Bullying complaints (2)

The request was successful.

Hello,
I hope whoever is reading this is keeping well.
This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please can the following information be provided for the academic years: 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (so far).

1) How many formal complaints regarding a school staff member (for example, but not limited to: teacher, headteacher, head of year) bullying a student or a colleague did your school receive over the specified academic year(s)? For Q1, please can you disclose the nature of the bullying complaint i.e. 'threatening language'. 'cyberbullying', 'physical assault', and tell me who complained about whom, including the complainant's year group if it is a student. So, for example, a Year (INSERT YEAR HERE) student could have formally accused a teacher of using threatening language in a bullying manner. 1a) How many of these complaints- identified in Q1- were formally investigated by the school?1aa) What were the outcomes (for example, but not limited to: warning, removal of post) of these investigations? Please state the amount of money the complainant received in cases where the parents of said child/ colleague demanded compensation for the incident.
Though "bullying" has not got a legal definition, I am classing it as: intending to hurt someone either physically or emotionally (this is often aimed at certain groups, for example because of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation). Bullying takes many forms and can include: physical assault, teasing, making threats, name calling, cyberbullying - bullying via mobile phone or online (for example email, social networks and instant messenger).
If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable time frame, or the request is too broad, I would be grateful if you could please contact me by phone ([mobile phone number]) and provide assistance as to how I could refine the request.
Kind Regards,
Yohannes Lowe

Office at Riverside Primary School, Riverside Primary School, Gillingham

Dear Yohannes Lowe,

Letter acknowledging receipt of a request for information

Thank you for your email of the 23^rd of March 2021 requesting information
about formal complaints regarding bullying for the academic years:
2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (so far).

Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days.

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me. 

Kind regards,

Nichol Gordon. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Yohannes Lowe <[FOI #740128 email]>
Sent: 23 March 2021 22:30
To: Office at Riverside Primary School <[Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Bullying complaints (2)
 
Hello,
I hope whoever is reading this is keeping well.
This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.
Please can the following information be provided for the academic years:
2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (so far).

1) How many formal complaints regarding a school staff member (for
example, but not limited to: teacher, headteacher, head of year) bullying
a student or a colleague did your school receive over the specified
academic year(s)? For Q1, please can you disclose the nature of the
bullying complaint i.e. 'threatening language'. 'cyberbullying', 'physical
assault', and tell me who complained about whom, including the
complainant's year group if it is a student. So, for example, a Year
(INSERT YEAR HERE) student could have formally accused a teacher of using
threatening language in a bullying manner. 1a) How many of these
complaints- identified in Q1- were formally investigated by the
school?1aa) What were the outcomes (for example, but not limited to:
warning, removal of post) of these investigations? Please state the amount
of money the complainant received in cases where the parents of said
child/ colleague demanded compensation for the incident.
Though "bullying" has not got a legal definition, I am classing it as:
intending to hurt someone either physically or emotionally (this is often
aimed at certain groups, for example because of race, religion, gender or
sexual orientation). Bullying takes many forms and can include: physical
assault, teasing, making threats, name calling, cyberbullying - bullying
via mobile phone or online (for example email, social networks and instant
messenger).
If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible
within a reasonable time frame, or the request is too broad, I would be
grateful if you could please contact me by phone ([mobile phone number]) and provide
assistance as to how I could refine the request. 
Kind Regards,
Yohannes Lowe

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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[FOI #740128 email]

Is [Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Riverside Primary School, Gillingham? If so,
please contact us using this form:
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For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
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Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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Office at Riverside Primary School, Riverside Primary School, Gillingham

1 Attachment

Good afternoon,
Please find attached our response to your Freedom of Information request.
Kind regards,
Riverside.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Office at Riverside Primary School <[Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email]>
Sent: 26 March 2021 13:41
To: Yohannes Lowe <[FOI #740128 email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Bullying complaints (2)
 

Dear Yohannes Lowe,

Letter acknowledging receipt of a request for information

Thank you for your email of the 23^rd of March 2021 requesting information
about formal complaints regarding bullying for the academic years:
2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (so far).

Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days.

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me. 

Kind regards,

Nichol Gordon. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Yohannes Lowe <[FOI #740128 email]>
Sent: 23 March 2021 22:30
To: Office at Riverside Primary School <[Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Bullying complaints (2)
 
Hello,
I hope whoever is reading this is keeping well.
This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.
Please can the following information be provided for the academic years:
2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (so far).

1) How many formal complaints regarding a school staff member (for
example, but not limited to: teacher, headteacher, head of year) bullying
a student or a colleague did your school receive over the specified
academic year(s)? For Q1, please can you disclose the nature of the
bullying complaint i.e. 'threatening language'. 'cyberbullying', 'physical
assault', and tell me who complained about whom, including the
complainant's year group if it is a student. So, for example, a Year
(INSERT YEAR HERE) student could have formally accused a teacher of using
threatening language in a bullying manner. 1a) How many of these
complaints- identified in Q1- were formally investigated by the
school?1aa) What were the outcomes (for example, but not limited to:
warning, removal of post) of these investigations? Please state the amount
of money the complainant received in cases where the parents of said
child/ colleague demanded compensation for the incident.
Though "bullying" has not got a legal definition, I am classing it as:
intending to hurt someone either physically or emotionally (this is often
aimed at certain groups, for example because of race, religion, gender or
sexual orientation). Bullying takes many forms and can include: physical
assault, teasing, making threats, name calling, cyberbullying - bullying
via mobile phone or online (for example email, social networks and instant
messenger).
If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible
within a reasonable time frame, or the request is too broad, I would be
grateful if you could please contact me by phone ([mobile phone number]) and provide
assistance as to how I could refine the request. 
Kind Regards,
Yohannes Lowe

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #740128 email]

Is [Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Riverside Primary School, Gillingham? If so,
please contact us using this form:
[1]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[3]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...
2. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
3. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Hello,
I am aware of how much pressure schools are under at the moment so I really appreciate your help with this. Just so you know, I have sent this request randomly to hundreds of other schools across the country so I can try and establish the extent of bullying allegations. If a lot of institutions come back to me and say there have been allegations, I will then send the FOI to all schools.
Would you be so kind to please confirm if the "physical assault" allegations were made by students against teachers/school staff or by teachers/school staff against a colleague? If it was a student, please can you tell me what year they were in- on both occasions. Could you please also tell me what the conclusions of the two investigations were (i.e. were the allegations upheld?) None of this information should identify anyone involved.
Best,
Yohannes

Office at Riverside Primary School, Riverside Primary School, Gillingham

Good afternoon,
Following on from your email below I can confirm the following:
Both complaints were allegations made by a pupil against a member of
staff.
One was made by a pupil in Year R and the other by a pupil in Year 6.
One complaint was not upheld, the other was partially upheld (was not a
physical assault but was a verbal altercation).
Kind regards, 
Kim Wilmer.

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From: Yohannes Lowe <[FOI #740128 email]>
Sent: 29 March 2021 20:09
To: Office at Riverside Primary School <[Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Bullying complaints (2)
 
Hello,

I am aware of how much pressure schools are under at the moment so I
really appreciate your help with this. Just so you know, I have sent this
request randomly to hundreds of other schools across the country so I can
try and establish the extent of bullying allegations. If a lot of
institutions come back to me and say there have been allegations, I will
then send the FOI to all schools.

Would you be so kind to please confirm if the "physical assault"
allegations were made by students against teachers/school staff or by
teachers/school staff against a colleague? If it was a student, please can
you tell me what year they were in- on both occasions. Could you please
also tell me what the conclusions of the two investigations were (i.e.
were the allegations upheld?) None of this information should identify
anyone involved.

Best,

Yohannes

show quoted sections

Thanks that is very helpful. Lastly, is it possible to please tell me the date the two complaints were lodged (it can be the academic year if you do not want to reveal the month).
Best,
Yohannes

Office at Riverside Primary School, Riverside Primary School, Gillingham

I can confirm one was in 19/20 and one in 20/21.
Kind regards,
Kim Wilmer.

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From: Yohannes Lowe <[FOI #740128 email]>
Sent: 31 March 2021 14:59
To: Office at Riverside Primary School <[Riverside Primary School, Gillingham request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Bullying complaints (2)
 
Thanks that is very helpful. Lastly, is it possible to please tell me the
date the two complaints were lodged (it can be the academic year if you do
not want to reveal the month).

Best,

Yohannes

show quoted sections

Thanks Kim