Rooms for improvement in bid to beat school bullying

SAFE rooms and listening posts could be introduced in city schools to help tackle the issue of bullying.

Education chiefs are rolling out new procedures for headteachers to help increase awareness of the problem and come up with innovative ways of dealing with incidents ranging from homophobia to cyber bullying.

Initiatives such as the creation of safe rooms, suggestion boxes and listening posts in schools are being hailed as positive examples which can help pupils who feel under threat.

Safe rooms are spaces set aside for young people who want somewhere quiet to go at lunch and break times, away from the "hustle and bustle" of the rest of the school.

Teachers volunteer to sit in the safe rooms to give pupils the chance to speak to them about issues if they wish to or just give them the chance to eat their lunch in a secure environment which is not intimidating.

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Comment boxes could also be set up in schools to give youngsters the chance to flag up issues anonymously and make suggestions for how to improve things.

Listening posts, where pupils can "drop in" to talk to a guidance teacher or member of the pupil council about issues that are affecting them, are also being encouraged in schools.

David Fleming, headteacher of Dalry Primary, was part of the working group who put together the new bullying policy in the Capital and already operates the safe room and suggestion box approaches.

Mr Fleming said: "Bullying normally takes place in the absence of adults, so one of the things schools can do is minimise the time where adults are not present.

"We have playground supervisors, learning assistants and one of the management team in the playground to keep an eye on things.

"Another thing schools can do, particularly from a primary school perspective, is to build up good relationships with children so they feel like they can talk to teachers."

Areas of prejudice constitute roughly half of all bullying in schools.

Making sure staff are fully trained in bullying by offering them special courses also forms part of the new policy, which is designed to create a unified approach across all city schools.

Mr Fleming added: "Teachers are coming through college now with a much better awareness of bullying and they will not sweep it under the carpet. I'm really optimistic because I feel that schools are really aware.

"This policy simplifies the system for everyone and makes it clear for everyone involved."

City education leader Marilyne MacLaren said: "Bullying behaviour can have lasting effects on a young person's life and, as an education authority, we are in a position to prevent problems from escalating."