Torfaen have been steadfast in their commitment to eradicating bullying in their area, and have implemented a range of initiatives to tackle the problem. The Minister will hear about these initiatives at the Torfaen Anti-Bullying Showcase, and then will see some of the strategies in action- like the playground buddy system at Ysgol Llan yr Afon in Cwmbran.

Anti-bullying week seeks to highlight issues surrounding bullying, and through a range of events, including a Welsh Assembly Government poetry and news spoof competition, hopes to inspire local authorities, schools and young people to join together and stamp out the problem, and to help those affected speak up.

By law all schools must have an anti-bullying policy, but the message is that these policies should be reviewed regularly. This year, the Welsh Assembly Government is promoting a whole school approach, to ensure that children and young people have the best opportunity to enjoy their education without fear of intimidation.

The Minister will visit a range of initiatives over the week, to highlight some of the best anti-bullying strategies at work today.

Minister for Education Jane Hutt said:

Anti-Bullying Week is a fantastic opportunity to highlight that bullying is still a real issue in some children and young people’s lives. We hope that the competitions helped engage schools, pupils, teachers and parents to work together to combat bullying in their school.

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to tackling the issue by encouraging schools to develop and utilise a clear anti-bullying policy to ensure that their pupils understand that bullying of any kind should not be tolerated.