The AntiBullying Alliance

1
The Anti-Bullying Alliance Founded by the
National Childrens Bureau and NSPCC in
2002 Alliance of 63 members Aim to reduce
bullying and create safe environments Lead in
developing consensus around effective
anti-bullying practice Wide range of experience
in schools and local authorities
2
Cyberbullying
Dr Samantha Bishop East Midlands Regional
Advisor Derby City, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire,
Leicester City, Leicestershire, Northampton,
Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Rutland This
presentation is based on Cyberbulling. Safe to
Learn Embedding anti-bullying work in schools
(DCSF, Sep, 2007) www.teachernet.gov.uk/publicatio
ns
3
Cyberbullying

• Understanding cyberbullying
• Preventing cyberbullying
• Responding to cyberbullying
• Key advice for young people
• Key advice for parents and carers
• Resources

4
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can be defined as the use of
Information and Communications Technology (ICT),
particularly mobile phones and the internet,
deliberately to upset someone else (DCSF, 2007)
5
Cyberbullying Types of technology

• Mobile phones
• IMS
• Chatrooms and Message Boards
• Email
• Webcams
• Social network sites
• Video-hosting sites
• Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)
• Gaming sites, consoles and virtual worlds

6
Cyberbullying Forms it can take

• Threats and intimidation
• Harassment or stalking
• Villification/ defamation
• Ostracising/peer rejection/exclusion
• Identity theft, unauthorised access and
  impersonation
• Publicly posting, sending or forwarding
  personal or private information or images
• Manipulation

7
Cyberbullying Different type of bullying

• Impact large audience, rapid, long-term
• Targets and perpetrators
• Location - Any place, at any time
• Anonymity
• Motivation for bullying
• Evidence

8
Cyberbullying Research
22 of 11-16 year olds had been a victim of
cyberbullying (ABA and Goldsmiths College) 11
of teens had experienced cyberbullying (MSN) 34
of 12 15 year olds had been cyberbullied (DCSF)
9
Cyberbullying

• Research York study
• 2002 2005
• 11,227 participants, age 7- 10 years
• 14.9 - nasty texts and/or emails
• More females reporting
• Frequency rose over time
• 2002 13.5/2005 16.6

10
Cyberbullying
York study Examples of emails and text messages
11
Cyberbullying Preventing cyberbullying

• Whole school approach
• School policies and procedures
• Educate staff, pupils and parents
• Monitor e-communications on school site
• Block harmful websites to students
• Secure systems - prevent images/ information
  about pupils or staff being accessed outside
  school
• Partnership work (often the students
  themselves!)
• Evaluate impact of prevention activities

12
Cyberbullying Responding to cyberbullying

• Recognise all forms of cyberbullying as bullying
• Support the person being bullied. Technologies
  can be blocked
• Investigate the incident. Preserve the evidence
• Work with all perpetrators involved in the
  incident and apply sanctions

13
Cyberbullying Key advice for young people

• Respect others
• Protect yourself especially with images and
  personal info
• Dont retaliate or reply
• Save the evidence
• Make sure you tell an adult you trust, or call a
  helpline like ChildLine on 0800 1111 in
  confidence
• ICT provider can help you
• School they have a duty to protect you
• Finally, dont just stand there support others
  

14
Cyberbullying Key advice for parents and carers

• Learn how to use ICT
• Educate yourself and your children on safe use
• Report cyberbullying if it occurs
• School legal duties to protect pupils and can
  regulate off site behaviour
• Police harassment includes use of ICT

15
Cyberbullying Resources
DCSF Safe to Learn guidance. Cyberbulling
(www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications) Secondary
teachers can download an information pack from
(www.stoptextbully.com) DVD on consequences of
chatting online (www.childnet-int.org) Lesson
plans for teachers (www.cybersmartcurriculum.org)
16
Leicestershire

• Named team member responsible for work on
  cyberbullying
• AB team is linked with Leicestershires e-safety
  strategy
• E-safety group working jointly with AB team to
  provide workshops for parents/carers
• Students conference in AB week focusing on
  cyberbullying
• Info on LA website www.beyondbullying.com
• Hope to run more workshops for staff and yp
• Sue Bosley LA AB Lead

17
ChildLine

• CHIPS regional activity
• Within last 6 months have run 5 workshops on
  cyberbullying
• Delivery includes interactive activities,
  audio-visual resources, group work, discussions,
  feedback, scenarios, case studies, quizzes
• Understanding Etiquette and Nettiquette,
  definition, implication and impact
• Walters Tanifum

18
Nottingham City

• Training booked for city school teachers
• Launching a research project based on talking to
  young people in the city about their views and
  experiences of cyberbullying
• Robin Tinker LA AB Lead

19
Nottinghamshire

• E-safety group set up linking both city and
  county
• This group is working toward developing LA and
  Local Safeguarding Board policies using BECTA
  guidelines
• Training for teachers in cyberbullying has taken
  place
• Lorna Naylor LA AB Lead

20
Derbyshire

• Named person on e-safety taking the lead
• Training planned for e-safety Ambassador training
  on 28th November with CEOP
• Tim Bancroft AB lead Derbyshire LA

21
Northamptonshire

• Acceptable Use Policy signed off by Children and
  Young Peoples Directorate and the LSCBN by July
  2008
• Lessons written for KS 1 and 2 with e-safety,
  including some cyberbullying with further
  collaboration work to develop this by Jan 09 with
  London Boroughs
• DCSF Cyberbullying materials rolled out to all
  secondary schools and trialled, with some roll
  out, for Year 6 children in primary schools 2008
• Pilot of parent information evening materials
  with primary and secondary schools, for roll-out
  to all schools 2009
• E-safety area within Northants enable learning
  platform to access latest news, local resource
  and national links
• Jo Wood LA AB Lead

22
Concerns

• Acceptable Use Policies not linked with
  Safeguarding and cyberbullying
• Although BECTA guidelines are good there are
  problems.
• Schools say they deal with unsuitable sites by
  blocking but that doesnt teach children to be
  discerning in their use and to think for
  themselves.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests that IT person
  develops the IT policy and this does not ensure
  that safeguarding, cyberbullying, use of digital
  photography are included.
• Suggestion A package of A.U.P.-cyberbullying-saf
  eguarding to support, empower and ensure a well
  tailored policy for all.