Senior leaders at Stornoway Primary felt that distance remote learning had led to a lack of peer interaction. This had a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the children. On returning to school they found it difficult to play and learn with others.

Children displayed unkind behaviour towards their peers. This included:

• name-calling
• teasing
• ignoring
• hitting

Staff noticed an increase in the number of children reporting incidents of bullying.   

What the school did

The school set up an Anti-Bullying Ambassadors (ABA) group. This is a child-led leadership group. They worked to change the attitudes, behaviour and culture at Stornoway Primary School.

Anti-Bullying Ambassadors train to be anti-bullying advocates. They act as role models by taking a stance against bullying behaviour. They are upstanders against bullying behaviour and support their peers.

The ABA undertook two important roles for the school. The first involved reducing bullying behaviour through a sustained anti-bullying campaign. The second was providing peer support to those experiencing or demonstrating bullying behaviours.   

The ABA conducted a survey to learn more about current bullying behaviour. The results informed the ABA action plan for improvement. This included the creation of anti-bullying policy. They shared this with peers and displayed it across the school.

The ABA led regular whole-school assemblies. They also:

• arranged focus weeks
• created displays
• shared leaflets and videos

This helped improve the knowledge and skills of everyone in the school community.

These resources explain what bullying is. They also cover the different types of bullying and the importance of being an upstander. This provides children with advice about what to do if they or someone they know is experiencing bullying.      

The children participated in the ‘Diana Award’ Anti-Bullying Ambassador training programme. The training programme equips the children with tools to support their peers who are experiencing bullying. A

ABA are vigilant in identifying peers who may be experiencing challenges in managing interactions with others, particularly during break times in the playground. They offer support using restorative questions or escalate the situation to an adult in school. ABA wear bright coloured, personalised bibs in the playground so that they are easily identified. They have set up ‘Buddy Benches’ for children to access in the playground if they feel isolated, excluded, or upset. ABA check in with the children using these benches to see if they need support. ABA recognise that not all children will have the confidence to ask for help publicly. They have set up a central worry box at the school office for all children to use. Also, every class has a worry monster that children can use to access help in a private way.    

The impact and what changed for children and young people

The whole school community recognizes the positive impact of ABA's work. It is embedding a culture where bullying behaviour is unacceptable at Stornoway Primary School. The whole school can identify ABA and understand their role in making the school a safer place. Children are confident to ask ABA to support them when facing challenging situations with other children.

This child-led approach is enabling learners to discuss concerns with their peers, and as required, this information is shared with a staff member for a response to any incidents of bullying behaviour in the school.

Assemblies, lessons, displays and leaflets help children to understand the different types of bullying and provides them with child-friendly vocabulary to talk about bullying. All children can confidently explain the schools’ procedures in preventing and responding to incidents of bullying behaviour. A whole school approach, led by ABA, is ensuring consistency in the implementation of the antibullying policy.

Through ABA highlighting the importance of being an upstander, learners are better at sharing concerns and not ignoring possible incidents of bullying behaviour. Incidents of bullying behaviours are taken seriously and responded to quickly and effectively as a result.