Borough of Poole makes a noise about bullying
This year’s Anti-Bullying Week takes place across the country from 16 - 20 November. Organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, this year’s national theme is ‘Make a Noise about Bullying!’ and calls on the school community to take action to stop the bullying of all children and young people, including disabled children and those with special educational needs, who are significantly more likely to experience bullying in schools and the wider community.
Over the coming weeks, schools across Poole will be getting involved in the anti-bullying campaign by putting on a host of awareness activities, workshops and assemblies.
Pupils at Baden Powell & St Peters are getting creative with an anti-bullying video, and will be giving the school a hug by surrounding the whole school with children and staff holding hands. New pupils will be elected to the ABC (Anti-Bullying Committee) at Longfleet Primary, whilst pupils at both St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Heatherlands school will welcome theatre workshops during the week. Turlin Moor Community School’s Friendship Week will see all year groups looking at how to stay safe online and all types of bullying problems, designing posters and holding a special assembly for parents.
Every class at Old Town Infant School will be 'making a noise' and sharing that noise with each other during a whole school assembly on the Friday of Anti-bullying week, with children dressing in blue in return for a small donation which will go to the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Staff at Hamworthy Park Junior School will be awarding ‘Kindness and Caring Wristbands’ to children who show respect and consideration to others and demonstrate that they are a good friend, with five different colours to collect throughout the week.
Activities continue in Poole’s secondary schools, with students at Victoria Education Centre, Magna Academy and St Edward’s getting creative and competing to design t-shirts and posters, whilst students at St Aldhelm’s Academy will be working together to produce a whole-school anti-bullying display. Student Anti-bullying Ambassadors at Parkstone Grammar, Poole High, St Edward’s and Magna Academy will all be working throughout the week to support their fellow students, with assemblies and lunchtime drop-in sessions. Carter Community School and Poole High will be holding themed assemblies for all year groups, as well as additional activity during tutor time.
Further work to address the issue of bullying is being undertaken by Poole’s Youth Parliament members, who have identified it as a key issue, and are working with Poole’s Children and Young People’s Board to explore how the issue could be tackled with a fresh approach.
Dorset Police’s Safer Schools and Communities Team are also delivering anti-bullying education and training for schools, for children in year 3 right up to year 11 students and staff.
Cllr Mike White, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Capital Projects, Borough of Poole, said: “Anti-Bullying Week helps to highlight the impact of bullying on children and young people in schools, communities and online. We take bullying extremely seriously, and hope that the work being done in our schools and with our partner organisations will bring children and young people, teachers, parents and carers together with the aim to help stop bullying.”
To find out more about all aspects of bullying, including cyberbullying and how to stay safe online, visit the Staying Safe page on the FID (Poole’s online Family Information Directory). Parents can also take advantage of a new collection of books and DVDs designed to help children aged 0 – 19 tackle a number of issues, including help with handling bullying.
Borough of Poole’s Anti-Bullying Strategy has been developed and led by the Poole Anti-Bullying Strategy Group and informed by consultation with children and young people, parents and carers, schools and key partners. A copy of the Anti-Bullying Strategy can be downloaded from the website.