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Cyberbullying Policy

Updated February 2024

Cyberbullying can take many forms and can go even further than face-to-face bullying by invading personal space and home life, and can target more than one person. It can also take place across age groups and target pupils, staff and others, and may take place inside school, within the wider community, at home or when travelling. It can sometimes draw bystanders into being accessories.

Cyberbullying can include the following:

  • Threatening, intimidating or upsetting text messages
  • Threatening or embarrassing pictures and video clips
  • Disclosure of private sexual photographs or videos with the intent to cause distress
  • Silent or abusive phone calls
  • Using the victim’s phone to harass others, to make them think the victim is responsible
  • Threatening or bullying emails, possibly sent using a pseudonym or someone else’s name
  • Menacing or upsetting responses to someone in a chatroom
  • Unpleasant messages sent via instant messaging
  • Unpleasant or defamatory information posted to blogs, personal websites and social networking sites, e.g. Facebook or TikTok

NB. The above list is not exhaustive, and cyberbullying may take other forms.

The school has a zero-tolerance approach to cyberbullying. The school views cyberbullying with the same severity as any other form of bullying and will follow the sanctions set out in the Behaviour Policy if they become aware of any incidents.

All members of staff will receive training on an annual basis on the signs of cyberbullying, in order to identify pupils who may be experiencing issues and intervene effectively.  Staff will be alert to the following signs that may indicate a pupil is being cyberbullied:

  • Avoiding use of the computer
  • Being on their phone routinely
  • Becoming agitated when receiving calls or text messages

Staff will also be alerted to the following signs which may indicate that a pupil is cyberbullying others:

  • Avoiding using the computer or turning off the screen when someone is near
  • Acting in a secretive manner when using the computer or mobile phone
  • Spending excessive amounts of time on the computer or mobile phone
  • Becoming upset or angry when the computer or mobile phone is taken away

During times when remote education is being utilised, the school will frequently be in contact with parents to make them aware of their activities online, but also to reinforce the importance of pupils staying safe online, and explaining how filtering and monitoring procedures work.

Staff will be aware that a cyberbullying incident might include features different to other forms of bullying, prompting a particular response. Significant differences may include the following:

  • Possible extensive scale and scope – pupils may be bullied on multiple platforms and using multiple different methods that are made possible by virtue of the bullying taking place online
  • The anytime and anywhere nature of cyberbullying – pupils may not have an escape from the torment when they are at home due to the bullying continuing through technology at all times
  • The person being bullied might not know who the perpetrator is – it is easy for individuals to remain anonymous online and on social media, and pupils may be bullied by someone who is concealing their own identity
  • The perpetrator might not realise that their actions are bullying – sometimes, the culture of social media, and the inability to see the impact that words are having on someone, may lead to pupils crossing boundaries without realising
  • The victim of the bullying may have evidence of what has happened – pupils may have taken screenshots of bullying, or there may be a digital footprint that can identify the perpetrator

The school will support pupils who have been victims of cyberbullying by holding formal and informal discussions with the pupil about their feelings and whether the bullying has stopped.

In accordance with the Education Act 2011, the school has the right to examine and delete files from pupils’ personal devices, e.g. mobile phones, where there is good reason to do so. This power applies to all schools and there is no need to have parental consent to search through a young person’s mobile phone. In these cases, the school’s Searching, Screening and Confiscation Policy will be followed at all times.

Cyberbullying and the Law

Education Law:

The school community has a duty to protect all its members and provide a safe, healthy environment. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) outlines legal powers which relate directly to cyberbullying. The EIA also provides a defence for school staff in confiscating items such as mobile phones from pupils.

Civil and Criminal Law:

There are laws that apply to harassing or threatening behaviour, or menacing and threatening communications. Some cyberbullying activities could be criminal offences under different laws:

  • The Protection from Harassment Act 1997
  • The Malicious Communications Act 1988
  • Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003
  • The Public Order Act 1986
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