Anti-Bullying Policy
1. Introduction
At The Sultan’s School, we believe that all children and young people have the right to an educational environment where they feel safe and which is free from harassment and bullying. This policy is implemented in partnership with the school’s discipline policy and serves the entire school from KG to the Advanced Learning Centre.
2. Definition
Bullying is any behaviour which is deliberately intended to hurt, threaten, frighten or discriminate against another individual or group. It is usually unprovoked, happens again and again as part of a pattern of behaviour and can continue for a long period of time. It always reflects the abuse of power, with one (or more) person(s), a victim and the other, a bully. It is the acquisition of power over others who are deemed powerless
Bullying includes:
Physical: Pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching and other forms of violence or threats of violence.
Verbal: Name-calling, derogatory references to family (tribal) name, sarcasm, Innuendo: Spreading rumours, persistent teasing.
Emotional: Excluding, tormenting, ridicule, humiliation.
Intrusive: Email, video-text or text messaging designed to upset or abuse.
Racist: Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
Sexual: Unwanted physical contact or abusive comments.
3. Aims
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To inform students and parents of our expectations in order to ensure a productive partnership, where each and everyone has a role to play in eradicating bullying;
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To maintain a community in which everyone feels valued and safe and where individual differences are appreciated, understood and accepted;
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To promote a secure and happy, caring environment where kindness and helpfulness are expected and respected;
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To praise and reward positive behaviour which benefits others and the community as a whole;
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To teach students to respect themselves and others, promoting crucial self-esteem;
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To reduce the emotional and mental distress of any bullying enabling all students the right to enjoy their time at school.
4. Strategies
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To help students through advice and counselling, to make the right choices and not succumb to peer pressure;
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To listen to all parties involved in incidents and always take allegations from victims seriously;
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To reassure students that the school will do all in its power to protect and support all parties involved while the issues are being resolved;
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To foster by example the values we as a school believe in;
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To investigate all incidents as fully as possible;
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To use a range of strategies which challenge bullying behaviour;
* To include within the curriculum, opportunities to discuss and consider bullying and other forms of anti-social behaviour;
* To identify bullying behaviour at the early stages (KG and Grade 1) and work towards behaviour modification before the problem becomes more serious.
5. Reporting Bullying
As a school we will:
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Encourage victims and witnesses to speak up with anonymity if necessary;
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Treat incidents seriously however trivial they may seem at first glance;
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Be alert, as an entire staff, for changes in behaviour, attitude and well-being, reporting these immediately to the appropriate member of the pastoral team;
6. Responding to Bullying
As a school, we will endeavour to:
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To take all bullying problems seriously;
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To deal with each incident individually and to access the needs of each student separately;
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To regard all incidents as potentially serious and investigate them thoroughly;
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Ensure that bullies and victims are interviewed separately;
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Obtain witness information;
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Keep a written record of the incident, investigation and outcomes which should be lodged with the pastoral team;
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Inform staff as necessary, about the incident;
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Ensure that action is taken to prevent further incidents. Such action may include:
 
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Imposition of sanctions;
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Obtaining a sincere apology;
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Informing parents of both bully and bullied;
* Provide support for both victim and bully.
7. The Role of the Principal
The Principal is responsible for promoting good behaviour and discipline in line with the Board of Trustees’ general principles. He is assisted in this task by his Senior Management Team, Heads of Department and Section and especially, the Pastoral Team. The Principal should ensure that staff, students and parents are aware of the school’s policy for discipline, anti-bullying and of the school’s behaviour code.
8. The Role of the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the overall direction and ethos of the school. They should monitor the work of the Principal and the implementation of the policy to ensure that:
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The ethos of the school, its values and the boundaries of acceptable behaviour are not broken;
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The moral code is maintained;
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Positive and constructive rules of conduct are followed;
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The rewards and sanctions are fairly and consistently applied.
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Admissions Policy
The School reserves the right to decline applications without explanation.
Age
For admission to EY I a child must be 3 years on August 31st of the year of entry
For admission to EY II a child must be 4 years on August 31st of the year of entry
For admission to Year I a child must be 5 years on August 31st of the year of entry
Essential Documentation required
Parents/Guardians are asked to supply
1.
Transfer Documents from The Ministry of Education (for Years 2 - IBD) only.
2.
An up to date official copy of the last school report, together with previous grade records if applying from outside the Sultanate (these should be approved by The Ministry of Education, except those issued from GCC countries, their records should be certified by The Ministry of Education of GCC countries)
3.
Birth certificate and a copy
4.
Copy of the student’s identification card and passport
5. Copy of the parents’ identification card and passport
6. Four photographs
7. A copy of the student’s medical record and vaccination card
8. A copy of the residence visa for non Omanis, except GCC Nationals
Advance Placement
Students are tested for entry into the school usually in early April, the first week in May and the last week in August. Testing for students resident outside of The Sultanate can be made by arrangement with The Director of Admissions. Please contact the school for details.
Admissions Panel
The Admissions Panel will consist of The Vice Principal, The Director of Admissions and when required the Head of Primary School, the Head of Secondary School, The Head of Kindergarten and the Head of Arabic or The Arabic Coordinator. The Registrar will be present but not as a part of the panel.

Decisions to offer places are done strictly on merit. The decision of the panel is final.
If students have similar merit, preference will be given to
1.
Omanis with siblings in school
2.
Omanis Alumni
3.
Omanis
4.
Students who have siblings in school
5. Alumni
The criteria for entry into Pre-KG, KG and class one is achieving a satisfactory score in The DIAL test and demonstrating a strength in either English or Arabic and an emerging sense of the other. Please note that admissions tests cannot be administered until a child has turned three years of age.

In year two, three and four students must demonstrate a clear ability to cope with a demanding bi-lingual education and demonstrate linguistic proficiency in objective and criterion referenced tests.

In years five onwards students must take an Arabic test and The Cognitive Abilities Test.
Results
The Registrar will communicate the decision of The Admissions Panel to parents within five working days of the April, May and August tests. The actual results of admissions tests will not be made known to parents. All test results and Admission Panel notes will be retained by The Director of Admissions for at least thirty days following the tests. All results will remain confidential to the school.
Appeals Panel
Parents may appeal against the decision of The Admissions Panel in writing to The Director of Admissions, not later than five days after the original decision. All such appeals must be based on grounds of non-adherence to policy. Where the appeal is based on such grounds it should be referred to The Principal who will consult with a nominated Board member before giving a decision.
Registration Fee
This is payable by all new students upon registering for admission and  is non-refundable. All student re-registration must be completed by March 31st of each year.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable in advance at the beginning of the school year or alternatively in two instalments (September 1st week and February 1st week) and are neither refundable nor proportionate to attendance at school.

A surcharge will be applied in respect of each child if fees remain unpaid one calendar month after due date. A further surcharge will be levied for each further month for which the fees remain unpaid. If fees are not paid in full by the end of an academic year then legal action will be initiated to recover any outstanding monies and any incurred cost to the school will be charged accordingly.
Sibling reduction

A sibling reduction of RO 100 is allowed to younger brothers and sisters in years 2-IBD
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