Call for 'bullying database' to record every attack on Scots schoolchildren

Published on Tuesday 17 November 2009 21:24

SCHOOLS should record all incidents of bullying to help tackle the problem, the director of Scotland's anti-bullying service has said.

Brian Donnelly said schools had to take ownership of incidents before they could solve the problem.

He acknowledged that headteachers were afraid of collating the information in case it led to the creation of a "league table" of bullying.

But he was adamant it could help rectify problems such as sectarianism or homophobia in schools.

Mr Donnelly, director of Respect Me, said: "They should record and monitor bullying – not for creating league tables – but it is to recognise patterns and identify training issues.

"For example, if every second incident is a homophobic, a sexist one, or much of the problem is a particular class or a particular group of young people not getting on, then the appropriate training can be given.

"It is not so one school can say: 'We had 20 incidents and that school had 35.' It is so we can see how we can learn from it. We need to own the figures."

At an anti-bullying conference in Glasgow yesterday, calls were made for a new approach to tackling the problem.

The Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group, which promotes developments against bullying, has created a new consultation document which proposes there be more consistency nationally on tackling the problem. The Scottish Government is now seeking views on the document until 26 February, 2010.

Speaking at a conference in Glasgow, during national anti-bullying week, schools minister Keith Brown said: "Bullying can have a severe impact on a young person, stealing their enjoyment in life and reducing opportunities to learn and develop.

"Bullying is never acceptable, which is why we must ensure that incidences are dealt with quickly and effectively. We must also work together to prevent bullying in the first place."

The event also focused on the issue of "cyberbullying", where children and young people are targeted via mobile phones or social networking websites.

Such offences are classed as a breach of the peace under Scots law, but successful prosecutions are difficult, given the difficulty of presenting evidence in court against those who use such mediums to bully their victims.

The event, being held at Glasgow's Crown Plaza hotel, was the third annual national bullying conference in Scotland. Others attending included Tam Baillie, Scotland's commissioner for children and young people.