment, including online
identifying and assessing bullying and harassment as potential hazards
consulting with staff, students, and the school community about their experiences and using that to inform our actions
having clear procedures for concerns and complaints
responding quickly to incidents and supporting those affected.
We recognise that bullying can occur at school, outside school, and/or online. We seek to prevent online bullying by promoting safe and responsible use of digital technology. See Digital Technology and Online Safety.
St Andrew's College encourages students, staff, and members of our school community to speak up if they need support with bullying or harassment concerns or incidents, and we encourage them to support others to do so.
Managing concerns and incidents
At St Andrew's College, we respond promptly to concerns and complaints, and/or incidents of bullying or harassment, and take appropriate steps according to who is involved. Where appropriate, we provide a response to the person who raised the concern. See Concerns and Complaints Policy.
If a bullying or harassment incident results in an injury, we follow our policies for Managing Injuries and Illness and Communicating about Injuries and Illness. For concerns or incidents that involve serious physical violence, or sexual violence, we may need to involve external agencies, including the New Zealand Police, Oranga Tamariki, and/or the Ministry of Education, as appropriate.
Students
We let students know what to do if they are being bullied or witness bullying or harassment, including online bullying. Our staff are trained to recognise student bullying and to intervene appropriately. We ensure that there is adequate staff supervision of students during break times. Students with concerns should speak to a teacher (which may include duty staff). Staff with concerns about student bullying, or a bullying incident at school, should speak with a senior staff member. Parents and whānau should speak with with a classroom teacher (preparatory school), principal of preparatory school, head of secondary school, head of senior college, head of middle school, or dean.
If other members of the school community have concerns about student bullying or harassment, they should raise them with the school. If a member of the school community has a concern or complaint about a student who is not their child, they should not contact that student or their parents/caregivers directly. See Raising Concerns and Complaints.
St Andrew's College encourages our staff to speak up if they need support with bullying or harassment concerns or incidents, and encourage them to support others to do so.
We respond to bullying or harassment concerns, complaints, or incidents involving staff in the same way we deal with other concerns and complaints.Staff with a concern or complaint about bullying and harassment can report it to the school management or board of governors as a formal complaint or formal witness/bystander complaint .
At St Andrew's College we follow our privacy policies at all times when responding to bullying and harassment concerns, complaints, and/or incidents. This includes:
limiting access to information about the bullying or harassment to those who need to know
Victimisation is treating or threatening to treat someone less favourably because they have asserted their rights under the Human Rights Act 1993, including making a complaint or supporting others to do so, participating in an investigation as a witness, or making a protected disclosure.
Human Rights Act 1993 (s 66)
Privacy refers to the right to have personal information protected. The Privacy Act 2020 outlines how personal information must be collected, stored, used, shared, and disposed. For more information, see Privacy Policy.
Confidentiality refers to the responsibility to ensure personal information is kept secret. Confidential information may be shared if it is in the best interests of the student. See Sharing Student Personal Information with External Agencies.
SchoolDocs appreciates the professional advice of the Anderson Lloyd legal team (Dunedin) in reviewing our bullying and harassment policies and procedures.
school community (Education and Training Act 2020, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Employment Relations Act 2000, NELP Objective 1, Priority 1). We take all reasonable steps to eliminate bullying and harassment within our school and to respond effectively to concerns and complaints, and/or incidents.
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