Bully Busters : Northfield Academy

Why?
S6 pupils felt that they should provide a younger, more appealing point of contact for first and second year pupils who have concerns about bullying and other related issues. With the aim to raise awareness of bullying issues throughout the school and publicise the lunchtime support service, they also develop materials including leaflets and posters. The programme provides a good opportunity for senior pupils to get involved the prevention of bullying in their school.

What?
The Bully Busters set up a warm and welcoming room, where they work in pairs on lunchtime duty, ready to help any younger pupils. They take care to ensure the room is seen as a safe place, where problems can be discussed in confidence. They also arrange to meet with the School Counsellor or youth worker when cases concern them.

In addition to this service, the Bully Busters contacted a local company to fund leaflets, mouse mats and posters to carry the poems, message and logo that the group had developed on bullying. A launch of their materials and the distribution of leaflets to both pupils and parents raised awareness of the bullying service and bullying issues more generally throughout the school.

How do we know it was successful?
• The school reports that the materials were well-received by pupils and parents.
• The Bully Buster room continues to operate and many pupils drop in.
• A focus on prevention of bullying is now evident throughout the school community, as demonstrated by the training days which recruit future Bully Busters.
• Provides S6 pupils with skills in writing bids for funding, designing projects and publicising them through talking at assemblies and in classes.

Factfile
Northfield Academy is situated in Aberdeen and has a roll of 1020.

Want to know more?
Contact Joanne Campbell, Acting Depute Head HT, enquiries@accnorth.aberdeen.sch.uk