30 May 2006

Gateshead Council has adopted a groundbreaking web-based solution to tackle bullying in it schools.

The Sentinel Anti-Bullying software is a secure online database which is used for pupils to anonymously report instances of bullying and for both staff and pupils to make comments about their school's anti-bullying strategy.

Previous paper-based methods of reporting bullying were too time-consuming and as a result information was not being gathered and shared effectively.

The web-based system will allow quick and easy access to complaints and information about what is happening in schools so that local authority and school staff can work together to identify behaviour patterns in specific schools, age groups and social groups, and therefore take preventative action where it is most needed.

Maggie Atkinson, director of children's services at Gateshead Council, said: "We have always had a proactive approach to tackling bullying but this will enable us to more easily administer a system for reporting and managing bullying incidents and collating the views of pupils.

"Most young people will be able to use it within and outside school and with it we will be able to share and collate information from all the schools across Gateshead to prevent and eliminate bullying in our schools."

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