Support for students
We have a wide range of pastoral support staff at Westfield.
In the first instance students should talk to their form teacher but there are many other staff who can support them too. You can find out more on our Form Groups and Halls page.
If your child has special educational needs or a disability (SEND) you should be in contact with the Learning Support team.
If you believe any child is at risk please report your concerns to our safeguarding staff. You can find out more about safeguarding here.
Student wellbeing resources
We have brought together a range of resources that students and their families may find useful. They cover issues such as mental health, exam stress, LGBT+, bereavement and eating disorders. You can browse the Student Wellbeing resources here.
Anti-bullying
We work hard at Westfield to ensure that students learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves.
Types of Bullying
There are many forms of bullying. They include:
- Physical - hitting, kicking, spitting and theft of personal belongings
- Racial - racial comments/remarks or gestures
- Sexual - homophobic or sexist remarks
- Verbal - name calling, teasing or offensive remarks
- Cyber - offensive comments using social networking sites, texting and emails
It is also important to remind parents/carers that many social networking sites have age restrictions applied to them and that the parents/carers must be responsible in monitoring any internet usage even on age appropriate sites.
What Parents/Carers can do:
- If you have concerns that a child is experiencing bullying contact the school immediately. Don't leave it and believe it will go away, remember we can only do something if we know about it.
- Encourage your child to be tolerant of others and be a positive role model.
- Look out for changes in behaviour; feeling sick, reluctance to attend school, bad temper, tearful or generally unhappy.
- Encourage your child to speak to an adult in school.
- Talk to your child and listen to what they have to say.
- Work with the school in supporting the process.
- In extreme cases as well as involving the school you may also wish to inform the police.
If you are being bullied – TELL AN ADULT – unless the school is aware we can’t help or deal with it.
You can read more in our Anti-Bullying Policy at www.chorustrust.org/policies.