War on bullying

Dylan McAughey of Oldham Youth Council: bullying the council’s top priority

 Problem endemic in Oldham’s schools says youth council
OLDHAM youth council is taking a stand against bullies.

The organisation is urging council chiefs to help combat cruelty.

The issue will be a priority for the year – bullying, it says, remains the “number one concern” for young people.

Members say the number of incidents reported by schools for hate crime and racist incidents, since September, 2009 to date, is 219 — a “pitifully low” figure that doesn’t match its own research showing bullying is endemic.

They say 55 out of 60 pupils they contacted had either been bullied or directly witnessed it happening.

But schools have no duty to inform Oldham Council of bullying taking place - though they are required to have an anti-bullying policy.

On Wednesday youth council members will ask Oldham Council to scrutinise schools’ monitoring, recording and response to bullying.

Councillors will be asked to assess the effectiveness of each school’s policy and the support and help each offers victims.

Dylan McAughey (15), who will speak at the meeting, said: “Bullying is one of the most destructive experiences a person can have.

“We don’t think the figures correlate at all — we only asked a small sample but 92 per cent of those had experienced bullying.

“Without consistent and accurate reporting, we have no idea how big this problem is, or how well it is being dealt with.”

Previous research by the Anti-Bullying Alliance showed that 90 per cent of children had been bullied or had witnessed it.

ABA chairman Ross Hendry, said: “We know bullying can lead to children missing school, failing exams, dropping out of sport, avoiding activities and limiting their life choices

“It’s unacceptable that rather than celebrate their talent, they purposely underachieve and miss out on things they enjoy.”