Anti-Bullying

At MEA we recognise the significant impact that bullying can have on the welfare and attainment of young people.  

The MEA Way emphasises with all members of our community the importance of being safe, respectful, ready and kind.  

Our stance on bullying is clear and regularly shared with our community. We believe that bullying is unacceptable, and unkindness should be challenged at every opportunity. 

 Every member of our community should feel safe, welcome and happy to come to school.  

We operate a zero tolerance to bullying in all its forms.  

At MEA, we are all:  

  • Responsible for creating a safe learning environment o Respectful in our use of language  
  • Ready to embrace difference and challenge unkindness and bullying  
  • Kind to each other  

We recognise that: 

  • All forms of unkindness are unacceptable and that we should expect all young people to be kind to their peers;  
  • Creating a community of belonging and promoting kindness is key to creating an anti-bullying culture; unkindness and bullying are the opposite of the community of belonging we seek to create;  
  • Bullying can cause real distress and affects a person’s health and development;  
  • In some instances bullying can cause significant harm; 
  • All young people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all forms of harm or abuse  
  • Groups of people exist that are more likely to be the victim of unkindness, prejudice and bullying 
  • Everyone has a role to play in preventing all forms of bullying and putting a stop to bullying 
  • Education has a significant role to play in challenging all forms of unkindness, including prejudice, discrimination and bullying 

Kindness

Kindness is one of MEA’s core values.  

We have high expectations of kindness of all members of our community. Kindness promotes a sense of belonging and an important character trait that MEA students develop over time. At MEA unkindness is challenged at every opportunity and we work to empower all members of our community to act in ways which are kind and to challenge unkindness. 

Unkindness is defined as one-off remarks, comments or behaviour which make others feel unsafe, unwelcome or upset. Repeated unkindness is bullying. 

Bullying

Bullying will never be passed off as ‘banter’, ‘just having a laugh’ or ‘part of growing up’ and will never be acceptable excuses for unkindness or bullying. 

At MEA, bullying is defined as: ‘Repeated behaviour, which causes hurt to someone either physically or emotionally.’ 

Reporting Unkindness and Bullying

Addressing Bullying when it is seen, heard or reported: All reports of bullying are logged on Arbor and investigated thoroughly and systemically by the pastoral leadership team. 

Bullying can be reported in a number of ways: 

  • By a student, to any adult in the school  
  • Through parents and carers contacting the young person’s pastoral leads  
  • The 'Report a Worry' Button under the Students tab on the MEA website 
  • Through contact with Childline or other external agencies we signpost students to 

View MEA's Anti-Bullying Policy here