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Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee crackdown on bullying

Crackdown on bullying

Friday, 16 April 2010

By Matthew Stanton

FEARS about bullying in Essex schools have prompted a crack down by education leaders.

Essex County Council agreed a document created by the Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee – a group made up of young people – to reduce incidents in the region.

Councillors approved the 12 recommendations in the agenda, which included setting up ‘Bully Text Alert’ to allow victims and witnesses to raise bullying issues.

Other recommendations approved included adding bullying on the school curriculum, teachers receiving anti-bullying training and improving CCTV on school buses contracted to take pupils.

Councillor Kay Twitchen, Essex County Council’s chairman of children and young people’s policy and scrutiny committee, said: “The report was a breath of fresh air. It was really good for us to listen to young people who were clear about what they wanted.

“For me it was emotional to hear the pain people go through at the hands of bullies. There are things we can do.

“However, I think stamping out bullying is much harder than protecting the victims so we will focus on that approach.”

The Youth Committee decided to investigate bullying after surveying 1,500 teenagers at events such BasFest and Castle Point Show about issues that affected them.

From 12 different issues, more than 400 highlighted bullying as their main concern.

The report was published in December and approved by Essex County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, April 7.

•Last year 161 warning letters and 130 severe warning letters were sent to Essex students about incidents on school buses while 157 were banned.