Anti-Bullying – Mulberry Academy London Dock

Anti-Bullying at Mulberry Academy London Dock

At Mulberry Academy London Dock, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful environment where every student can thrive. We believe that everyone is of equal value and should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, gender, disability, special educational needs, faith, background, sexual orientation or identity.

Bullying in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We recognise that bullying can be physical, verbal, social, racist, discriminatory or online, and that its impact can be serious and long-lasting. We are committed to preventing bullying through education, awareness, strong relationships and a culture of mutual respect.

We encourage all students, staff, parents and carers to speak out if they experience, witness or have concerns about bullying. Reports are taken seriously and dealt with promptly, sensitively and fairly. Our aim is not only to address incidents quickly and effectively, but also to support those affected and help individuals understand and change inappropriate behaviour.

Through our curriculum, assemblies, pastoral support and whole-school initiatives, we promote kindness, empathy and respect. Together, we work to ensure that all members of our community feel safe, valued and able to learn and succeed free from fear or intimidation.

Click here to report bullying

Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors

At Mulberry Academy London Dock, our student Anti-Bullying Ambassadors in Years 8 and 9 play a key role in promoting a culture of kindness, inclusion and respect. The ambassadors receive specialist training through the Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme, a nationally recognised initiative that empowers young people to become leaders in tackling bullying and creating positive change within their schools.

Working alongside staff, our trained ambassadors help to raise awareness of bullying and its impact, promote positive relationships, and encourage students to seek support when needed. They act as positive role models for their peers and help ensure that student voice remains at the heart of our anti-bullying work.

Our ambassadors support school campaigns and events, including Anti-Bullying Week, contribute to student surveys, deliver awareness activities and help signpost students to appropriate support. While ambassadors do not investigate incidents themselves, they provide a listening ear, encourage students to speak to a trusted adult, and help create an environment where everyone feels confident to report concerns.

Through their training and leadership, our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors help to ensure that Mulberry Academy London Dock remains a safe, welcoming and inclusive community where every student feels valued, respected and able to thrive.

Other important information regarding school uniform

Students are allowed to wear a small plain stud in the lower part of either or both ears.

Other types of jewellery and clothing are not allowed, for example: baseball caps, long flowing garments, leggings, burkas, jilbab, sportswear (other than in P.E. and dance lessons), leather and denim jackets.

Make-up is not permissible.

Bespoke school uniform items can be obtained from Ocean Designs Schoolwear Ltd or Khalsa Schoolwear at the addresses below. All other uniform items can be obtained from other suppliers of your choice.

Ocean Designs Schoolwear Ltd
10 Watney Market
London
E1 2PR
020 7702 8881

Khalsa Schoolwear
388 Bethnal Green Road
London
E2 0AH
020 7729 3286

How can you report bullying?

At Mulberry Academy London Dock, we encourage all students to speak up if they experience, witness or have concerns about bullying. We take all reports seriously and will respond promptly, sensitively and confidentially.

Students can approach any member of staff to discuss concerns about bullying. This may be their Form Tutor, a subject teacher, or another trusted adult in school. However, the best people to speak to are usually their Head of Year, who will help ensure the matter is investigated and appropriate support is put in place.

Students can report bullying by speaking to:

Their Head of Year
Any member of the Safeguarding Team
Any member of the Pastoral Team
Their Form Tutor
Any other member of staff they trust

Students can also speak to one of our trained Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. While ambassadors do not investigate incidents or replace speaking to a member of staff, they can offer peer support, listen to concerns and help students access the right support within school.

Anonymous reporting

If you do not feel comfortable speaking directly to a member of staff, you can use the anonymous reporting form via the link below.

The form can be completed by:

Students
Parents and carers
Members of the school community who wish to raise a concern

All reports are monitored by the Safeguarding Team and will be treated confidentially whilst concerns are investigated. Appropriate action will be taken to ensure that students feel safe, supported and listened to.

We encourage all students to speak up about bullying. Sharing concerns about your own experiences or those of others helps us take action quickly and ensure everyone feels safe, supported and respected.

Click here to report bullying

What happens if someone reports bullying?

We will sensitively and quickly investigate any report of bullying. This may involve speaking with students, staff and other individuals, where appropriate, to establish the facts and gain a full understanding of the situation.

Families will be informed and kept updated throughout the process. We will discuss the support available for those affected, communicate the findings of the investigation and explain the actions being taken to resolve the issue.

Where bullying is found to have occurred, appropriate action will be taken. This may include formal sanctions and restorative approaches designed to rebuild relationships and prevent future incidents. Mediation between the students involved will only take place if all parties feel ready and it is considered helpful in moving the situation forward positively.

Our priority is always to ensure that every student feels safe, supported and confident that their concerns are being taken seriously.

How will we support students?

We recognise that bullying can affect everyone involved. Both students who have experienced bullying and those who have displayed bullying behaviour are supported following an incident.

Students have access to a comprehensive network of pastoral support, including Heads of Year, our Safeguarding Team, Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager, Pastoral Manager, Attendance and Welfare Officer, and Dramatherapist. These staff provide guidance and support to help students feel safe, build resilience, restore confidence and maintain positive relationships.

We also work closely with the Tower Hamlets Education Wellbeing Service (THEWS), whose Educational Wellbeing Practitioners provide on-site support for students. Where appropriate, the school can make referrals to specialist external agencies to ensure students and families receive additional emotional wellbeing and mental health support.

By combining clear expectations with appropriate support, we help students learn from experiences, repair relationships and develop the skills needed to thrive within our school community.

Preventing bullying and promoting positive relationships

Preventing bullying is a whole-school responsibility. Throughout the year, students learn about healthy relationships, respect, inclusion and diversity through PSHE, assemblies, tutor time and the wider curriculum.

During our annual Anti-Bullying Week, students participate in activities, competitions and assemblies that raise awareness of the different forms of bullying and reinforce our zero-tolerance approach. Anti-bullying messages and positive relationship education remain a regular focus throughout the school year, ensuring that students understand how to recognise bullying, challenge prejudice and seek support when needed.

We encourage students to be kind, tolerant and supportive of one another and to celebrate the diversity of our school community. Students also learn about equality, discrimination and the law, including the nine protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010, helping to foster a culture where everyone is respected and valued.

Our Anti-Bullying Commitment

Everyone has the right to feel safe, valued and respected.
Everyone has the right to learn and work in an environment free from bullying and discrimination.
Everyone has a responsibility to report bullying and support others.
Everyone should feel confident that concerns will be listened to and acted upon.
Everyone plays a part in creating a culture of kindness, inclusion and respect.

At Mulberry Academy London Dock, we stand together against bullying and are committed to ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, respected and empowered to succeed.