Policy and Procedure: Anti-Bullying Policy PLC Sydney and PLC Armidale (hereinafter called the College) is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, acting in students’ best interests and keeping them safe from harm. The College is a Christian school and this leads the College to seek to develop culture over utility. The assumption is that bullying will reduce if there is a good culture. The College thus positively teaches ‘Respect for Others’ (see Appendix A) to articulate how the College community is expected to treat one another. Further, the Peacewise framework is used both as a teaching tool (it is grounded in the Sermon on the Mount and actively taught in Christian Studies, chapels and assemblies) and as a means of assisting community members who come into conflict or rivalry to address the issues (through the College mentoring program). By identifying friendship, conflict, rivalry and mean behaviour, the “Respect for Others'' document and Peacewise principles, the College prioritises prevention over cure. We value virtues over utility. We value culture over bureaucratic processes. The College recognises that, even with the best functioning culture, issues will still arise and not be able to be resolved through Peacewise, as it requires the goodwill of both people to function. This is one instance when the bullying framework may be enacted. The College recognises its duty to students to provide a safe and positive learning environment where individual differences and diversity within the College is respected and accepted. Bullying is not tolerated at the College. It is College policy that: ●
bullying be managed through a ‘whole-of-College community’ approach involving students, staff and parents/guardians
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Quality Management Manual: Policy and Procedure: Anti-Bullying
Version date: June 2024 Next review date: June 2027