Bullying policy revised and modernised by Glasgow City Council

Nov 5 2009 By Fraser Wilson

GLASGOW City Council has launched radical new policy to combat bullying - including the emergence of cyber-bullyies.

The new policy will require early years, primary and secondary schools in the city to record and report all discriminatory behaviour electronically.

Information will then be merged with the existing obligation to log all racist incidents.
 
Monitoring the incidence, frequency and types of bullying behaviour across establishments will allow the council to identify trends and areas in which establishments are being particularly good or unsuccessful, in addressing an issue.
 
Councillor Jonathan Findlay, Executive Member for Education at Glasgow City Council, said: "We are committed to driving out bullying in all its forms.
 
"This revision takes into account the changing face of bullying and the introduction over the last few years of the use of new technology and social network bullying. 

"We have to tackle any forms of this upsetting and menacing behaviour as well as the traditional playground bullying.
 
"The introduction of recording and the on-going continuous professional development of our teachers and school staff in all 29 learning communities will help to understand and address issues our children are experiencing."
 
The launch of the revised policy included a live dramatisation by young people from St Margaret Mary's Secondary in Castlemilk, who took part in respectme's recently launched anti-bullying resource CD 'Andy's Story'. Respectme is the national anti-bullying network which works closely with local authorities.
 
Brian Donnelly, Director of respectme, said: "respectme commends Glasgow City Council on the launch of its revised anti-bullying policy. 

"This robust guidance clearly sets out Glasgow's expectations for all schools and learning communities when dealing with bullying behaviour.  

"We particularly welcome the Council's considerable commitment to training 80 key staff across the city, which will result in every learning community in Glasgow having trainers who can build anti-bullying skills and capacity locally."