Welcome to Tong High School's website.

Tong High School is a large multi-cultural 11 – 19 co-educational school which serves a wide area of south east Bradford. A Joint Sports College since 2001, in our recent redesignation as a single Specialist Sports College, we added Performance as our second subject. We are proud to be the hub school of the South Bradford Schools Sports Partnership. We have excellent facilities and a full programme of extra curricular activities. We are also part of the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme and expect to move in to our inspirational new building in early 2008.

Our Students

We have approximately 1450 students on roll, including 340 in our associated sixth form. In September 2002 we formed an association with our neighbours to establish Tong and Yorkshire Martyrs Sixth Form College (TYM), to broaden opportunities for post-16 students. Our A level pass rate is 100% and our GCSE results have placed us as one of the most improved schools in the country. Our student population embraces 16 different ethnic origins, ten different religions and nine different languages. We are proud that students of all abilities and cultures can mix and grow up in a safe environment where they are all encouraged to achieve success.

Our Staff

We have 102 teaching staff and 150 associate staff.  At all times we look for people with the ability to enthuse, motivate and care for our students. ‘Team players’ with energy, stamina, good humour and a sense of humour ensure that we continue to develop professionally and are essentials for success. As an ‘early adopter’ of the Remodelling the Workforce initiative, we have embraced the Government’s agenda of ‘letting teachers teach’. Our aim is to ensure we open opportunities for associate staff so they can grow and develop in their roles. We provide training for all staff so that they become empowered to improve their practice and also influence others.

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted conducted a full inspection in 2005 and the report was outstanding. It said the school:

• provides excellent leadership and vision

• provides outstanding care and support for students

• is an inclusive school where everyone is valued

• provides good teaching and learning

• provides good links with other schools, colleges and the community

• provides a very good professional development for all its staff

• is a positive, friendly and harmonious community

Bullying happens when one person or a group of people tries to upset another person by saying nasty or hurtful things to him or her again and again. Sometimes bullies hit or kick people or force them to hand over money; sometimes they tease them again and again. The person who is being bullied finds it difficult to stop this happening and is worried that it will happen again. It may not be bullying when two people of roughly the same strength have a fight or disagreement.

The key messages to get across to the person being bullied are:

• If someone in your family is being bullied at school - you have to do something to help: you must talk to a teacher.
• If you are worried that someone in your family may be bullied - discuss this with a teacher.
• If you want to help rid schools of bullying - work with the teachers to make schools safer and happier.
• If you are not satisfied with the school's response, do not give up - other sources of help are available.
• Support and understanding at home are important in helping people to cope with bullying - do all you can to help children and young people value themselves.
• Children and young people who witness or become aware of bullying may be unsure what to do and whether they should tell someone. Make sure they know that they should talk to a parent or teacher, and why.

BULLYING AT SCHOOL

Bullying is one of the most minimized and persistent problems in our schools today. The sad thing is – it’s a reality for all children, whether they’re victims, witnesses, or they’re the bullies.
Children are born into the world in a state of innocence – without defences. Another child or an adult comes along, who is a product of abuse, rage, or being a ‘bully’ victim and the cycle continues. Whether it’s at school or at home, anyone who is bullied will very often feel depressed and have low self-esteem. And if you’re a bully, you are more likely to be hostile and antisocial. If you’re a bully, who has been bullying you?

Do You Know What Bullying Is?

It’s physical harm, it’s verbal and emotional terrorism, its sexual harassment, its racism … and at times it can grow into much more serious abuse – and criminal behaviour.
If someone is hitting, biting, kicking, punching, pinching you, pulling your hair, tripping you – that’s physical bullying.
If someone is relentlessly teasing you, calling you names, spreading rumours about you, leaving you out of group activities – that’s verbal and emotional terrorism.
If someone touches you inappropriately, snaps your bra strap, stares at your body, or makes sexual comments – that’s sexual bullying.
If someone is using racial slurs against you, making fun of your customs, the colour of your skin, your accent, or the food you eat, if they spray symbols and graffiti on your house, if they tease you about your country – that’s racial bullying.
Bullying is when someone keeps doing or saying things to have power over another person.

Some of the ways they bully other people are by: calling them names, saying or writing nasty things about them, leaving them out of activities, not talking to them, threatening them, making them feel uncomfortable or scared, taking or damaging their things, hitting or kicking them, or making them do things they don't want to do.
Have any of these things happened to you? Have you done any of these things to someone else? Bullying is wrong behaviour which makes the person being bullied feel afraid or uncomfortable.

Understanding Bullying

If you understand bullying, you can help to stop it.
A bully just doesn’t become a bully and they’re not born that way. A bully is usually being bullied or abused at home. They usually have self-esteem which they got by being a victim. Bullying is learned behaviour, and what’s learned can be unlearned. They don’t have to continue the cycle.
There are a lot of reasons why some people bully.
They may see it as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough and in charge. Some bullies do it to get attention or things, or to make other people afraid of them. Others might be jealous of the person they are bullying. They may be a victim of being bullied themselves.
Some bullies may not even understand how wrong their behaviour is and how it makes the person being bullied feel.
If a kid is being bullied, they will pick on other kids because it’s the only thing they know and it’s a way of dealing with it. Bullying makes them feel powerful. They have a special need to feel popular – because they’re never praised at home. The bully is really insecure, but they’ll never let you see that side of them. They’ll go after someone weaker, smaller, and different. They’ll take away your self-esteem and scare you.

Bullying Is Harmful

Some people think bullying is just part of growing up and a way for young people to learn to stick up for themselves. But bullying can make young people feel lonely, unhappy and frightened. It makes them feel unsafe and think there must be something wrong with them. They lose confidence and may not want to go to school any more. It may make them sick.

Are You Being Bullied? Here’s How You Can Stop It!

Coping with bullying can be difficult, but remember, you are not the problem, the bully is. You have a right to feel safe and secure.
If you're different in some way, be proud of it! Stand strong. Spend time with your friends - bullies hardly ever pick on people if they're with others in a group.
You've probably already tried ignoring the bully, telling them to stop and walking away whenever the bullying starts. If someone is bullying you, you should always tell an adult you can trust. This isn't telling tales. You have a right to be safe and adults can do things to get the bullying stopped.

Even if you think you've solved the problem on your own, tell an adult anyway, in case it happens again.

An adult you can trust might be a teacher, school principal, parent, someone from your family or a friend's parent. If you find it difficult to talk about being bullied, you might find it easier to write down what's been happening to you and give it to an adult you trust.

What Can You Do If You See Someone Else Being Bullied?

If you see someone else being bullied you should always try to stop it. If you do nothing, you're saying that bullying is okay with you.
Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Show the bully that you think what they're doing is stupid and mean. Help the person being bullied to tell an adult they can trust.

Are You A Bully?

Have you ever bullied someone? Think about why you did it and how you were feeling at the time. If you are sometimes a bully, try to find other ways to make yourself feel good.
Most bullies aren't liked, even if it starts out that way. Remember … treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Get Help

Teachers and parents have a special responsibility for looking after children – especially helping you if you’re being bullied at school. It’s not so easy to identify a bully. Is the bully really being hostile and aggressive toward you or are they just having what they call ‘fun?’
When someone is bullied at school, your friends and acquaintances usually know what is going on. Even though they’re not involved they know its happening. Adults can’t always tell and need your help in order to help you or your friends.
All members of a school community — whether they’re kids or teachers, have a responsibility to help kids who are being bullied.

You and your friends must speak out against the bullies.

• Nobody has the right to hurt anyone else by hitting them, calling them names or doing anything which is hurtful.
• Bullying is wrong – no matter how old you are.
• If an adult is bullying you or trying to make you do something you think is   wrong, it is imperative that you tell someone immediately

If you are being bullied or are worried about being bullied and wish to speak to someone please click the following