The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Epidemic of bullying in schools is laid bare
SURVEY: Three-quarters of pupils and 84% of staff have witnessed it, says report
Three in four Angus school pupils said they have witnessed someone being bullied, according to a new survey.
And 84% of staff said they have seen bullying behaviour in school.
The survey of 533 primary school children, 955 secondary pupils, 206 staff and 823 parents was carried out as part of the revision of Angus
Council’s anti-bullying policy, which says using “labels” such as “victim” and “bully” should be avoided. It will be put to members of the children and learning committee for approval on Tuesday.
It follows a number of recent high-profile episodes of bullying at Arbroath Academy, Carnoustie High School and Forfar Academy.
“Alarm bells” are ringing as the shocking extent of bullying in Angus schools has been laid bare.
A new report to go before Angus Council revealed three in four (75%) school pupils say they have witnessed someone being bullied while 84% of staff said they have seen bullying behaviour in school.
It was compiled from a survey of 533 primary school children, 955 secondary pupils, 206 staff and 823 parents and was carried out as part of the revision of the council’s anti-bullying policy.
The local authority’s revised antibullying policy – which states that using “labels” such as “victim” and “bully” should be avoided – will be put to members of the children and learning committee for approval.
The document will go before councillors in Forfar on Tuesday following a number of recent highprofile episodes which included two
Arbroath Academy pupils being charged after a 12-year-old boy needed emergency dental surgery after being punched and kicked in the face.
The boy’s mum said: “It makes you wonder what the figures would have been if they had asked every pupil and every staff member in Angus.
“84% of teachers say they have seen bullying in schools – that alone should set alarm bells ringing.
“The teachers are almost scared of the children because they don’t have the powers to tackle the bullies.
“Telling staff to avoid using the term ‘bully’ to spare their feelings is laughable – what else can you possibly call them but a bully?”
The survey found 51% of pupils said they had been bullied themselves.
Only 41% of young people thought the bullying was resolved.
And 58% of parents said their child had been a victim of bullying, with online bullying the type that concerned them most.
The revised policy would mean all schools would develop their own antibullying policy by December this year and ensure that it is reviewed every three years.
Allegations and complaints would also have to be responded to and reported within five working days of notification.
The data would be monitored regularly by Angus Council to “help identify trends and patterns, specific issues around equality and diversity and help schools and the local authority to guide improvements in practice”.
Education director Kelly Mcintosh said: “This policy was developed in partnership with parents and carers, children, young people and other agencies through online questionnaire and a multi-agency steering group.
“Currently, our schools use a range of strategies to proactively encourage children and young people to report incidents and suspected incidents of bullying.”