1. Why are you passionate about Bi Cinealta?
The very meaning of the Irish is to “be kind”, that is at the heart of all relationships, not just in school but all aspects of the society we live in. “Be kind’ is a responsibility, a response and a value that each of us should aim to use and to live by, if we do, life will be that little be more sympathetic and livable. In school, if being kind is at the heart of everything we do, all other positive interactions will flourish. A smile, a positive comment, an ethos of respect for fellow student, fellow human being, brings with it a sense of shared responsibility for the positive atmosphere that we can create and that itself mitigates against bullying.
2. Bi Cinealta is a new updated policy. What is new about this policy?
The new Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying (2022) and the associated Bí Cineálta Procedures (2024), which come into effect for the 2025/2026 school year, are a update to Irish anti-bullying policies, moving from a 2013 framework to a more comprehensive, whole-school, and child-rights-based approach.
The procedures now explicitly address contemporary challenges, including cyberbullying, gender identity-based bullying, racist bullying, sexist bullying, and sexual harassment. The policy recognizes that online bullying can occur once but still be considered bullying due to its potential for wide, rapid, and permanent sharing. It also covers bullying behavior that continues into the school environment from outside.
Bullying is clearly defined as "targeted behavior, online or offline that causes harm," which is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power. All incidents of bullying behavior must now be recorded, and these records will contribute to a national database and annual report. Schools must develop their "Bí Cineálta" policy in consultation with the entire school community—including students, parents, teachers, cleaners, and caretakers—and review it annually. Every school is required to produce a student-friendly version of their anti-bullying policy and display it publicly.
3. Bi Cinealta is a childs rights approach, we need to work together to prevent and address bullying. Can you give an example of us doing this in TCS?
Yes, here in TCS, we endeavor to ensure Bi Cinealta is a lived policy every day that we come and go in the school community. This is done in several ways, for example:
- Teaching emotional regulation
- Encouraging bystanders to act safely
- Using consistent language about respect
- Meetings with the care team
- Teaching better behaviour
- Supporting all children involved
- “Bullying seen” anonymous box
4. A type of bullying is (extortion) and (exclusion)? Can you explain these terms and give us example.
Exclusion is when someone is deliberately and repeatedly left out or ignored to hurt them. It is sometimes called relational bullying because it harms a person’s friendships and social connections. Its:
- Aimed at isolating or upsetting someone
Example:
A group of students repeatedly refuse to let one girl sit with them at lunch. They tell others not to talk to her and remove her from their group chat. This happens over several weeks.
Under Bí Cineálta, this would be considered bullying because:
The school would respond by investigating, supporting the targeted student, addressing the behaviour with those involved, and recording the incident.
Extortion is when someone demands money, belongings, or favours through pressure, threats, or intimidation. It includes:
- Threats (spoken or implied)
Example
A student tells a younger pupil every week that if he doesn’t give him €5 or his lunch, he will be beaten up or embarrassed in front of others.
Under Bí Cineálta, this is bullying because:
- There is a power imbalance
- The behaviour is repeated
- The victim feels fear or intimidation
The school would treat this seriously, involve parents/guardians, and apply appropriate disciplinary and restorative measures.
A once-off incident may be a breach of the school’s Code of Behaviour, but bullying involves repeated harmful behaviour. Schools must:
- Support the student experiencing bullying
- Address the behaviour with the student(s) responsible
- Keep written records where required
- Promote a culture of kindness and inclusion
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5. What are the strengths of TCS in preventing bullying? What can we celebrate?
Here is TCS we build a Culture of Belonging
What This Looks Like in Practice: SPHE, Tutor time and other Wellbeing connected education we teach and learn about antibullying and Bi Cinealta. We explicitly teach: What bullying is (including relational, online, identity-based). What it is not (normal conflict).
The Culture & Environment in TCS is punctuated with initiatives and events like: Friendship week, Gobal club, peer mentors, one good adult, Wellbeing days and weeks, Standup week etc... Relationships & Partnerships are given a firm foundation in respect for the other. And school Policy & Planning is influenced by the new Bi Cinealta guidelines.
Here in TCS we make reporting safe, simple, and normal
Bí Cineálta emphasizes clear reporting pathways – speak to a trusted teacher/adult, speak to a member of the care team or leadership team whose doors are always open, drop a note in the box beside the Chaplain office. Removing stigma around reporting changes the culture.
Train Staff to Respond Consistently
Staff workshops on: Bi Cinealta, spotting bullying, how to respond to bullying, Restorative Practices, Recognizing subtle bullying, Responding without shaming.
To Listen, to Record, to Follow up
All the stakeholders in TCS are involved knowing about and being trained in the new Bi Cinealta Policy – All staff, Student Leadership, student council, parents committee, Board of management.
We move from Punitive to Restorative Approaches, address online & identity-Based Bullying Directly, support students who bully (Without Excusing Behaviour), involve parents in a constructive and consultative way, record and review