Call for action to tackle school bullying

Published on Wednesday 16 September 2009 22:00

BULLYING in Scotland's schools is not reducing and must be tackled, according to the body tasked with fighting the problem.

"I wouldn't say it was a problem that is going away," said Brian Donnelly, director of Respect Me, Scotland's anti-bullying agency. "It is a problem we need to address."

He was speaking at the launch of a new DVD available to every school in Scotland from today.

It features pupils from St Margaret Mary's secondary in Castlemilk, Glasgow, performing Andy's Story, about a boy who suffers from bullying.

Mr Donnelly said the new film took a different approach to the issue and

was designed to prompt discussion about respect and fear.

He said: "They will know people in their school who they think are respected but in fact some of that is fear rather than respect."

Schools minister Keith Brown

said: "In the past, perhaps schools haven't been as good at reporting mechanisms.

"There is a problem with schools acknowledging bullying – that is why Respect Me is so important."

The DVD, available through www.respectme.org.uk, is being released in time for National Anti-Bullying Week, from 16 to 22 November.