BIG award for Stoke Lodge Primary School

Stoke Lodge Primary School headteacher Richard Clark (left) and anti-bullying co-ordinator Claire Bruford with the school’s BIG award certificate

By Claire Bruford, anti-bullying co-ordinator.

At Stoke Lodge Primary School we work very hard to ensure that all children feel safe, happy and are included. At the beginning of the year we became members of the Bullying Intervention Group (BIG) and as part of that, worked towards the BIG Award, which is an award for excellence in bullying intervention. This award is recognised nationally by Childline, Anti-Bullying Alliance, Anti Bullying Words, CEOP and Each Education. To achieve this award, we had to meet externally agreed criteria, be able to demonstrate that we work to agreed standards and ensure that every child is enabled to fulfil their true educational potential, or enjoy their community activities, without fear of being bullied.

In KS2 we have Playtime Buddies at lunchtimes whose role it is to look after our ‘buddy bench’ and any children that use it. The purpose of a buddy bench is so that children can always find someone to play with. At the end of each term we have peer and teacher nominations for both KS1 and KS2 children that have displayed positive and friendly behaviour. We have a dedicated area in our main corridor for Anti-Bullying where children can find books and advice if they need help, and a display board that is changed termly. We also have a dedicated Cyber Bullying display in our KS2 hall, which has lots of information about how to stay safe online and the steps to take if children are experiencing cyberbullying. At the end of each term we have an Anti-Bullying newsletter that is sent home and uploaded to our dedicated Anti-Bullying page on the school website.

Towards the end of last term, we received confirmation that we had been successful in all criteria and were awarded the BIG award. We are one of the first primary schools in the South West of the country to obtain this, which is a massive achievement. Our certificate is displayed proudly in the main reception area as well as the anti-bullying corner of the main school corridor.

Val McFarlane, director of the Bullying Intervention Group, commented:

“Stoke Lodge Primary School take bullying very seriously. Although they do not have a problem with bullying, they ensure that they have excellent systems in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of their pupils. They involve the children and their parents/carers in all aspects of their anti-bullying work, and also have an up-to-date, effective, anti-bullying policy. I am delighted that they have now achieved the BIG Award for excellence in challenging bullying.”

More information about the award is available at www.bullyinginterventiongroup.co.uk

Photo: Headteacher Richard Clark and anti-bullying co-ordinator Claire Bruford with the school’s BIG award certificate.

This article originally appeared in the August 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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