Implementation of the
Action Plan on Bullying
Presentation by Deirdre McDonnell
Department of Education and Skills
Presentation
– Background and update on Action Plan on
Bullying Implementation
– Overview of new Anti-Bullying procedures for
schools
Background – Action Plan on Bullying
•
Programme for Government commitment March 2011 –
– “encourage schools to develop anti bullying policies and in particular
strategies to combat homophobic bullying to support students”.
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Anti-Bullying Forum May 2012 –
– webcast and presentations of the Forum available on www.education.ie
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Working Group established June 2012
– 68 Written Submissions
– 26 Presentations
•
Action Plan published on 29th January 2013
– 12 Actions
– 13 Recommendations for further consideration
– Available to download from www.education.ie
Progress on implementing the 12 Actions
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Supports for schools and teachers
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New Anti-Bullying Procedures for schools - launched September 2013.
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Review of Teacher Education Support Services to ensure appropriate training for teachers –
review report being finalised.
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SPHE inspections and Whole School Evaluation to include more evidence of a school’s
actions to create a positive school culture and prevent and tackle bullying – work on this will
be progressed over the next year followed by implementation at school level.
–
School Self-Evaluation to support schools in evaluating their own effectiveness in creating a
positive school culture and in preventing and tackling bullying – part of next phase of SSE.
Progress on implementing the 12 Actions
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Awareness raising measures
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Cyberbullying media campaign targeted at young people – run following Safer Internet Day
2013. More planned for next year.
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Support for BeLongTo Stand Up! Campaign – support provided for Stand Up! 2013. Stand
Up! 2014 will also be supported and an evaluation is also planned of 2014 campaign.
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Training for parents and boards of management – funding being provided for joint NPC-P
and NPC-PP initiative.
–
New National Anti-Bullying website – in progress
–
Measures to support awareness within DES policy units and agencies – in progress
Progress on implementing the 12 actions
•
Further research
–
Thematic Evaluation of bullying in a sample of primary and post primary schools to assess
the effectiveness of actions taken by schools. - development of evaluation framework will be
progressed in coming months. Field work in schools will be carried out once schools have a
chance to update / put in place anti-bullying policies based on new anti-bullying procedures.
–
Special Needs - work is underway led by National Disability Authority
–
Social media, mental health and suicide – research proposal issued and project being
managed by National Office for Suicide Prevention
–
We are also providing some funding for the Irish part of an EU Kids Go Mobile study.
Context for development of the new Anti-Bullying
Procedures
•
Review and update of 1993 Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in
Primary and Post-Primary Schools needed.
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Need to provide ‘procedures’ rather than ‘guidelines’ to school authorities
and school personnel.
•
Recommendations of the Action Plan on Bullying particularly in relation to
the definition of bullying.
•
Need to keep a practical focus and ensure new procedures would be
workable in schools.
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New procedures needed to make it clear to parents what they should expect
from schools.
•
New procedures developed in consultation with education partners.
Key elements of the Procedures - Definition of Bullying
Bullying is defined as unwanted negative behaviour, verbal,
psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group
against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over
time.
The following types of bullying behaviour are included in this nonexhaustive definition:
• deliberate exclusion, malicious gossip and other forms of relational
bullying;
• cyber-bullying; and
• identity-based bullying such as homophobic bullying, racist bullying,
bullying based on a person’s membership of the Traveller
community and bullying of those with disabilities or special
educational needs.
Key elements of the Procedures - Definition of Bullying
• Placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or
statement on a social network site or other public forum where that
message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other
people will be regarded as bullying behaviour.
• Isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour
including a once-off offensive or hurtful text message or other private
messaging do not fall within the definition of bullying and should be
dealt with, as appropriate, in accordance with the school’s code of
behaviour.
• A single incident can have a serious effect on a pupil and may also
constitute harassment which is legally prohibited in schools under
equality legislation.
Cyberbullying
•
Under the new procedures schools have to deal with cyberbullying when it
impacts on the learning environment even when it occurs outside school.
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The school approach to cyberbullying should be based on awareness and
prevention strategies.
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Teaching and learning can equip children to manage the digital space
positively. Parents can support this through their own engagement and
knowledge.
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There is a need to remain proportionate and balanced so that children
engage with the digital world with all its benefits while being aware that the
internet is a place where not all things are positive
Anti-Bullying Procedures - Principles of good practice
Schools are required to commit to the following key principles of good practice
in their anti-bullying policy:
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A positive school culture and climate
Effective leadership
A school-wide approach
A shared understanding of what bullying is and its impact
Implementation of education and prevention strategies (including
awareness raising measures)
Effective supervision and monitoring of pupils
Supports for staff
Consistent recording, investigation and follow up of bullying behaviour
(including use of established intervention strategies)
On-going evaluation of the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy.
Anti-Bullying Procedures – preventative approach
• A strong emphasis on prevention of bullying behaviour
through the fostering and development of a positive school
culture and climate that is based on inclusivity and respect.
• Procedures include practical tips for building a positive
school culture and climate that is based on inclusivity and
respect.
• A school-wide approach to preventing and tackling bullying
behaviour.
Anti-Bullying Procedures - dealing with bullying cases
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Clear procedures required for investigating, recording and dealing with
bullying.
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Primary aim in dealing with bullying is to resolve any issues and restore as
far as practicable the relationships of the parties involved (rather than to
apportion blame).
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Where it is established that a bullying incident has occurred, the relevant
teacher should keep appropriate written records.
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Parents or guardians of the students involved to be contacted at an early
stage to inform them of the matter and explain the actions being taken (by
reference to the school policy).
•
Standard template provided for reporting cases to Principal or Deputy
Principal where they are not resolved in 20 school days or earlier if in line
with school policy.
What schools are required to do
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Procedures apply to all recognised primary and post-primary schools and to
centres for education.
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Highlights the fact that Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 requires all schools to
have in place a code of behaviour and that Education (Welfare) Act, 2000
and the guidelines issued by the NEWB, require all schools to have an antibullying policy within the framework of their overall code of behaviour.
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All Boards of Management must formally adopt and implement an antibullying policy.
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Anti bullying policy must fully comply with requirements of new procedures.
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Policy must be made available to school community, including the Parents’
Association and published on school website where possible.
What schools are required to do
• New oversight arrangements required that involve the
school Principal reporting regularly to the Board of
Management – at least once a term.
• Requirement for the Board to do an annual review of the
school’s anti- bullying policy and its implementation.
• Confirmation that the annual review has been done must
be provided to the parents association and published on
the school website.
What schools are required to do
• Implementation will begin in schools immediately and
continue through school year 2013/2014
• Schools must have completed review and have new /
updated policies in place no later than end of the second
term of 2014/2015 school year