Which Way Now? - A Progress Report on Action Against Bullying in Scottish Schools

Andrew Mellor

University of Glasgow & The Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE)

English

English

Anti-bullying activities in Scotland over the last 20 years, examples of current practice from schools and local authorities,

Report

Policy Makers, Teachers, School Directors.

21 - 100 pages

Published in June 2005 this report traces the development of antibullying activities in Scotland over more than 20 years. As well as anti-bullying work in schools, the report highlights the community context and the need to raise community awareness.

The roles of the various parts of the community are detailed: academic community; media; police;parents groups; churches; youth otganisations; teacher organisations; charities; prison service; pre-school groups etc.

Materials distributed to schools are listed along with when they were distributed but the report highlights that a systematic study of the effect of the materials distributed has not yet taken place although some guidance has been given on the strengths and weaknesses of some of the resource packs.

In Scotland, drama productions have been used for awareness raising and these have had a beneficial effect. The importance of teacher training is emphasised as is the need to provide support for individual pupils.

Examples of current practise at individual schools are given as well as actions taken by all of the different local authorities in Scotland, by the major educational institutions and the independent sector. Finally the report makes soem very sensible suggestions for future actions.

We found this report to be an 'interesting and worthwhile' read.
By charting the evolutionary progress of antibullying actions over a long period it gives the reader the chance to learn from others mistakes and to pick up ideas which have been tried and tested.

Splitting the process into five component parts (see below) we feel makes it easier to understand:

1) the creation of policy which is dependent upon, and which also
helps to foster, a climate of concern
2) research, which has helped to establish the nature and scale
of the problem and to point to possible solutions
3) the production of materials and resources which can be used in
schools to aid the process of developing strategies against
bullying
4) the provision of training and support to teachers and other
professionals
5) the embedding of anti-bullying strategies into the fabric of
the Scottish educational system – and society.

We also liked the fact that the report emphasises that anti-bullying work is not the sole responsibility of schools but is something for which all sectors of the community have to share responsibility.

Finally we were taken by the following statement which we strongly agree with:

'Bullying is not a disease like smallpox which can be eradicated by treating the existing victims and by vaccinating all potential victims. It is part of a system of complex social interactions, each of which is unique and each of which presents new challenges'.

https://dspace.gla.ac.uk/bitstream/1905/259/1/063.pdf

Which Way now - progress report on action against bullying in Scottish Schools.pdf

Wilsthorpe Community School