How we can help you #StandUpToBullying

Today, Tuesday 5th July 2016, marks the first #StandUpToBullying day. Today is the day we as a nation stand up and acknowledge that bullying is happening all around us and ruining people’s lives – and it’s time to put a stop to it.

To mark the occasion, the Duke of Cambridge addresses the public with a video to urge change and recognise bullying as an issue.

In his speech, Prince William addresses the prevalence of technology in bullying, making it an attack that can sometimes seem relentless. So much so, that cyberbullying is now just as much of a safeguarding issue for schools as physical bullying, with more and more attacks happening online, and in the worst cases can often lead to self-harm or suicide.

Statistics show that 16,000 young people are absent from school because of bullying each year, which challenges whether enough is being done to prevent or recognise bullying in it’s infant stages, leading to an easier recovery for those affected. As Prince William puts it, it’s time to stand up to bullying, not stand by, and can we really say we’re doing enough?

What can you do to address bullying in schools?

1. Make a noise about bullying. Have a zero policy to bullying and make sure everyone knows about it. By removing any stigma involved in bullying, you will both discourage people from bullying others and also encourage those being bullied to come forward.
2. Understand bullying doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Bullying isn’t always physical and it can be continued outside of school, often on social media or messenger platforms and applications.
3. Be prepared with the right monitoring tools. Talk to Smoothwall about taking action and using tools that can help you monitor cyberbullying, from our safeguarding reporting suite to third party advanced monitoring, we can help alert you as and when warning signs are detected, allowing you to intervene in the early stages.
4. Visit the Stand Up To Bullying website. There is some great practical advice for teachers and schools, such as assigning an Anti-Bullying Ambassador, help and advice on dealing with LGBT bullying, tips for building an Anti-Bullying policy and much more. You can access the site here.

We want to help you to keep our young people in school, and make sure there is no longer anywhere for bullies to hide. As the Duke of Cambridge states, “It is our collective responsibility to be alert, and to be ready to challenge the behaviour we see around us. We all have a role to play to ensure that we do not stand by, but instead stand up, and put a stop to bullying.”