Agenda item

Review on Bullying - school and council policy in supporting vulnerable children and reducing abusive and poor peer relations.

9.1  The chair welcomed Merril Haeusler, Deputy Director of Children's Services -Education. The Deputy Director noted the scrutiny report completed in 2007, which was circulated with the agenda, and remarked that since then there has been significant change; now schools are responsible for their own bullying policies. She said that there is a good foundation for this shift in responsibilities given the existing good work. The Local Authority no longer receives funding for this work. Ofsted is one on the main systems of accountability. The inspectors always ask children if they know where to get help if they are being bullied. She reported that when she goes into schools bullying is taken very seriously by school councils.

9.2  The Deputy Director said that bullying is also on the school curriculum and part of a school’s safeguarding role. She explained that there are a number of private companies that offer services - schools can choose those and do that with discretion. She concluded that anti bullying work was clearly a high priority during 2007 and she hopes the legacy is a system that schools can now take a leading role in delivering.

9.3  The chair invited questions and a member asked the Deputy Director if she could clarify that that this is no longer a statutory responsibility for the Local Authority. The Deputy Director said that there has been a major shift of responsibility to schools; however, the council maintains some high level responsibilities. Members asked for clarification, specifically what would the council do, and how would they be enforced? The Deputy Director said if they received a complaint from a parent then the council would act and follow up the issue. She said that although they do not have a statutory duty the council do have moral obligation.

9.4  The Headteacher representative commented that the Local Authority has done a lot of investment to enable schools to take up responsibility for tackling and reducing bullying. The Deputy Director commented that the Tool Kit is considered one of the best.

9.5  A member enquired how the council can be sure that schools are actually implementing their anti bullying polices effectively. The Deputy Director responded that Ofsted remains our overview and that they ask searching questions. She went on to say that the council still have people working in schools and that they would be asking these questions. The Deputy Director commented that we recently had a rigorous safeguarding inspection process - and the inspectors went into schools. The council received a ‘good’ report with ‘outstanding’ features. 

9.6  The chair commented that children can be bullied because of difference – in care for example and remarked that he would like the committee to get the views of Southwark Youth Council, Speaker box and other perspectives. Members of the committee agreed and commented that bullying can be subtle.

9.7  An education representative commented that while Ofsted reports sometimes report on a school’s implementation of anti bullying strategies helpfully and identify weakness, sometimes the reports give insufficient coverage.