Anti-bullying Week November 13 – 17th 2023
This year’s focus is: ‘Make a Noise About Bullying’.
The theme of Make a Noise About Bullying came about following consultation with teachers and pupils by the Anti-Bullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week every year in England and Wales. Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.
Following the success of the campaign in 2022 – when 80% of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people – Anti-Bullying Week will remind everyone whether it’s in school, at home, in the community, or online, let’s make a noise about bullying and show each other the support we need.
At the Webber Independent School, one of our key aims is to ensure a culture of kindness where we promote the values of respect, responsibility, empathy, and emotional well-being. We are an inclusive school where students of different backgrounds integrate, are respectful and understanding of each other, and of different cultural perspectives.
We want our students to look forward to coming to school and to be able to learn in a safe and supportive environment. We will not tolerate bullying in any form. Promoting a caring ethos, a culture of kindness, and a no-bullying culture is everyone’s responsibility. This message is constantly reinforced by all staff throughout the curriculum, especially in PSHCE, Circle Time, and Assemblies.
Examples of how we can make a difference this Anti-Bullying Week 2023 are:
- Too often, we are silent when we see bullying take place, silent about the hurt bullying causes, and silent when we hear bullying dismissed as ‘just banter’.
- It doesn’t have to be this way.
- Of course, we won’t like everyone and we don’t always agree, but we can choose respect and unity.
This Anti-Bullying Week let’s come together to have discussions about what bullying means to us, how banter can turn into something more hurtful, and what we can do to stop bullying. Together, we can make a difference and take a stand against bullying. From the playground to Parliament, and our phones to our homes, let’s make a noise about bullying!
It takes courage, but it can change lives. Our exciting approach in school this year is enabling students from Nursery through to Year 11 to participate in age-appropriate activities and understand how they can be proactive in stopping bullying. All Class Teachers/Form Tutors will raise awareness of what bullying is, the aims of Anti-Bullying Week, and explain what activities students will be involved in which will help ensure they feel safe, happy, and secure. In Tutor Time students will reread and discuss the Webber ‘Anti-Bullying Pledge’ which is signed and put into their planners at the beginning of each year.
Students will be given scenarios to discuss in Tutor Time and PSHCE sessions to help provide students with strategies to combat/prevent bullying. Also further information on ‘Make a noise about bullying’ will be shared and explored. PSHCE lessons during this week will have an anti-bullying focus. Students across the whole school will take part in a House Competition, to help raise awareness of ‘Making a Noise About Bullying’ and prevent bullying.
Students will either:
Create an information poster/info poster on how important it is to make a noise about bullying and how to do it!
or
Create their own Anti-Bullying Week Rap or song video
• The message behind ‘Make a Noise About Bullying’
• The School’s Anti-bullying policy
• Examples of ’How to make a Noise About Bullying’
Here is a link to the part of the ‘Anti-Bullying Alliance’ website with advice and information for parents
which is an update on all the relevant information from The Anti-Bullying Alliance you may find helpful, it has tasks you can do as a family by visiting the link Parents and Carers (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk)
In addition to this the NSPCC has provided us an update for parents on ‘Online Safety’ resources, here is the Helping Children Deal with Bullying & Cyberbullying | NSPCC
NSPCC and 02 have come together to provide a resource called Net Aware which provides essential information on how to help keep your child safe online and stay aware of the risks and dangers. It advises on up-to-date apps and games for students and parents the following link Net Aware update from the NSPCC – UK Safer Internet Centre.
This Anti-Bullying Week is an excellent opportunity to once again celebrate how well our students work with and support each other whilst enabling them to help create a future without bullying. Please help us bring Anti-Bullying Week to life!
