We all know bullying takes place. What springs to mind is the physical bullying of a group of students towards one, possible younger, more vulnerable student. Fortunately, in our school we have a strong ethos of older students helping younger, through our Peer Mentoring system, so bullying does not tend to be ‘older against younger’. Far more common are more subtle forms of peer bullying such as:
- SPREADING RUMOURS
- WHISPERING
- GIVING EVIL LOOKS
- STARTING SECRET HATE CLUBS
- RANKING FRIENDS SO SOMEONE COMES OUT AT THE BOTTOM
- SAYING NASTY THINGS AND THEN SAYING IT WAS A JOKE
- PASSING ON BITCHY COMMENTS
- LEAVING PEOPLE OUT
To counteract this far more subtle problem, the idea of an anti-bullying committee was born. This is made up of reliable Year 11, 12 and 13 students, keen to assist others and ably supported by an administrative team who hold meetings, organise rotas, run assemblies and put up posters. The ABC counsellors were trained by outside professional people for two days and are now available on a rota every lunch time in school. Referrals take place through Key Stage staff and many of our students have benefited this year from the expertise of this group. We are all working together to reduce the effects of bullying.