School Council Meeting Summary - Thursday 25th June 2006

1) Bully Free Zone

Recently carried out a questionnaire across all Bolton Schools. Questionnaires indicated that some students felt unsafe in their schools and that some students found some staff difficult to talk to if they were being bullied.

Questions asked to the Council included:

‘What does the school do well when students are bullied?’
‘What could the school do better?’
‘Why do some students not feel safe?’

Points of discussion included:

· Year 7 & 8 students do have their own playground – behind the canteen (towards the tennis courts)
· Year 7 students to have mentors when they first arrive
· Raising profile of anti-bullying assemblies
· Ensuring staff availability at all times to support ‘alleged’ victims of bullying
· Positive support of Medi8
· Effectiveness of students as Peer Mediators and Peer Counsellors
· Ensuring supportive transition into Year 7 by mixing students from the same schools

Emma (Bully Free Zone) asked if Westhoughton High School would like to be part of an anti-bullying forum – Council Members indicated that they would.

Kelly (Bolton Pastoral Network) discussed the idea of Learning Walks – students at Westhoughton visiting other schools and vice versa. This was received very favourably.

2) Lockers

In September there will be 100 lockers, students able to rent at £5/term. This was in response to School Council requests.