Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy

Purpose

Future School is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment. Bullying, harassment, and discrimination of any kind, whether in person or online, are not tolerated.

This policy explains what bullying is, how we prevent it, and what students and staff should do if it happens. It reflects our legal obligations under the Education and Training Act 2020, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, and aligns with our wider Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

What Counts as Bullying or Harassment

Bullying is repeated behaviour by an individual or group that causes harm, fear, or distress. It can be:

• Verbal or written, name calling, threats, teasing.
• Social or emotional, exclusion, humiliation, spreading rumours.
• Physical, hitting, pushing, or intimidation (including threats).
• Digital (cyberbullying), sending hurtful messages, posting offensive content, sharing private images, impersonating someone online.

Harassment includes any unwanted, offensive, or intimidating behaviour that targets someone’s identity (e.g. race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion).

Preventing Bullying

Future School actively builds a culture of respect and safety by:

• Teaching safe and respectful behaviour through our learning programmes.
• Reinforcing expectations for kindness and positive conduct in our Student Code of Conduct.
• Moderating online platforms and chat functions to keep digital spaces safe.
• Providing clear reporting options for students and families.
• Offering staff training to recognise and address bullying.

Reporting Bullying or Harassment

Students, families, and staff are encouraged to speak up early if bullying or harassment occurs.

Students can:

• Talk to their teacher.
• Reach out to the Deputy Principal for confidential support.
• Contact the Principal directly.
• Report a concern to any teacher, who will make sure it reaches the right person.

Parents and caregivers can:

• Contact their teacher or the Deputy Principal directly.
• Email the Principal if the issue is serious or ongoing.

Every report is taken seriously, recorded confidentially, and followed up.

Netsafe has helpful resources for children & young people: https://netsafe.org.nz/. Extra support outside of Future School may be obtained through the following:

• 📧 Email: help@netsafe.org.nz
• ☎️ Call: 0508 638 723 (Open Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm)
• 💻 Submit an online harm report: netsafe.org.nz/report
• 📱 Text: “Netsafe” to 4282

Response to Bullying

Future School investigates and manages bullying and harassment case by case, guided by fairness, respect, and student safety.

We will:

• Act promptly and impartially, gather facts quickly and fairly.
• Treat everyone with respect and dignity, maintain privacy and avoid blame before facts are clear.
• Give each person involved the right to be heard.
• Remain unbiased, decisions are made neutrally and transparently.
• Consider culture and context, including whānau engagement and cultural safety.

Where needed, Future School may:

• Contact and meet with parents/guardians.
• Facilitate restorative or mediated conversations between students.
• Provide education or coaching on safe and respectful behaviour.
• Apply our Student Learning, Wellbeing and Behaviour (Discipline and Safety) Policy for sanctions (including stand-down or suspension in severe cases).
• Involve Police, Oranga Tamariki, or other agencies where there is serious risk or harm.

Support for affected students may include:

• Access to the pastoral care team.
• Regular check-ins from teachers or Deputy Principal.
• Referral to external wellbeing or specialist services.

Online Safety

Because some of the learning at Future School happens online, we pay particular attention to cyberbullying and digital harm. Online spaces are part of our classrooms, and safety there matters just as much as in-person.

We work to keep digital learning environments safe by:

• Preventing and removing harmful content: Future School monitors school platforms and will act to block, report, or remove harmful or offensive material.
• Helping students use safety tools: we teach our students how to mute, block, or report inappropriate messages, and support them if they are unsure how to respond to something unsafe.
• Teaching privacy and safe sharing, including how to protect personal information, understand the risks of sharing images or personal details, and manage online presence responsibly.
• Educating about the law: we teach our students about New Zealand’s Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 and how serious online harassment, image-based harm, and threats can have legal consequences.

Please also refer to our Online Safety Policy, which explains how we manage technology use, digital risks, and our students’ rights and responsibilities in Future School’s online learning environments.

Version Control

NB: This policy supersedes and replaces all prior policies and procedures relating to its subject matter, regardless of their date of approval.