Anti-Bullying

"Promise me, never mock or make fun of someone; a companion at school or in your neighborhood. Please promise the Lord and never do this, or allow it to happen at your school or in your neighborhood"

Pope Francis (2017)

Respect Everyone

As a Catholic school, St Damian’s is fully committed to creating a kind, caring, supportive and safe environment for all pupils. Our Anti-Bullying initiatives underpin our strong school culture of “Respect Everyone”, one of our five simple rules.

To ensure this ethos is embedded from the very beginning of a pupil’s journey with us, all Year 7 pupils complete an Anti-Bullying Survey and are actively encouraged to join our established Anti-Bullying Ambassadors team. Through activities focused on developing strong, positive relationships and friendships, alongside our peer support group which meets every Thursday lunchtime in Ambrose, we encourage pupils to support one another and create a culture where everyone feels valued.

We raise awareness annually during Anti-Bullying Week and have introduced initiatives such as Talk It Out Tuesdays – a safe space where pupils can discuss friendship concerns and difficulties with trained peers who have safeguarding at the heart of their support.

Our key message is clear: bullying of any kind is unacceptable at St Damian’s. All pupils are encouraged to report concerns immediately and can be confident that incidents will be addressed promptly, fairly and effectively.

We have clear procedures for reporting bullying incidents, including online incident reporting forms available on all school computers. Pupils can also report concerns securely from home or school via our dedicated email address: antibullying@stdamians.co.uk

Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s Form Tutor or Head of Year with any concerns so that these can be addressed swiftly and appropriate support can be put in place.

The BIG Award and the Diana Award

The BIG Award is a nationally recognised scheme that demonstrates our commitment to tackling bullying and promoting inclusion. The award recognises excellence in bullying prevention and intervention, with schools assessed on the quality and impact of their practice.

Each year, we complete an audit of our Anti-Bullying work and submit a portfolio outlining the actions, initiatives and support systems we have developed.

Throughout the year, we deliver assemblies and activities that promote respect, kindness and positive relationships. Pupils have access to ongoing support through the Ambrose unit, Student Support Officers, Heads of Year and Form Teachers.

Our commitment is to ensure every pupil can fulfil their true educational potential and fully participate in school life without fear of bullying. We are proud that St Damian’s has achieved the BIG Award for the 8th consecutive year in 2025/26.

At St Damian’s, we are committed to working with The Diana Award to further strengthen our Anti-Bullying culture and empower pupils to make a positive difference within our school community. All of our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors receive training through The Diana Award, equipping them with the skills, confidence and knowledge to support their peers, promote kindness and challenge bullying behaviours.

We are currently working towards achieving The Diana Award badges in Community, Inclusion and Wellbeing, recognising our ongoing commitment to creating a school environment where every pupil feels valued, respected and supported.

Anti Bullying Ambassadors

Each year, pupils are invited to apply to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors through our peer mentorship scheme. The team supports pupils who may be experiencing difficulties and helps to develop a whole-school approach to preventing bullying.

Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors promote positive relationships, encourage pupil voice and help educate others about respect, inclusion and preventing injustice. They are proud to be upstanders within our school community, choosing to speak up and support others.

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice focuses on repairing harm, rebuilding relationships and ensuring that everyone involved has the opportunity to be heard.

A restorative approach encourages pupils to understand each other’s perspectives, take responsibility for their actions and work together towards a positive resolution. It helps build stronger relationships, promotes accountability and supports pupils in moving forward.

At St Damian’s, we find restorative approaches to be a valuable way of resolving conflict positively, often without the need for sanctions or further staff intervention. Restorative conversations can be facilitated by a member of staff and aim to achieve positive outcomes for all involved.