Our Commitment to Preventing Bullying at Bottisham Village College

At Bottisham Village College, every student has the right to feel safe, respected and able to be themselves. We do not tolerate bullying in any form, and we take every report seriously.

What we mean by bullying

We define bullying as behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another person or group, where there is an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face to face or online, and while it is usually repeated, a single serious incident can also be treated as bullying.

Bullying is often motivated by prejudice or difference. This includes, but is not limited to, bullying related to:

  • race, religion or belief
  • sexual orientation (homophobic and biphobic bullying)
  • gender identity (transphobic bullying)
  • sex and sexism, including sexual harassment
  • special educational needs and disability
  • appearance or health conditions
  • home circumstances, including young carers and children in care

We recognise the protections set out in the Equality Act 2010, and we treat prejudice-based bullying with particular seriousness.

How to report bullying

If you or someone you know is being bullied, please tell us. You do not have to deal with it alone, and reporting is never “telling tales”.

Students can:

  • speak to any trusted adult — a form tutor, teacher, or member of pastoral staff
  • speak to one of our trained Anti-Bullying Ambassadors
  • use Green to be Seen, our discreet system for raising a concern in or out of school
  • complete the student incident reporting form, signing in with your school account [insert link to student reporting form]

Parents and carers can:

  • contact their child’s form tutor or Head of Year
  • complete our Report a Welfare Concern form [insert welfare concern form link]

In an emergency, if a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Members of the public can also make a referral directly to children’s social care: Cambridgeshire or Suffolk.

How we prevent bullying

Our procedures and approach are informed by the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, alongside a regular review of our practice with feedback from students and parents.

  • A safe and inclusive culture. We work to create an atmosphere where every student feels respected and valued, reflecting our college ethos and values.
  • Education through the curriculum. Awareness of bullying, healthy relationships and online safety is built into our PSHE programme.
  • Visibility. Green to be Seen and school-wide displays keep reporting routes clear and reinforce the importance of respect and kindness.
  • Staff training. Staff receive regular training to recognise bullying — including prejudice-based and online bullying — and to respond effectively and consistently.
  • Early support for those at greater risk. We identify students who may be more vulnerable to bullying and put support in place early.

How we support anyone who has been bullied

  • We listen, take the concern seriously, and agree clear next steps with the student.
  • We provide calm spaces and access to Anti-Bullying Ambassadors for peer support.
  • We arrange follow-up conversations and check-in dates to make sure things have improved and stayed improved.
  • Pastoral staff keep families informed and work with them throughout.

Empowering students to act

We encourage students not to stand by. If you see bullying, you can help by:

  • being a supportive friend and speaking up against hurtful comments where it is safe to do so
  • telling a trusted adult or reporting it through the routes above
  • talking to a form tutor or Anti-Bullying Ambassador if you are unsure what to do

Everyone in our community has a part to play in keeping each other safe.

Working with parents and carers

We see tackling bullying as a partnership, and we are grateful for your support. You can help us by:

  • letting us know as soon as you have a concern, so we can act quickly
  • working with us through our procedures rather than approaching other families directly or raising the issue on social media, which can make things harder to resolve
  • reassuring your child that they have done the right thing in telling someone, and that they have a right to feel safe
  • keeping a note of any incidents your child mentions, which helps us build a clear picture
  • staying involved in your child’s online life and helping them use age-appropriate platforms safely

Online bullying and staying safe online

We recognise that bullying increasingly happens online, and we address this through our curriculum and pastoral support.

  • We teach students how to stay safe online and to understand the risks associated with social media.
  • We talk to students about why age restrictions on social media platforms exist and why they matter.
  • We encourage parents to set up appropriate parental controls and to stay engaged with their children’s online activity.

Where to report online concerns:

  • For online bullying, report it within the app or platform, and tell us using the routes above. Report Harmful Content can also help you get content removed.
  • For anything that has made a child feel unsafe, scared or worried by online sexual abuse or grooming, report directly to the NCA CEOP Safety Centre. (Please note CEOP is for online sexual abuse and grooming, not general bullying.)

Bullying and safeguarding

Where bullying is serious, persistent, or involves abuse between children, we treat it as a safeguarding matter in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, and our Designated Safeguarding Lead is involved. Our anti-bullying work sits alongside our wider safeguarding and child protection arrangements.

Useful support

Together, we can keep Bottisham Village College a safe, inclusive place for every student.

For full details, please see our Anti-Bullying Policy 2025–2027.

Reporting Concerns About a Child’s Welfare at Bottisham Village College

If you have any concerns regarding the welfare of a child attending Bottisham Village College, whether it’s your own child or another student, we encourage you to report these concerns promptly. Please use the following link to access our dedicated reporting form:

If you believe a child is in immediate danger or significant risk of harm, we recommend contacting the police by calling 999.  Members of the public, can make referrals directly children’s social care: 

Link to Cambridgeshire Social Care Referral Form  

Link to Suffolk children’s social care 

Your vigilance and cooperation are vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students.

Incident Reporting for Students at Bottisham Village College

As a student of Bottisham Village College, if you need to report an incident, please complete the form provided below. You will be required to sign in using your regular school Google username and password to access the form.

Your participation in reporting incidents helps maintain a safe and supportive school environment for everyone.