GETTING bullying victims to tell someone can often be the biggest
hurdle to tackling the problem.
Bowring comprehensive, in Western Avenue, Huyton, has brought in
its own team of trained counsellors with a willing ear for pupil
problems.
Beating bullying is the top task for the counselling team, but it
is also a first port of call for big issues such as child
protection and unplanned pregnancy.
It's a high pressure job with a lot of responsibility. All the more
remarkable then that Bowring's counsellors are all pupils.
The idea is simple: troubled youngsters are much more likely to
talk to their peers than to a teacher.
And if there is pressure, the children filling the posts aren't
showing it.
Andrew Morgan, 14, has been in the team for a few months and is
looking forward to taking a more senior role.
His older sister did the job a couple of years ago and he said:
"I'm enjoying it a lot. It gives you a good feeling to know you're
helping people out when they're having a bit of a bad time.
"I had a few problems with bullying myself when I was a bit
younger, so I know where they're coming from.
"We also help the younger kids by showing them round school when
they start and making them feel a bit more comfortable."
Deputy head Mick Cammack, responsible for leading the anti-bullying
campaign at Bowring, is in no doubt about the valuable contribution
of his young counselling team.
"Students are more likely to go to other students, but it demands
confidence and mental toughness.
"Once the students get involved in the programme, it becomes
training for life." The Bowring model ensures a strong support
network for peer mentors.
Problems straying out of the bullying arena and into child
protection have an established procedure to follow.
Teaching staff and the school's learning mentors are always on hand
to help.
But Mr Cammack makes sure the child counselling team keeps the
independence he thinks is vital to maintain its credibility.
"The whole project is very much student-led. Our peer mentors come
up with their own ideas and that's always been the way we've
approached it."
One of the mentor team's most successful ideas was installing a
problem box outside the toilets, so pupils can put a slip of paper
in while pretending to go to the loo.
Peer mentor Katie McClellan, 14, said: "We thought the problem box
was a good idea because it isn't so obvious to the other kids.
"But we can do other things as well. We can set up meetings in
break time or after school to have a chat about things.
"Or we can arrange things so kids being bullied can make a few
friends."
Mr Cammack is is no doubt the peer mentor scheme has been a big
part of the school's success in dealing with bullying problems.
And he is able to give firm figures backing up his claims that
things are getting better.
He said: "Our attendance rates have gone up by 10% over the last
four years.
"There are probably quite a few reasons for that, but one of them
is undoubtedly because children feel safer here."
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